Moving house checklist, Northern Ireland

12 Steps for moving house in Northern Ireland 

Our 12-step checklist is here to make life easier when you’re moving house in Northern Ireland. You’ll find step-by-step instructions on everything you need to keep in mind when you’re getting ready for a big move.

Whether you're a first-time buyer, moving between rental properties or moving the length or breadth of Northern Ireland, you’ll find tips and advice that are relevant to your move. If you want to keep checking your moving house checklist as you prepare to move, you’ll be able to download a copy at the end of this guide. 

For now let’s explore all the steps you need to follow…

Step 1: Confirm moving date

The first step is to confirm your moving date. Once you know when moving day will be, you can start to put other plans in place. As well as deciding on a date, find out what the logistics will be on the day. Liaise with your estate agent or letting agent to confirm who you need to give your keys to and who will give you the keys to your new home. 

These discussions are also a great opportunity to find out essential details about your new house, like:

• Where are the gas and electricity meters?
• Where's the main stopcock to switch off the water supply?
• What day or days are the bins collected, and where are they collected?
• What paint colours are on the walls and do you have any old tins?
• Do you have the instruction manuals or warranties for any appliances that are staying in the property?
• Where are the kitchen and bathroom tiles from?
• Who are the current energy, broadband and landline suppliers?
• Where is the thermostat?

Step 2: Hand in notice to landlords
If you’re currently renting, at this point you can hand in your notice to your landlord. It’s important to give plenty of notice to avoid having to pay rent for a property you’re no longer living in. But you don’t want to hand in your notice before you’re sure of your moving date and risk leaving yourself with no home.

• Check your rental agreement to see how much notice you need to give. If you’ve been in your home for more than a year this will usually be one or two months.
• If you're in a fixed-term tenancy, see if there's a break clause in your tenancy agreement.
• If there’s no break clause, see if your landlord will agree to end the tenancy early.
• Speak to your landlord or letting agent directly, as well as handing in your notice in writing. 
• Be polite and friendly — discuss your reasons for leaving and see if you can reach an agreement.

Step 3: Notify utility suppliers 

Next, it’s time to tell your utility suppliers that you’re moving. It’s important to do this soon after agreeing your moving date so that your suppliers have a chance to move you across to your new home seamlessly. Prioritising contacting all of your utility providers gives you the best chance of these being ready when you move into your new house.

If you’re under contract with any of your suppliers, moving your service to the new property may help you to avoid breaking your contract. With no fixed-term contract and no exit fees, you don’t have to worry about this scenario with Power NI.

• Contact your electricity provider to tell them you’re moving. At Power NI, we’ve made this as easy as possible. If you're moving to a property that is already registered for supply with Power NI, you can update us within your online account up to 28 days ahead of your move. Visit ‘Moving House’. You will need:

  • The date you are moving out of your existing property.

  • Final meter read if the property you are moving out of has a bill pay meter. If you’re not moving out just yet, you can provide this at a later stage.

  • Your new address.

  • Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) or Keypad Premise Number (KPRN) at your new property.

  • Moving in date.

  • Opening meter read at your new property if it has a bill pay meter. If you don’t have this just yet, don’t worry, you can provide this at a later stage.

  • If you're moving to a property that is registered with another electricity supplier, please call us on 03457 455 455. Lines open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

• Contact your landline and broadband provider(s) to either transfer or cancel your contract. 

• If you’re a customer of a gas company in Northern Ireland, you’ll also need to notify them.

Step 4: Notify other important contacts
Now you can tell other contacts and organisations that you’re moving. This is usually a longer process than you first imagine so we’ve put together a list of all the important people to contact when you’re moving house in Northern Ireland.

• Government bodies - Your local council for rates, the DVA for your driving licence, the Department for Communities for any benefits, HMRC for taxes, TV Licensing, and the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.
• Financial - Your bank and savings account providers, credit card companies, store loyalty card providers and pension companies.
• Insurance - Your car insurance, home insurance, pet insurance, health insurance, life insurance and any other insurance providers.
• Healthcare - Your doctor's surgery, dentist, optician and any other healthcare providers you visit.
• Work and education - Your employer and company pension fund, your colleagues, professional associations, schools, colleges and educational institutions.
• Post - Redirect your post to your new address using Royal Mail's redirection service.

Step 5: Declutter
Before you start packing, it’s time to make sure you’re not moving things you don’t need. Getting rid of unnecessary items will make packing easier, make your move easier and help to save space in your new house. You can carry out a pre-move clear-out by:

• Donating to charity shops and clothing banks.
• Selling unwanted items online via platforms like eBay, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted.
• Offering things you don’t need any more to friends and family.
• Taking anything that isn’t suitable to sell or donate to your local recycling centre. 

Step 6: Organise removal logistics 

Now you need to plan for the logistics of moving from A to B. As well as finding a removal company, you’ll probably need to plan ahead to make sure any friends or family members who will be lending a hand are available.

