How to Redirect Your Post with Royal Mail When Moving House
Sorting out Royal Mail redirection when moving house is one of those jobs that is easy to forget and annoying to fix later. A redirection quietly forwards post addressed to your old home on to your new one, so a bank statement, a hospital letter or a birthday card does not end up in a stranger's recycling while you chase round updating every account. It is not a substitute for telling people you have moved, but it is the safety net that catches everything you miss.
This guide explains what the Royal Mail Redirection service actually does, when to set it up, how long it lasts and how it fits alongside the rest of your moving house checklist.
What Royal Mail redirection does
Redirection intercepts letters and parcels addressed to your name at your old address and re-delivers them to your new one, usually with a day or so of extra transit time. You can redirect post for one person, a whole family (people sharing the same surname) or a business, and you can send it to an address anywhere in the UK or overseas.
It is worth being clear about what it will not do. It forwards mail addressed to the specific names on the application, so post addressed only to "The Occupier" or unaddressed marketing is not redirected. It also does not update your address with anyone: the sender still thinks you live at the old place until you tell them otherwise. Treat redirection as breathing space, not a permanent fix.
When to set it up
Apply in good time. Royal Mail asks for the application at least five working days before you want the redirection to start, and you can arrange it up to three months ahead of the move, so it is a sensible job for the weeks before completion rather than moving day itself. You choose the start date, so line it up with the day you hand back the keys.
You will need proof of identity for the person named on the redirection, and payment. Applications can be made online or at a Post Office branch. If your move date slips, which happens often in a chain, you can usually change the start date, so do not panic if completion moves by a few days.
How long it lasts and what it costs
Redirection is sold by length: you can take it for three, six or twelve months, and you can renew it when it runs out, up to a few years in total. The price depends on how long you want it and how many surnames you are covering, so a single person taking three months pays far less than a family taking a year. Royal Mail publishes current prices on its Redirection page, and it is worth checking there rather than relying on an old figure.
For most house moves, six or twelve months is the sensible choice. It covers the annual bills, tax and renewal letters that only arrive once a year, which are exactly the ones you forget to update.
Redirection is not enough on its own
The mistake people make is treating redirection as the whole job. It buys you time, but you still need to tell the important organisations your new address directly. Prioritise anything financial or official: your bank and card providers, employer and pension, the DVLA for your licence and vehicle, your GP and dentist, the council for council tax and the electoral roll, and HMRC. Our guide on who to notify when you move works through the full list in priority order.
Do the utilities separately too, because a redirected bill is no use if the account is still in your old name at the old property. See setting up utilities when you move home in Sussex for how to handle gas, electricity, water and broadband on both sides of the move.
A simple order of play
- Three to four weeks before the move, apply for Royal Mail redirection with a start date matched to completion.
- Update your bank, cards and anything that holds money or ID as soon as the new address is confirmed.
- Tell the council, DVLA, HMRC, GP and dentist, and register on the electoral roll at the new address.
- Work through subscriptions, loyalty schemes and online shops over the following weeks as redirected post reminds you who you missed.
- Renew the redirection before it expires if post is still arriving for you at the old address.
Get the redirection in place and the rest becomes a tidy list rather than a scramble. If you are still pricing the move itself, our Move Sussex guides cover removal costs, packing and the whole timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I set up Royal Mail redirection?
Apply at least five working days before you want it to start, and you can arrange it up to three months ahead. Setting it up two to four weeks before completion is comfortable and lets you match the start date to the day you move.
How long does Royal Mail redirection last?
You can buy it for three, six or twelve months, and renew it when it ends, up to a few years in total. For a house move, six or twelve months is usually best because it catches the annual letters you would otherwise miss.
Does redirection update my address with my bank and the council?
No. Redirection only forwards the post; it does not tell anyone you have moved. You still need to update your bank, the council, DVLA, HMRC and the rest directly. Redirection simply buys you time while you work through the list.
Will redirection forward parcels as well as letters?
Yes, Royal Mail redirection covers letters and parcels handled by Royal Mail that are addressed to the names on your application. Items sent by other couriers are not covered, so update your address with online shops and delivery firms directly.
Can I redirect post for just one person in the household?
Yes. You can set up redirection for a single named person, for several people who share the same surname, or for a business. The price rises with the number of surnames you add, so only include the names you need.