Getting Your Affairs in Order When Relocating for Work
Relocating for work is a huge decision: not only are you embarking on a big change in your professional life, you’re also choosing to uproot your personal life and settle somewhere new. And, if you’re doing it with a family in tow, you’ll be trying to keep your children and partner in high spirits about the move, too! Here’s how to get your affairs in order when relocating for work
Tie up loose ends on your current property
If you’re renting your current property, you’ll need to notify your landlord and make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned before you give back the keys.
On the other hand, if you own a property, you’ll need to decide whether or not you’re going to sell it before you move. If you decide to sell and have been Googling “how to sell my house quickly” (after all, time is of the essence when you have a new job to start), a company specializing in the quick selling of houses could be the answer.
You’ll free up cash in a short time frame and tick off a major piece of admin before your new job begins.
Notify utility companies and anyone who sends you mail that you’re moving
It’s important that you notify your utility providers that you’ll no longer be living in the property so that responsibility to pay the bills transfers to the new occupiers or the landlord.
It’s also a good idea to tell anyone who sends you letters in the post – be it your bank, the doctor’s surgery or a relative – that you’re moving. You can pay to have your post redirected by the post office, and it’s well worth doing: unpaid bills in your name can affect your credit rating, and stray letters also increase the risk of identity fraud.
Cancel or amend your direct debits.
For instance, your internet provider will need to know that you’ve moved address, especially if you need to set up new payment details or think you’ll need to have something reinstalled at your new place.
Your bank or building society will also need to know that you’ve moved address to ensure that your bank accounts stay secure, and your cards will need to be registered to your new address too. And, your car insurer and breakdown cover provider will need to know that you’ve moved, especially if the relocation impacts the terms of your policy.
Notify bodies such as the DVLA that you’ve moved home.
Your car will need to be registered to your new address as failure to notify the DVLA can result in a fine. Your driving license and passport may also need to be updated to reflect your new address, and your employer’s HR department will need to update your personal details too.
Make sure that you register to vote once you’ve relocated.
When you move you don’t automatically get registered to vote at your new address. It’s important you register yourself so that you still have a say in who represents you and to ensure that your credit score isn’t negatively affected (generally you can only get credit by being on the electoral roll).