Change of Address Checklist & Tips: How to Stay Organized During Your Move

You move with all your belongings to another city, but your government documents and online orders are being forwarded to your old address. Your old house, Gardner, is still calling you for the equipment they will bring, and even your yoga friends are waiting for you to join classes.

If you didn’t complete the moving change of address checklist, things like this would be part of your after-moving days at your new place. But no worries—we have a solution to connect your new place to you.

The only thing you need to do is read this blog post. We guarantee you will not miss anything vital during your house move.

Who Should You Notify of Your Change of Address?

1. Government Administrations 

Your relocation information should be disclosed to the government. You must keep your records up to date to access important government services.

Here is the list of essential government organisations that need to be prioritised in the change of address checklist in Australia:

• Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
• Australian Electoral Commission
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Department of Human Services:
• Centrelink
• Concession cards
• Pension cards
• Seniors cards
• Child Support Agency
• Medicare
• Australia Post 
• Donate Life 
• Library 
• Human Services – Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support Agency 
• Pap Test Register 
• Rego 
• School, University, TAFE
• State Tax Office  

Other organisations you need to inform about your new address may include the following:

Election Commission 

It is critical to keep your information updated with the Commission so that you can vote in local, state, and national elections. You and each family member can re-register for a change of address at https://www.aec.gov.au/.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)  

It’s crucial to inform the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) of your address change. You can visit the https://www.ato.gov.au/ site to update your new address. This assures you that you continue receiving critical tax contacts, such as your yearly tax return and assessment notifications.

Authority for Driver and Vehicle Registration 

If you have a driver’s license or car registration, you must inform the state government of your address change. To do so, visit https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/my-drivers-licence.asp.

Department of Work and Pensions 

If you or a family member receives a government pension and needs to inform the authorities, visit https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/. You can also get work done by calling the relevant hotline.

2. Household Address Change Checklist

You must change your address with your current utility companies to get water and electricity at your new place. You should do this at least one month before a move to ensure the necessary services are turned on.

• Electricity: Energy providers take more than 48 hours to update the information, so update it in advance to eliminate any last-minute hassle. Depending on your electricity account, you could be charged for ending the service early. In such cases, you can ask if they allow you to move the deal to your new home.
• Gas: Remember to report your move to your gas provider. On the day you leave, note the readings of your electricity and gas. This way, you won’t be charged for a service you haven’t used.
• Water: Your water provider also needs to know about your move so they don’t charge you for the service after a specific date.
• Mail Redirection Service: Changing mailing addresses everywhere takes time. With the mail redirection service, you can redirect your letters and parcels to your new address within Australia and overseas; for that, visit  https://auspost.com.au/receiving/mail-redirection-mail-hold/redirection.

Depending on your location, you can transfer most or all of your utility services via phone or online.

Suppose you are moving across city or state lines or transitioning from a home to an apartment. In that case, you’ll likely cancel utility services in your old city and start new accounts with your new local utility company.

Note: It should be done up to three months before moving. Please note that this redirect is not a permanent solution.

3. Recreational Activity 

If you are involved in recreational activities, you must notify organisations of your address change. If you are moving far away, you need to cancel the subscriptions.

There may be some communities you still want to be a part of. You must also inform them so you can receive important information regarding upcoming events and activities.

You can either visit them personally, mail them, or call them.

• Sports Club 
• Fitness centre/gyms 
• Dance and Music Schools 
• Outdoor Adventure Companies 
• Water Sports Organizations 
• Social Cubs  

4. Change of Address in the Educational Sector 

If you are a student or have school-going kids or children attending university, you should notify your education providers of your most current contact information—even if it means you’re only moving a few blocks from your previous address.

Please also inform your children’s sports teams, music classes, or scout troops about your new address.

5. Financial Institutions 

You must inform financial institutions of your new address by contacting their customer service departments.

They have a method for changing customers’ contact information, including their addresses.

Here are some financial institutions you won’t want to miss:

• Bank 
• Loan Companies 
• Credit Card and Debit Card Companies 
• Premium Bonds 
• Store cards

It is critical to maintain your current address to get vital financial statements and alerts.

When you call or send an email, make sure you have your account numbers and other identifying information on hand.

6. Insurance Providers 

It is necessary to keep your address current to receive important policy changes and communications and to guarantee that your insurance paperwork is delivered to the correct address.

• Life Insurance 
• Health Insurance 
• Home/Contents Insurance 
• Pet Insurance 
• Travel Insurance  

7. Friends, Household Service Providers, And Family 

Do not forget to add your family and friends to your change of address checklist. People who often visit or surprise you usually need an updated location to stay connected. Your location update is also crucial for people who work for you, such as household service providers, accountants, etc. To simplify this process, you can inform them by sending bulk and WhatsApp messages.

• Family & friends
• Cleaner 
• Accountant 
• Solicitor
• Notify all of your household service providers, including the gardener 

Conclusion 

In short, making sure your address is updated is very important when you move. It helps you stay connected with everyone you need to and ensures that your essential services keep running smoothly and perfectly. Whether it’s the state, your friends, utility companies, or banks, etc notifying them all will save you a lot of time and headaches.

We know moving is a hectic process, but trusting a reliable moving partner can make it smooth and stress-free. Moving Champs has an experienced team and a proven track record of effortlessly executing moves.