Moving house anywhere is stressful. Moving house in London throws in controlled parking zones, managed buildings with lift bookings, congestion and ULEZ rules, and narrow Victorian streets where a lorry can only just squeeze through. We’ve put together the checklist we’d want every customer to have from day one.
Work through it week by week and moving day becomes something you’ve planned rather than something that happens to you.
8 weeks before: set the foundations
Book your removal survey. Good removal companies get booked up, especially at month-end, on Fridays and in the summer. A proper survey, in person or by video, means your quote is based on what’s actually moving rather than a guess. At K1 every survey is free. Book a survey
Decide what’s coming with you. Go room by room and sort everything into keep, sell, donate or dump. Every item you don’t move saves packing time and space on the vehicle. London’s charity shops, the British Heart Foundation furniture collection service and local reuse groups make decluttering easier than ever.
Start a moving folder. Keep your completion or tenancy dates, the removal quote, solicitor or agent contacts, building rules and all your reference numbers in one place, paper or digital.
Check your new building’s rules. If you’re moving into or out of a managed block, ask the concierge or managing agent about:
- permitted move days and times
- lift booking and lift protection
- loading bay access
- whether they need an insurance certificate or a risk assessment from your removal company
Think about storage. If your dates don’t line up, ask about short-term storage now rather than in the last week. Removals and storage
6 weeks before: book the big things
Confirm your removal date as soon as exchange looks likely. Many movers will hold a provisional date.
Decide on packing. Will you pack yourself, have the professionals pack everything, or just pay for fragile packing? For large homes, full packing the day before the move saves a huge amount of stress. Packing services
Order materials. If you’re packing yourself, get proper double-walled boxes, tape, paper and wardrobe boxes, not supermarket boxes. You’ll need more than you think: as a rough guide, 40–60 boxes for a two-bed flat and 100–160 for a four-bed house.
Give notice. If you’re renting, check your notice period. If you have children, tell their school and register them at a new one if needed.
4 weeks before: London-specific admin
Arrange the parking suspension. This is the step Londoners forget most often. If there’s no reserved legal space for a removal lorry outside either property, you’ll need a parking bay suspension from the council. Notice periods vary by council: Hounslow asks for at least 10 working days, Ealing at least 3 working days, and Hammersmith & Fulham about 8 days. Apply two to three weeks ahead to be safe. A good removal company will apply for you. Our guide to parking suspensions in Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham
Check ULEZ and the Congestion Charge. The Ultra Low Emission Zone covers all London boroughs. If you’re hiring a van yourself, check it’s compliant. Moving in or out of central London on a weekday? The Congestion Charge may apply too.
Redirect your post. Royal Mail’s redirection service takes a few days to set up, so do it now.
Update your details. Make a list of everyone who needs your new address: bank, employer, HMRC, DVLA (driving licence and V5C), GP, dentist, insurance providers, pensions, subscriptions, TV Licensing and the electoral roll.
Council tax. Tell both your old and new London councils when you’re moving, so you’re billed correctly.
2 weeks before: pack and prepare
Start packing the rooms you use least: lofts, guest rooms, books, out-of-season clothes and the garage. Label every box with the room and a short description. Our packing tips for large homes
Book utilities. Arrange final meter readings and set up gas, electricity, water and broadband at the new home. Broadband installations in London can take two weeks or more, so book early.
Plan for children and pets. Moving day is much easier if young children and pets are with friends or family, or in day care.
Confirm the details with your remover: the arrival time, both addresses, parking arrangements, building bookings, items that need dismantling and anything that’s not going.
1 week before: final checks
- Use up the food in your freezer.
- Defrost the fridge and freezer 24–48 hours before the move.
- Return keys, library books and borrowed items.
- Sort out valuables: jewellery, passports, documents, chargers and medicines should travel with you, not in the lorry.
- Pack an essentials box (see below).
- Measure large furniture and check it fits through the new doors, stairs and lift.
The day before
- If you’ve booked packing, the packers will usually arrive now.
- Take apart anything you’ve agreed to dismantle yourself, and keep the screws in labelled bags taped to the furniture.
- Charge your phone and keep it with you.
- Make sure your removal company knows exactly where the parking suspension is and has the building contact.
Moving day
- Be ready for the crew’s arrival time, and walk the supervisor through the house.
- Point out anything that’s not going.
- Take meter readings and photos at the old property.
- Do a final check of every room, cupboard, loft, shed and garden.
- At the new home, stand at the door and direct each item to the right room. Labels make this quick.
- Check that the beds are rebuilt before the crew leaves, so you have somewhere to sleep.
Your essentials box
Pack one clearly marked box that travels with you:
- kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, snacks
- toilet roll, hand soap, towels
- phone chargers and an extension lead
- bedding for the first night
- basic tools: screwdriver, scissors, a tape cutter
- medication, toiletries and a change of clothes
- children’s favourite toys and pet food
The first week in your new home
- Register with a GP and dentist.
- Check your council tax and parking permit at the new address. Many London CPZs need you to apply for a resident permit straight away.
- Test the smoke alarms and find the stopcock and fuse box.
- Unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first, then the rest room by room.
- Recycle or reuse your boxes. Many removal companies, including us, will collect packing materials.
Why a planned move costs less stress, and often less money
Most moving-day problems come from things nobody planned: no parking, the wrong size van, packing that isn’t finished, a building that turns the crew away. A professional removal company that surveys properly, sorts the parking and gives you a clear quote takes nearly all of that risk away.
K1 Removals plans every move this way, from one-bed flats to large 4–5 bed family homes, and every move is covered by £5 million public liability insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book a removal company in London?
Ideally 4–8 weeks, and earlier for summer, month-end and Friday moves.
Do I need a parking suspension to move house in London?
If there’s no reserved legal space outside your property for a large vehicle, yes. Notice periods vary by council, from 3 working days in Ealing to 10 working days in Hounslow, so apply two to three weeks ahead.
What should I not pack in the removal van?
Keep valuables, passports, important documents, medication, cash and chargers with you. Don’t pack flammables, paint or gas bottles.
How many boxes do I need?
Roughly 40–60 for a two-bed flat and 100–160 for a four-bed house, depending on how much you own.
Is my move insured?
With K1 Removals, yes. Every move is covered by £5 million public liability insurance.
Ready to plan your move?
Call 0330 103 0041 or book a free survey. We’ll give you a clear quote and handle the parking, packing and building paperwork.
Dean, K1 Removals