Who to notify when moving to a new home

Moving homes can be both exciting and stressful at the same time. But with a little planning and coordination, it doesn’t have to be a painful process. We’ve compiled a list of primary and secondary institutions, service providers, and subscription services you need to consider contacting to ensure your electricity is on at your new house and to help you avoid late payments, account confusion with your provider, and possible termination of your previous services.

Who are my primary contacts? 

It’s important to take note of any regular, physical mail that finds its way into your mailbox, by adding them to your list of primary contacts. And if you know you haven’t gone paperless with certain providers that aren’t on the list, you should also add them as well.

The primary contacts you should notify are:

• the Australian Tax Office, 
• any relevant banking and credit institutions,
• utility providers (water, gas, electricity, etc.),
• insurance companies (car, contents, pet, business and/or renter insurance),
• your state’s government service provider for licenses and rego (car, boat, bike, etc.)
• phone and internet providers,
• Medicare and health insurance companies,
• the Australian Electoral Commission, 
• health services (doctor, dentist, chiropractor, physio, etc.), and/or
• educational institutions (schools, universities, etc. where you and/or your family are enrolled).

Who to notify first 

Fast forward to your move-in day: the furniture has been organised, the kids (and/or pets) are beginning to get settled, and the place you’ve moved into is beginning to feel like a home. The last part of the equation is making sure that you’re able to use all your usual utilities and services in your new home on the day of.

Utility providers 

Your first call should be to your previous/new utility provider (hint, hint). These include water, gas, and your electricity. Transfer times between energy providers are no longer painstakingly tedious – they can be done immediately. If you’re an existing customer, all you need to do is notify them of your address change. If you’re making the switch to another provider, then all you need to do is sign up. They will organise your power on the preferred date of your move in and will finalise your handover for you.

It’s important to note that when you move into a new house, the electricity retailer used by the last tenant “owns the account for that house.” You will usually receive what’s known as an “occupier letter” in your mailbox within the first week, asking you to switch to them or to another energy provider. Don’t ignore these letters, because if the power hasn’t been switched off, you may be billed by them before you switch to your chosen electricity retailer.

Telephone and internet  

Who wouldn’t want to sit on their couch and relax with some Netflix and takeaway after a long day of moving? We suggest contacting your phone and internet provider (whether bundled or separate) to connect your services the day before you arrive. That way, you won’t need to worry about waiting for the internet (especially for people who work from home). And you may want to double-check that you’ve updated your address, so the delivery driver knows where to bring your takeaway food!

Banks and financial institutions 

Securing your personal and financial information in the mail is easier now that most companies have opted for paperless (electronic) delivery. However, if you do still receive physical mail, then it’s important to let them know about your change of address because you don’t want your information to fall into the hands of the wrong people.

Insurance companies 

It’s important to notify certain insurance companies of your change of address. Personal and home and contents insurance should come to mind when making your calls. A reassessment of your policies and changes in your premiums may also apply. And depending on your new living situation and your new suburb, some of your premiums may decrease.

Who are my secondary contacts? 

Your secondary contacts are still important and will need to be notified of your relevant detail changes, however, when it comes to the moving process these contacts can be delayed.

Secondary contacts that you can take into consideration are:

• loyalty rewards programs (aviation, retail, technology),
• supermarket delivery services (Coles and Woolworths online),
• memberships - (gym, sports, libraries, dancing),
• subscription services - (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ etc.),
• magazine subscriptions, and
• streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music)

Now you’re ready to go! 

By following checklists and planning ahead, you’ll have more confidence when it’s time to move. After all, not much beats the feeling of a smooth transition into a new home!