Moving house in London is more complicated than moving anywhere else in the UK. Parking suspensions, ULEZ charges, congestion zones, tight Victorian staircases, CPZ restrictions — there's a lot to think about beyond just packing boxes. These moving tips and this checklist are built from ten years of moving hundreds of London households. Use it as your moving guide for every stage — not just the week before. Follow it week by week and nothing gets missed.
8 Weeks Before Moving Day
📦 8 Weeks Out
- Confirm your moving date and give notice to your landlord (usually 1–2 months required)
- Start getting removal quotes — book your man and van or removal company early for weekend/month-end dates
- Begin decluttering room by room — sell, donate or skip anything you don't want to pay to move
- Research your new area: nearest GP, schools, parking zones, council tax band
- Check if your new street is in a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) — you'll need a parking suspension permit for the van
- Notify your landlord / estate agent of your move-out date in writing
- Start collecting boxes — supermarkets, Facebook Marketplace, local Facebook groups
4 Weeks Before Moving Day
📋 4 Weeks Out
- Book your man and van or removal company — confirm in writing with a detailed quote
- Apply for parking suspension permits at both properties through your local council website (10+ working days for most London boroughs; Ealing accepts 3)
- Set up Royal Mail redirect — takes up to 5 days to activate, costs from £39.99 for 3 months
- Notify utility providers (gas, electricity, water, broadband) of your move date
- Book broadband installation at new property — engineers often have 2–3 week waiting lists
- Notify your bank, building society and credit card providers of your new address
- Update your address with HMRC (via Personal Tax Account or call 0300 200 3300)
- Update DVLA — change your driving licence address online (free) and your vehicle registration (V5C)
- Start packing non-essential rooms — spare bedroom, loft, garage, books
- Label every box: contents + destination room (e.g. "Kitchen — pots and pans")
- Photograph the back of your TV, computer setup and any complex cable arrangements before unplugging
Need a Man and Van for Your London Move?
A man with a van is the right choice for most London flat moves and smaller house moves — faster to book, more flexible on timing and more cost-effective than a full removal company team for loads under 3 bedrooms. London Moverz offers man and van hire from £50/hr with same-day availability on many dates. WhatsApp us the date, two postcodes and a rough idea of what you're moving — you'll have a quote within 15 minutes.
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2 Weeks Before Moving Day
🗓️ 2 Weeks Out
- Confirm your removal booking — check time, address, van size and price are all correct
- Notify your employer of your new address (for payroll, P60 and pension purposes)
- Update your electoral roll registration at gov.uk/register-to-vote
- Notify your GP and dentist — register with a new one near your new address if needed
- Update TV Licence address at tvlicensing.co.uk
- Notify insurance providers (home, car, contents, pet) of your move date and new address
- Cancel or transfer any local memberships (gym, library card, etc.)
- Continue packing — tackle the kitchen last as you'll need it until the final days
- Arrange childcare or pet care for moving day — keeps them safe and out of the way
- Confirm parking suspension permits have been approved by your council
1 Week Before Moving Day
⚡ 1 Week Out
- Pack almost everything — live out of a suitcase for the final week
- Disassemble large furniture: beds, wardrobes, dining tables — bag and label all screws
- Defrost the freezer — do this 24–48 hours before the move
- Use up perishable food from the fridge and freezer
- Confirm the exact time the removal team will arrive
- Check you have payment ready for the movers (cash or card as agreed)
- Pack an "essentials box" to go in your car (not the van): kettle, mugs, tea, phone charger, toilet roll, change of clothes, important documents, keys)
- Do a final check of loft, garage, garden shed and under-stairs cupboard
- Notify neighbours at both ends — moving vans can cause temporary road/access issues
Moving Day
🚚 Moving Day
- Take meter readings (gas, electricity, water) at your old property — photograph them
- Do a full walkthrough of every room, cupboard, loft and outside space before leaving
- Return keys to landlord or estate agent and get written confirmation
- Keep your phone charged — you'll be coordinating all day
- Direct the removal team clearly — have a floor plan or labels on rooms at the new property
- Check each room as items are unloaded — spot any damage immediately
- Take meter readings at your new property as soon as you arrive
- Locate your stopcock (water) and fuse box at the new property
- Check the broadband router is working
- Make the bed first — you'll thank yourself tonight
After Moving Day
✅ First Week at Your New Home
- Submit meter readings to your new energy supplier
- Check all post is being redirected correctly
- Register with a local GP if you haven't already
- Check your contents insurance policy covers your new address from day one
- Apply for a new parking permit if your new street requires one for residents
- Set up council tax with your new local authority (and cancel with your old one)
- Update your address with any subscriptions you missed (Amazon, Apple, Netflix, etc.)
