Your Ultimate Checklist for Address Change When Moving House

Updating your address with various organisations and service providers before moving is essential to ensure that you don’t miss any important mail, bills, or notifications. It can also help you avoid identity theft, fraud, and other problems that could arise from having your personal information sent to the wrong place.

But who exactly do you need to notify when you move house? And how do you go about it? In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive checklist of all the places you need to change your address when moving house in Australia, as well as some tips to make the process easier and faster. Let’s get started!

Who to Notify When Moving House: A Checklist

There are many different parties and institutions that you need to inform of your change of address when moving house. Some of them are more urgent than others, but it’s best to do it as soon as possible to avoid any hassle or confusion. 

Here are the main categories of places you need to change your address, along with some examples and links to help you do it online or in person.

Government agencies 

These include the postal service, the tax office, the Medicare, the Centrelink, the Department of Home Affairs, the electoral commission, and any other government benefits or services you receive. 

You need to update your address with these agencies to ensure that you receive your mail, tax returns, benefits, citizenship or visa information, voting information, and other official documents. 

You can usually do this online, by phone, or by mail, depending on the agency.

Here’s a list of government agencies you need to inform about your address change before moving. 

• Australia Post: They handle your mail and packages. You can update your address with them either online or by visiting a post office.
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO): They take care of taxes. You can let them know your new address either online or by giving them a call.
• Medicare: They assist with healthcare services. You can change your address with them either online or by making a phone call.
• Centrelink: They provide support payments. You can inform them about your new address either online or by calling.
• Department of Home Affairs: They manage citizenship and visas. You can update your address with them either online or by sending mail.
• Australian Electoral Commission: They manage voting for national elections. You can update your address with them either online or by sending mail.
• State or Territory Road and Transport Authorities: They handle things like your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and road rules, ensuring safe travels. You can update your address with them online or in person, depending on your state or territory. 

Utility companies

Making sure your utility companies know your new address is super important when you move. It stops you from paying for services you don’t need, makes sure all your services start-up smoothly at your new home, and ensures you get your bills on time. Letting these companies know ahead of time is key—it avoids any interruptions in your services.

Below are the utility providers you should notify when you move to a new place

• Gas
• Electricity
• Water
• Garbage
• Sewage
• Phone
• Cable
• Internet

Financial institutions

Making sure your address is up to date with your financial institutions is really important. It keeps your accounts safe from possible fraud, makes sure you get all your statements and important notices correctly and helps avoid extra fees or penalties. 

Usually, you can update your address with them online, by phone, or through mail, depending on how each one works. Consider notifying below financial service providers 

• Bank
• Credit Card Company
• Loan Provider
• Insurance Provider
• Mortgage Company
• Investment Firm
• Retirement Fund/Provider
• Stockbroker
• Mutual Fund Company
• Financial Advisor
• Wealth Management Company
• Pension Provider
• Money Transfer Service
• Prepaid Card Issuer

Employer

Informing your employer about your new address is crucial to ensure that you receive all work-related documents accurately. This includes items such as:

• Payslips
• Tax forms
• Other important work-related papers
• Employment contracts
• Performance reviews
• Training materials
• Employee handbooks
• HR communication or policies
• Benefits information
• Work-related permits/licenses
• Payroll notifications
• Company newsletters or updates

Doctor

Updating your address with your doctor is crucial to ensure you receive all your medical correspondence accurately. This includes various essential documents such as:

• Test results
• Appointment reminders
• Other crucial medical communications
• specialist referrals
• Prescriptions or medication details
• Health insurance correspondence
• Health screening reminders
• Treatment plans or summaries
• Medical billing statements
• Follow-up instructions or care plans

School

Notifying your child’s school or educational institution about your updated address is highly important. This ensures that you receive all school-related documents accurately, including:

• Report cards
• Newsletters
• Other educational updates

Subscriptions

Updating your address for magazine subscriptions, streaming services, or any other subscriptions is crucial to ensure you receive these services without interruption. This includes:

• Magazines
• Streaming services
• Other subscribed content

Changing your address for subscriptions can often be done through the service provider’s online account management system, via email, or by contacting their customer service. This helps ensure you continue receiving your subscribed content at your new address.

Tips to Make Changing Your Address Easier and Faster

Changing your address across various places can be overwhelming and time-consuming, but employing some helpful tips and resources can streamline the process. Here are effective strategies to make this transition easier and faster:

Create a Comprehensive List

Before your move, make a list of all the places requiring your updated address. This helps you keep track of your progress and ensures you don’t miss notifying any essential contacts. Whether using a physical notebook, a digital spreadsheet, or an app, staying organised is key.

Use Online Services

Leveraging online services or apps that enable simultaneous address changes with multiple organisations can be a huge time-saver. Platforms like Australia Post’s Notify Organisations service or OneForm allow you to update your address across various entities, from government agencies to utility providers, financial institutions, and subscriptions, all in one go.

Notify Friends and Family

Sharing your new address with loved ones is crucial. Sending a text, an email, or a social media post, or using moving announcement services like Canva or Paperless Post for personalised moving cards can make the process both practical and enjoyable.

Update Online Profiles and Accounts

Don’t forget your digital presence! Updating your address on social media accounts, online shopping platforms, banking services, and other digital apps you use can prevent confusion and ensure a seamless transition. Whether it’s Amazon, PayPal, or other online services, keeping your address updated is key for hassle-free interactions.

Conclusion

Changing your address when moving house is an important but often overlooked task. It can help you avoid missing any important mail, bills, or notifications, as well as protect your identity and accounts from fraud. However, it can also be a tedious and time-consuming task, as you need to notify many different places and institutions of your change of address.