The Complete Moving House Checklist for 2026

Offer accepted (roughly 8–12 weeks before moving)

• Instruct a solicitor or licensed conveyancer straight away. The legal work is usually what takes longest.
• Send your full mortgage application if you only have an agreement in principle.
• Book a survey. A basic survey suits a newer, conventional home. Choose a fuller building survey for an older, larger or altered one.
• Look up the home's energy certificate (EPC) on GOV.UK if the agent hasn't given it to you.
• If you rent, check your notice period before you give notice.
• Start clearing out. Every box you don't move saves time and money.

Searches and survey (roughly 6–8 weeks before)

• Your conveyancer orders searches: local authority, water and drainage, environmental (including flood risk), and others depending on the area.
• Read the survey report and ask about anything it flags. You can renegotiate or ask the seller to fix things.
• Make sure the lender's valuation is done and your mortgage offer has been issued.
• Get removal quotes from at least three firms and check what their insurance covers.

Exchange of contracts (roughly 2–4 weeks before)

• Transfer your deposit to your conveyancer in good time. Confirm their bank details by phone first, because conveyancing payment fraud is common.
• Exchange contracts. From this point the purchase is legally binding, and pulling out usually means losing your deposit.
• Have buildings insurance in place from exchange. The home is usually your risk from that point, and most lenders require it.
• Book the removal firm for the agreed completion date.

The week before

• Set up mail redirection with Royal Mail at least a week ahead.
• Tell energy, water and broadband suppliers your moving date. Order broadband early, because a new connection can take a few weeks.
• Tell the council you're leaving and register with the new one for Council Tax.
• Pack an essentials box: kettle, mugs, toilet roll, chargers, medication, basic tools and bedding.
• Defrost the freezer, and confirm how you'll collect the keys.

Completion day

• Your conveyancer tells you when the money has arrived and the sale has completed. Only then can you collect the keys.
• Take meter readings at both homes, with photos.
• Check that what was agreed to stay, such as fixtures and appliances, is there.

Your first weeks

• Change the locks. You don't know who else has a key.
• Find the stopcock, fuse box and gas meter, and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Register with a GP. NHS "Find a GP" shows which practices near you are accepting patients. Do the same for a dentist.
• Update your address with your bank, employer, HMRC and DVLA, and re-register to vote at the new address.
• Introduce yourself to the neighbours.

Moving within a few months? Save the places you're considering to your shortlist and compare them side by side as you go.