• Price different removal companies to see how their quotes compare. Remember to check what each price includes and read reviews for each company.
• Find out which friends and family members will be able to help on moving day.
• Make child care and pet care arrangements for moving day. 
• Plan your driving route to your new home — especially if you’re making a long-distance move.
• Book time off work if needed.

Step 7: Begin packing 
At this point, you can start packing boxes for your move. It’s best to do this around a month before your moving date — close enough that you can be reasonably confident you won’t need things that you’re packing but far enough away that you’re not throwing things into boxes in a state of panic.

• Get packing materials, like boxes, bubble wrap, labels, sticky tape and markers, so you can pack carefully and efficiently.
• Start by packing things you don’t use very often. Seasonal items that you're not going to use, such as clothes, Christmas decorations or garden tools, are a good starting point.
• Pack room-by-room, keeping items from the same room boxed together. Clearly label each box with the room it’s going into, so your removal company can put it in the right place for you.
• Leave the essentials — like plates, cups and cutlery, toiletries and electronic devices you’ll need — to pack last.

Step 8: Pay remaining bills & finalise plans

In the final days before your big move, put in place plans for tying up any loose ends at your current property. This will include arranging to pay any final bills and confirming your moving plans. 

• Remember to take a final meter reading at the property you are moving out of and submit this to your electricity provider if you haven’t already. If you’re a Power NI customer, you can call us on 03457 455 455 or email us at [email protected] with your meter reading. 

• Get in touch with the removal company to confirm times and arrangements for moving day.

• Get in touch with your internet provider to make sure everything is ready for your switch.

Step 9: Stock up on essentials 
Ahead of moving day, stock up on all the essentials. This is a box to prepare for everything you’ll need on your first night in your new house. You could even take your essentials box yourself instead of leaving it to the removal company. That way you’ll know it's close at hand. Remember to pack:

• Essential toiletries, including soap, toilet roll, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
• Basic food and drinks, such as snacks, tea bags, milk, bread and butter.
• Kitchen basics, such as a toaster, kettle, cups, crockery and cutlery.
• Bedding, nightwear and towels.
• Work clothes, school uniforms or other clothes for the next day.
• Important cleaning and household supplies, including surface cleaner, kitchen roll and rubber gloves, bin liners, a torch and light bulbs.

Step 10: Final walkthrough (& goodbyes) 
 

When moving day arrives it's time for a final check of your old house before leaving. Since everything has become part of the furniture, it’s easy to overlook things so it’s important to do a final walkthrough.

• Check all rooms a final time for any belongings you’ve forgotten.
• Remember to check the loft and any other storage spaces you might have overlooked.
• Pack final items such as curtains and bedding.
• Clean the house ready for the new owner.
• Clean any appliances and defrost the freezer.
• Take photos to document how the house was left, particularly rental properties.
• If you used a keypad meter at the property you're leaving, make sure and leave behind your top up card for the next tennant. You will need a new one for your new property otherwise you might top up the wrong premises.

Step 11: Enjoy moving day 
Moving house can be a stressful time. Going through all the steps we’ve mentioned so far gives you the best chance of being able to enjoy moving day. If everything’s gone to plan, your moving day tasks should be:

• Lock up your old house, drop off the keys and pick up your new keys.
• Take a meter reading at your new house and take note of your meter serial number.
• Start wiping surfaces, mopping and hoovering floors and cleaning cupboards.
• Unpack your essentials box so you have anything you need urgently.
• Next, unpack your kitchen boxes so that your appliances and food preparation items are ready.
• Move on to the bedrooms so that your bedding is ready and you’ll have somewhere to sleep.
• Do the bathroom next, making sure the water supply is turned on and unpacking towels, toiletries and other bathroom items.
• Assemble and arrange the furniture in your bedrooms, living room and dining room.
• Finally, unpack utility rooms, the garage and outdoor spaces.

Step 12: Post-move duties

While you’re settling into your new house, there are just a few post-move jobs to take care of to make sure your move comes to a smooth conclusion. It might be tempting to sit back but it’s worth one final push to get your new place just right.

• Continue to clean, unpack and rearrange furniture to get everything looking perfect.
• Change the locks to give you peace of mind that nobody else has a key to your home.
• Think about any new appliances or furniture that you need for the new space. See Power NI Perks for discount deals at retailers like IKEA, Argos, B&Q and M&S.

Make your money go further and make your new home more energy efficient by reading our guide to energy efficient appliances. 

Moving house checklist - printable PDF

Why not turn this 12-step checklist into a handy printout you can follow and tick off? Download and print our PDF checklist below:

Moving house checklist download.
 

Moving house with Power NI 

If you’re an existing Power NI customer, and moving into a property that is already registered with Power NI you can update us on your move online up to 28 days before you move. If you have already updated us online about your move, but haven’t yet provided us with your closing or opening meter reads call us on 03457 455 455 or email us at [email protected].  

Not currently a Power NI customer, but moving into a property that is registered with Power NI? Set up your electricity account now. 

If you’re moving house in Northern Ireland to a property that’s registered with another supplier, it’s a great opportunity to switch electricity providers.