Moving House Checklist — Costs to Budget For

A Complete Financial Checklist for Your House Move

Moving house involves more cost categories than almost any other consumer transaction. This checklist covers everything from offer acceptance to three months after moving in. Use it alongside our [moving cost calculator](/moving-cost-calculator) to build a genuinely complete budget.

Phase 1: Before Exchange of Contracts

Mortgage Costs

• Mortgage arrangement fee (£0–£1,999 — can usually be added to loan)
• Mortgage broker fee (£0–£500 — many brokers are fee-free, paid by lender)
• Mortgage valuation fee (£150–£400 — some products include this free)

Survey

• HomeBuyer Report / Level 2 survey (£400–£700)
• Full Building Survey / Level 3 survey (£700–£1,500 for older or unusual properties)
• Specialist reports if flagged by survey: damp, structural, drainage (£150–£600 each)

Conveyancing

• Conveyancer legal fee (£800–£2,000 depending on property type and value — use our [conveyancing calculator](/conveyancing-calculator))
• VAT on legal fee (20%)
• Local authority search (£60–£250)
• Water and drainage search (£30–£50)
• Environmental search (£30–£50)
• Land Registry fee (£20–£500 depending on purchase price)
• CHAPS bank transfer fee (£25–£40)
• ID verification (£10–£20 per person)
• Leasehold management pack (£100–£400 if leasehold)
• Deed of covenant and notice of transfer (£50–£400 if leasehold)

Stamp Duty Land Tax

• First-time buyers: zero on first £300,000; 5% on £300,001–£500,000
• Standard buyers: 0% to £125,000; 2% to £250,000; 5% to £925,000
• Additional dwelling surcharge: +5% on all bands if buying a second property

Phase 2: Between Exchange and Completion

• Buildings insurance (must start from exchange date)
• Contents insurance (arrange to start from completion day)
• Removal company booking deposit (usually 10–25% of total fee)

Phase 3: Moving Day and First Week

Removal Costs

• Removal company final balance (£400–£3,500 depending on size and distance — our [moving cost calculator](/moving-cost-calculator))
• Packing materials if self-packing (£50–£200)
• Storage if required (£80–£400 per month)
• Additional vehicle or man with a van for overflow (£150–£400)

Immediate Property Costs

• Locksmith or rekeying external locks (£150–£350)
• Boiler service if no recent certificate (£80–£120)
• Gas safety check if no certificate (£60–£100)
• Electrical installation condition report for older properties (£150–£300)
• Professional clean before moving in (£150–£400)

Address and Administration

• Royal Mail postal redirection (£34–£67 per person for 3–12 months)
• Electoral roll update (free)
• DVLA driving licence and vehicle registration update (free online)

Phase 4: First Four Weeks

Utilities and Services

• Broadband installation (£0–£100)
• TV licence (£169.50 per year in 2026)
• Council tax registration at new address
• Update energy suppliers

Home Essentials for First-Time Buyers

• Curtains and blinds throughout (£200–£1,500+)
• White goods if not included (£1,000–£2,500 for full set)
• Lawnmower and garden tools (£150–£450)
• Decorating supplies for immediate redecoration (£100–£400)

Immediate Repairs

• Address survey recommendations: budget 1–2% of purchase price for immediate work on an older property

Phase 5: Months Two and Three

• Ongoing maintenance budget: 1% of property value per year (£2,800/year on a £280,000 property)
• Remaining decoration and furnishing
• Seasonal garden work

Indicative Total (3-bedroom house, £300,000 purchase)

Build every line of this into your plan using our [moving cost calculator](/moving-cost-calculator) before you agree a completion date.