As the starting point of a new life, a move involves a number of formalities linked to a change of address. The actions and formalities to be undertaken when moving concern the home and its occupants, as well as the move itself. To help you make sure you don't forget anything, here's a list of things to do when you move.
Moving home: housing-related formalities
First things first! A move is first and foremost a change of home. So the first things you'll need to do when you move are to register your new home and the services it provides.
You are a tenant
To leave a rented property, you must inform the owner of your departure: either directly, or through the rental agency that manages the property. To avoid any disputes, we strongly recommend that you send your request to terminate the lease by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt.
You must then respect a notice period that can vary from one to three months, depending on your situation: this period is generally specified in your lease contract. Once you've vacated the property, you'll also need to draw up an inventory of fixtures, which will determine the amount of the security deposit to be recovered.
You are the owner
If you sell your apartment, you must inform the condominium manager so that he can draw up a statement of charges. For your new property, you'll need to sign a lease contract if you're renting, and go through the notary again if you decide to become an owner again.
Contract management: formalities to be taken into account in the event of a change of address
What should I do about my contracts when I move? When you move house, all contracts linked to your address must also be cancelled. This includes your water, energy (electricity, gas...), telephone and internet subscriptions...
Anticipate the move and contact different suppliers to get quotes before you move, if you want to take advantage of the competition. On the big day, don't forget to read the meters (water, gas, electricity) and contact the suppliers to give them the meter readings so that you can close the contracts concerned.
Don't forget your insurance: your new home should be insured as soon as possible, and your old policy cancelled when you move out. Other contracts (car insurance, etc.) should be updated to reflect your new address.
Organizing your move: easy with a professional
When it comes to moving, you can call on the services of a professional mover or manage the process yourself. The formalities differ according to the situation, but hiring a mover will obviously simplify the task.
Moving on your own
More economical than entrusting the job to a professional, this solution also entails a lot more technical and operational management of the move. First of all, you'll need to estimate the volume of belongings to be moved yourself, in order to choose a moving truck suited to your needs.
If necessary, you'll then need to contact truck rental companies to obtain a quote and sign a rental contract. Before the move, you'll also need to provide sufficient resources for packing, preparing and protecting your furniture...
And on the big day, don't underestimate the manpower and equipment needed to handle and transport your belongings. All this, of course, needs to be planned in advance, so that you can be sure of having the necessary resources at your disposal.
You call in a mover
It's the peace-of-mind solution for your move: you can count on the experience of a professional moving specialist to make your job easier.
By entrusting your move to a professional, you benefit from :
- the provision of a truck and equipment adapted to your needs;
- a sufficiently trained workforce to meet the requirements of the move;
- preparation of moving boxes (according to the signed contract).
If you decide to use a professional, there are a few things you need to do on your side:
- Request a quote to obtain a precise estimate of your move;
- signing the removal contract, which guarantees that the move will take place on the agreed date;
- drawing up a declaration of value, so that you can benefit from insurance tailored to the value of your goods in the event of damage.
Entrust the search for your child's nursery place to professionals
Our partner, Choisir Ma Crèche, is a national network of over 4,000 crèches. The service, which is free for parents, relies on employer co-financing to guarantee priority access to private crèches at the same price as municipal crèches. Today, many companies use this system to provide their employees with peace of mind and reliable childcare. The Choisir Ma Crèche team is made up of experts who are on hand to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have about your new form of childcare and the principle of inter-company crèches.
Administrative services: formalities to consider when moving house
When you move, there are also a number of administrative formalities to deal with. In fact, you'll need to contact a number of organizations responsible for the public services that are essential to your day-to-day life:
- inform La Poste about mail delivery;
- contact the administrative bodies in your new place of residence: municipal services, tax authorities, social services, etc;
- organize childcare and enrol children in school.
Redoing your paperwork after a move
If you're moving soon, you should also be aware that you'll need to redo certain documents if you change address.
These are :
- your car's registration certificate (carte grise). Depending on the age of the vehicle, a change of registration may be required. The request must be made to the vehicle registration department within 30 days of the move;
- your electoral card if you are over 18. To obtain a new card, you need to contact the town hall where you live and apply to be added to the electoral roll;
- your residence permit if you are a foreign national.
You don't have to change your identity card, passport or driving license.
Moving house: online services simplify administrative procedures
In recent years, the administrative formalities involved in moving house have been simplified. An online service available on the Service-public.fr website enables you to declare your change of address to several organizations in a single operation (Health Insurance, Taxes, Caf, Pôle Emploi...).
All you have to do is fill in a form indicating your identity, your initial address, your new address and the date of your move. This way, all affiliated public bodies will be informed of your move and will have your new address, without you having to contact them individually.
The online accounts of energy and telephone suppliers will also enable you to close your subscriptions in just a few clicks to save time.
There are many administrative formalities to be completed when moving house. To simplify your life and make the most of your time, consider using the online services available to you, and don't hesitate to call in a professional mover.