What to do in this order
- 3-4 weeks before moving: apply for Royal Mail redirection (5 working days minimum lead time).
- 2 weeks before: update banks, building society, credit cards, mortgage provider, insurance, pension, employer.
- 1 week before: update HMRC, DVLA, council, utility companies, GP, dentist, schools.
- Moving day: redirection should be active. Final meter readings, last-day checks.
- First month after: update subscriptions (Amazon, streaming, charities, magazines), online retailers, loyalty schemes.
- Through the redirection period: note every redirected sender and update them directly so you don't need to re-apply.
Who people typically forget
- Pension providers and old workplace pension funds
- Investment platforms and stocks-and-shares ISA accounts
- Junior or lifetime ISA accounts for children
- Old credit accounts that aren't actively used
- Charity direct debits
- Annual subscriptions (renewal notices arrive once a year, easy to miss)
- Solicitor, accountant, or other professional services holding records for you
- Council tax for the OLD address - cancel/transfer correctly, don't let it run on by mistake
How long to set redirection for
Most people choose 6 or 12 months. Six months catches most senders; 12 months is safer if you're worried about annual renewal mail that only arrives once a year. You can extend up to a maximum of 4 years total at the same old address.
The trade-off: longer redirection costs more but reduces the chance of important mail being lost.
Frequently asked questions
Will my mail still arrive at the new address eventually if I don't set up redirection?+
Only if every sender is updated directly. Royal Mail won't redirect mail without a redirection order. Mail to the old address will be delivered to the new occupants (who are not obliged to forward it - and often won't).
Do I need to redirect for the kids too?+
Yes - Royal Mail redirection is per name. Each named person at the old address needs to be on the redirection or their mail won't be redirected.
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