Moving home: everything to update, in one checklist

Do this: Give your landlord written notice within the notice period your lease and local tenancy rules require. Ask how the move-out inspection and deposit return work.

Why: Most leases and tenancy rules require written notice before you move out.

Check it worked: You have a copy of your notice and the landlord's confirmation of the end date.

Do this: Arrange home insurance that starts on your possession or closing date, not the day you move in. Your mortgage lender may ask for proof of insurance before closing.

Why: Coverage needs to start the day the new home becomes your responsibility, not the day you finish unpacking.

Check it worked: Your policy documents show the new address and the correct start date.

Do this: Tell your auto insurer your new address and moving date before you move. If you're moving to another province or state, ask whether you'll need a policy from an insurer there.

Why: Auto premiums are partly based on where the vehicle is kept, so a new address can change your rate.

Check it worked: Your updated policy and insurance card show the new address.

Do this: Book service to start at the new home on or before your move-in date, and to stop at the old home from the day after you hand over the keys. If utilities are included in rent, confirm that with the landlord.

Why: Utilities don't follow you automatically, and each address has its own account.

Check it worked: Each provider has confirmed the start and stop dates in writing.

Do this: Request mail forwarding from your postal service so it starts on moving day. Check the options, length and any fees on the official page, and treat forwarding as a safety net rather than a substitute for updating each sender.

Why: Forwarding catches the letters you forgot about while you update each sender.

Check it worked: You've received a confirmation, and the first forwarded letter arrives at the new address.

• Forward mail when you move or relocate

Do this: Update your address with each bank and credit union close to moving day. Check it applies to every account and card you hold there, including joint accounts.

Why: Banks use your address for statements, replacement cards, tax slips and identity checks.

Check it worked: Your profile and next statement show the new address.

Do this: Update your address with each card issuer, including store and travel cards, close to moving day.

Why: Card issuers use your address for statements and replacement cards, and online stores check purchases against it.

Check it worked: Check the issuer's profile page or app shows the new details.

Do this: Contact the new school or school district, and any daycare, as soon as you know the address. Ask what they need (often proof of address and immunization records), and ask the current school to transfer records, including any learning plans.

Why: Schools often have attendance areas and registration windows, and daycares can have long waiting lists.

Check it worked: You have a confirmed start date, and the new school has received the records.

Do this: Write down the day you leave the old home, the day you get the keys to the new one, and the movers' booking. Use those dates for every booking in this plan, and allow a day of overlap where you can.

Why: Insurance, utilities, mail forwarding and your lease or sale all depend on the same few dates.

Check it worked: Every booking and policy in this plan uses the same move-out and move-in dates.

Do this: Pack ID, birth and marriage certificates, lease or closing documents, insurance policies, and school and medical records in a bag you carry yourself. Scan the important ones to secure storage first.

Why: Passports, birth certificates, lease or purchase papers and medical records are hard to replace if a box goes missing.

Check it worked: On moving day you can find each document, and a scanned copy, without opening a moving box.

Do this: If you're keeping your provider, book the move of your internet, TV or home phone for your move-in date. If you're switching, book the new installation first and cancel the old service only once the new one works.

Why: Installation appointments can book up, and some buildings or areas only support certain providers.

Check it worked: The installation or transfer date is confirmed in writing for your move-in date.

Do this: Change the delivery address before the next shipment is prepared, or skip the delivery that lands around moving day.

Why: Boxes ship on a schedule and are often packed days before delivery.

Check it worked: The next shipment confirmation shows the new address.

Do this: Update your home address with brokerages, pension plans and workplace retirement plans.

Why: Brokerages and pension providers use your contact details for statements, tax slips and security checks.

Check it worked: Confirm your profile shows the new details.

Do this: Update your home address with your lender or mortgage servicer.

Why: Lenders need to reach you about payments and renewals.

Check it worked: Check your next statement or the lender's online profile.

Do this: Update your home address in your employer's HR or payroll system.

Why: HR and payroll records hold your contact details for pay, tax slips and emergencies.

Check it worked: Check your profile in the HR system.

Do this: Ask your vet for your pet's records and enough medication to cover the move. If you'll change vets, find one near the new home before you need it.

Why: A new vet will want vaccination history and current prescriptions.

Check it worked: You have the records, and a vet near the new home has them on file.

Do this: Ask the provider what happens to the address when you leave and whether you can keep it. Move your accounts to an address that doesn't depend on your internet service before you cancel.

Why: Addresses supplied by an internet provider are usually tied to your internet account, and providers may close them when you cancel or switch.

Check it worked: You have the provider's answer, and your important accounts no longer use the internet-provider address.

Do this: Tell the monitoring company about the switch date before it happens, ask whether the device needs reconfiguring, and arrange a test.

Why: Alarm systems and medical alert devices may report through the internet or home phone line.

Check it worked: Run a test with the monitoring company after the switch and confirm they received it.

Do this: Book the new installation first. Only choose a cancellation date for the old service once the new one is installed and working.

Why: Installations get delayed. Overlapping the two services for a few days means a missed appointment doesn't leave you offline.

Check it worked: The new service is installed and working before the old one ends.

Do this: Find your contract end date, any early cancellation fee, the notice the provider needs and its equipment return rules. The CRTC's Internet Code sets rules for large providers' contracts and fees. Verify your current terms before choosing dates.

Why: Contracts can include early cancellation fees, notice periods and equipment terms that affect your timing.

Check it worked: You know the earliest date you can cancel and what it will cost.

