Movesmith guides
Moving house, minus the guesswork
Practical, jargon-free guides to the bits of moving that catch people out — council tax, costs, admin and timing. Written to be useful, not to sell you anything.
Tools
Moving essentials
Costs & admin
- Council Tax When Moving HouseTell both your old and new councils, expect a final bill from one and a fresh bill from the other, and claim any discount you're due. Here's exactly how council tax works when you move home in the UK.Read the guide →
- How Much Does It Cost to Move House?Moving costs split into two buckets: the move itself (removals, packing, cleaning) and the transaction (conveyancing, survey, Stamp Duty if you're buying, or a deposit if you're renting). Here's what each actually costs and where the money hides.Read the guide →
- Change of Address Checklist: Who to Tell When You MoveWhen you move, no one updates your address for you. Tell both councils, your bank, employer, DVLA, HMRC, GP, utilities and insurers — and set up a Royal Mail redirect as a safety net. Here's the full list, grouped and in order.Read the guide →
- House Clearance Costs: What You'll Pay in the UKFull house clearance with disposal typically runs from around £150 for a small flat to £1,500+ for a large house, priced on volume, access and what needs taking away. But if you only need the contents moved — not thrown away — that's a fixed-price removal, which is usually cheaper.Read the guide →