How to Prepare for a House Move in London

Moving house in London comes with a few extra wrinkles compared with anywhere else: tight parking, narrow stairwells, listed-building rules and the famous London traffic. After 12+ years of moving families across the capital, here's the prep that consistently makes for a smooth day.

Six weeks before

Start sorting. The best time to declutter is before you pack, not after, every bag of charity donation is a box you don't have to lift twice. Book your removals company early, especially if you're moving on a Friday or end-of-month.

If you'll need a parking suspension at either end (typical for a Luton van outside a flat without a driveway), apply now. Most London councils need 5–10 working days' notice, and some boroughs like Camden, Westminster and Hackney process them online.

Two weeks before

Notify the council, your utilities, your bank and the DVLA. Set up Royal Mail redirection. Order packing materials, sturdy double-walled boxes, tape, bubble wrap and a marker pen.

Start packing the rooms you use least: spare bedrooms, lofts and garages first. Label each box with the room it belongs to at the new property, not the room it's leaving. This single change makes unpacking dramatically faster.

One week before

Pack a "first night" box per person: bed linen, a towel, toiletries, charger, kettle, mugs, tea, and a change of clothes. Keep it with you, not on the van.

Confirm details with your removers, address, access notes, parking arrangements, contact numbers for both ends, and whether you need them to dismantle beds, wardrobes or trampolines. Take photos of how electronics are wired up if you'll need to set them back up later.

The day before

Defrost the freezer. Run down the contents of the fridge. Disconnect the washing machine (drain it first or it leaks into the van). Take meter readings the moment the van arrives in the morning.

Moving day

Be on site, with the kettle accessible. Walk the crew through the priority rooms and any fragile items. Keep documents, keys and valuables in a single bag that stays with you. Once loading is done, do a final walk of every room and every cupboard, it's amazing what gets missed in the corner of an empty wardrobe.

At the new property, mark the path through the house with painter's tape if floors need protecting, and direct boxes straight to their destination rooms.

A word on flats and lifts

If your move involves a lift, book it in writing with the building manager. Many London blocks limit move-ins to set hours (often 9–5, never weekends) and will refuse access without a booking. Confirm the lift dimensions in advance, full-size sofas often don't fit and the alternative is the stairs.

When in doubt, get a survey

Any reputable removals company will offer a free home survey before quoting. It's worth 20 minutes for a fixed, accurate price and a plan you can actually trust.

Planning a move? Browse our removals services or get a free quote, we move customers across East, North and Greater London every week.