- Introduce yourself to neighbours — especially useful in London flats for building management
London-Specific Things People Always Forget
These are the ones that catch London movers out more than anywhere else:
- Parking suspension permits — apply at least 10 working days before in most boroughs. Without one, your removal van may have to park 100+ metres away, adding significant time and cost to your bill.
- Congestion Charge — if your move crosses into central London, that's £18 per day. It applies Monday to Friday 7am–6pm and, since 2020, weekends and bank holidays 12pm–6pm too. Make sure you know the zone boundaries.
- ULEZ — check your removal company's vans are ULEZ-compliant. Non-compliant vans pay £12.50/day. All London Moverz vans are ULEZ-compliant.
- Lift bookings — many London apartment blocks require you to pre-book the goods lift for moving day. Failure to do this can mean your team has to use the stairs, adding hours to the job.
- Building management companies — some blocks require you to notify them of your move date and pay a deposit against damage to communal areas. Check your lease.
- Service charges — if you're buying a leasehold flat, make sure service charges are up to date before completion or you inherit the debt.
London Moving Tips — The Mistakes People Make Every Time
After ten years of London moves, the same mistakes come up on almost every job. These moving tips address the most common ones — all of them avoidable with a bit of planning.
Leaving parking too late
In a Controlled Parking Zone — which covers the majority of inner London streets — you need a formal parking suspension from the local council. Most London councils require 10 working days notice; Ealing is the notable exception at 3. Kensington and Chelsea require 10. Book the suspension as soon as you have your move date confirmed, not a few days before. A van that can't park outside your house adds hours to your move.
Underestimating how long the move will take
People consistently underestimate move time. A 2-bed flat in Clapham sounds manageable in 2 hours. Add a narrow Victorian staircase, a slow goods lift in the new block, and a 6am parking suspension window — it's a 4-hour job. Ask your man and van or removal company for an honest time estimate based on both addresses, not just the property size.
Not packing before moving day
The single most expensive mistake. Every box you're still packing when the van arrives is time on the meter. Pack everything except essential daily items the night before. Label every box on the side (not the top) with contents and destination room. One labelled box is worth ten unlabelled ones when you're trying to direct movers under time pressure.
Forgetting to update your address
The address change list is longer than most people expect: DVLA, HMRC, bank, NHS, electoral roll, TV Licence, car insurance, home insurance, all subscription services, employer HR, Royal Mail redirect. The Royal Mail redirect buys you time but doesn't replace updating at source. Set up the redirect immediately and then work through the full list in the first week at your new address.
How to Pack Efficiently
Full packing guide here, but the key rules:
- Pack heavy items in small boxes, light items in large boxes
- Fill every box completely — half-empty boxes collapse when stacked
- Wrap fragile items individually in bubble wrap or clothing
- Label every box on the side (not the top) so you can see labels when stacked
- Pack one "open first" box per room with the essentials you'll need immediately
- Don't leave packing to the morning of the move — it doubles the time and the cost
If you don't have time to pack yourself, our professional packing service can pack an entire flat the day before your move. It costs less than you'd think and saves hours on moving day.
London Moverz — What Customers Say
"Ali was amazing — took the stress out of the moving day. Was punctual and friendly. Would definitely recommend!"
Morgan Clarke · Google Review
"I had an outstanding experience with London Moverz! From the moment I booked to the final delivery, the whole process was seamless, professional and stress-free."
Sakine Ozen · Local Guide · Google Review
"Excellent service — Ali is incredibly efficient and helpful. Made a stressful move almost a lot easier than it should've been."
Tobi Jolaolu · Google Review
FAQs — Moving House in London
For weekend moves at month-end, book at least 2-3 weeks ahead. For midweek moves, 3-5 days is usually enough. Same-day bookings are sometimes available but not guaranteed.
Start packing non-essentials 4 weeks before your move date. Pack room by room, label every box with contents and destination room. Leave daily essentials until the night before.
Do a final walkthrough of every room, cupboard, loft and garage. Have cash or card ready for the movers. Ensure parking is arranged. Keep your phone charged. Take meter readings at both properties.
Yes — notify HMRC, your bank, DVLA, NHS/GP, electoral roll, TV Licence, utility providers, insurance companies, your employer, and all subscription services. Use the Royal Mail redirect service as a safety net.
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