Moving Compared, the UK's leading home moving hub helping buyers, sellers and movers compare trusted conveyancers, surveyors and removals providers, is warning that one of the most overlooked parts of moving home begins after completion. While the average home move now costs £13,018 for an averagely priced UK property, the weeks that follow can bring additional costs as households update dozens of organisations with their new address.
Broadband is one example, with Ofcom reporting that 28% of customers are out of contract despite in-contract customers paying £7 to £9 less per month on average, highlighting how moving home presents an opportunity to review household services rather than simply transferring existing arrangements. Missing key updates can lead to billing errors, interrupted services, insurance complications and important correspondence being sent to the wrong address.
The modern home move has become as much a burdening administrative exercise as well a physical one. Alongside arranging removals and unpacking, households also need to notify: banks, mortgage providers, insurers, utility companies, broadband suppliers, mobile providers, employers, pension schemes, HMRC, the DVLA, healthcare services and subscription providers. Each organisation operates its own processes and timescales, meaning address updates can quickly become fragmented across multiple websites.
Insurance is one area where overlooked administration can become particularly important. Home and motor insurers typically expect customers to notify them when circumstances change, including a change of address. Similarly, forgotten utility transfers or broadband updates can leave households paying for services at the wrong property, facing unexpected installation delays or receiving estimated final bills. Important financial correspondence may also continue to be sent to a previous address, increasing the risk of missed payments, delayed notifications or sensitive documents falling into the wrong hands.
Moving Compared says today's households face a growing administrative burden, with dozens of organisations requiring separate address updates after a move. The platform recommends preparing a post-move admin plan before completion, including updating insurance details and arranging utilities, broadband, mail redirection and other key services in advance to reduce disruption and avoid unnecessary costs.