• The Internet Code: Protecting your rights

Do this: Check your phone plan allows hotspot use and has enough data, and tell work about the installation window.

Why: Even with an overlap, there can be a few hours offline while equipment is swapped.

Check it worked: Connect a laptop to your phone's hotspot before the installation day.

Do this: List TV boxes, recordings and any streaming services billed through the provider. Move streaming subscriptions to direct billing and watch recordings you want before the switch.

Why: TV boxes, recordings and streaming add-ons billed through the provider are usually tied to the internet account.

Check it worked: Each streaming service shows a billing method that doesn't depend on the old provider.

Do this: Check open orders, mail-order prescriptions and any bank cards in the mail. Redirect or reschedule them, or plan to collect them.

Why: Orders, prescriptions and replacement cards that have already shipped go to the address on the order.

Check it worked: Every open order shows an address where you'll be.

Do this: Change or rekey exterior locks (or ask the landlord to), and reset garage door remotes, keypad codes and alarm codes.

Why: Previous owners, tenants, contractors and neighbours may still have keys, codes or remotes.

Check it worked: Old keys and codes no longer work.

Do this: Take dated photos of the electricity, gas and water meters at the old home when you leave and at the new home when you arrive.

Why: Final and opening bills are based on meter readings around your moving dates.

Check it worked: The readings on your final and first bills match your photos.

Do this: Give the new router the same Wi-Fi network name and password as the old one, matching capitals exactly. Some older devices may also need the same security type.

Why: Every device in your home remembers the old Wi-Fi network name and password.

Check it worked: Phones, laptops and TVs reconnect on their own.

Do this: Change the router's admin password from the default, install firmware updates and turn off remote management unless you need it.

Why: Routers often ship with a default admin password and older firmware.

Check it worked: You can sign in to the router with your own admin password, and it shows current firmware.

Do this: Update your address in your CRA account, by phone or by mail. The CRA says it doesn't share your change of address with other government departments, so update each one you deal with separately.

Why: The CRA uses your address for notices, benefit and credit payments, and identity checks.

Check it worked: Your CRA account shows the new address.

• Update your personal information with the CRA: change your address
• Sign in to your CRA account

Do this: Update your home address with your licensing authority within the time it requires.

Why: Licensing offices need your current details for renewals, notices and roadside checks.

Check it worked: Check the updated record or the confirmation you receive.

Do this: Update the address on your vehicle registration within the time your licensing authority requires.

Why: Registration renewals, tickets and recall notices are mailed to the address on the registration.

Check it worked: The updated registration or confirmation shows the new address.

Do this: Once your card issuer has the new address, update the billing address on cards saved in shopping sites, app stores, payment apps and subscriptions.

Why: Many online stores check the billing address you give against the one your card issuer has on file.

Check it worked: Make a small online purchase with each card you use regularly.

Do this: Update the emergency address for Wi-Fi calling in your phone settings or carrier account, and for any internet home phone service.

Why: Wi-Fi calling and internet (VoIP) phone services use a registered address to help route emergency calls.

Check it worked: Your phone settings or carrier account show the new emergency address.

Do this: Update your address with your provincial or territorial health insurance plan.

Why: Health coverage records need your current details to stay valid and send you a card.

Check it worked: Check the confirmation or your next card.

Do this: Update your address with your doctor, dentist, pharmacy and patient portals. If you're moving out of the area, ask for records to be transferred and move prescriptions to a pharmacy near the new home.

Why: Clinics and pharmacies use your contact details for appointments, test results and prescription reminders.

Check it worked: Confirm at your next appointment or in the portal.

Do this: Update your address and phone with the microchip registry, get a new ID tag, and check whether the new municipality requires a pet licence.

Why: A microchip only helps a lost pet get home if the registry has your current details.

Check it worked: The registry's confirmation shows the new address.

Do this: Confirm with the municipality that the account is in your name and how you'll pay it, directly or through your lender. Ask about any homeowner credits or exemptions where you live.

Why: Property tax is billed locally, either to you directly or through your mortgage.

Check it worked: You know when the next bill is due and who pays it.

Do this: Send your new home address to family, close friends, your doctor's office and anyone who might need to reach you urgently.

Why: The people who matter most only know your details if you tell them.

Check it worked: Ask a couple of people to confirm they've saved it.

Do this: Update your home address with your children's schools and daycare, family members' employers or care providers, and anyone else who lists you.

Why: Schools, employers, care homes and family members' records may list you as their emergency contact.

Check it worked: Ask each place to read back the details they have.

Do this: Change the default shipping address in the stores you use most, and delete the old one so it isn't picked by mistake at checkout.

Why: Stores use your details for order updates, deliveries and saved payment methods.

Check it worked: Check the account profile before your next order.

Do this: Update the saved address in each delivery app and remove the old one.

Why: Couriers use your contact details to reach you at the door.

Check it worked: Check the profile page in each app.

Do this: Update the Home location in Google Maps or Apple Maps and in ride-sharing apps, and remove the old address where it's saved.

Why: Maps, ride-sharing, weather and reminder apps use a saved home location.

Check it worked: Ask your maps app for directions home and check it uses the new address.

• Manage your addresses in your Google Account

Do this: Check each device's app shows it online. Reconnect any that didn't rejoin; some devices only work on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, which some routers combine with 5 GHz under one name.

Why: Cameras, doorbells, thermostats, speakers and printers often need their own app to join a new network.

Check it worked: Every device shows online in its app, and cameras show a live view.

Do this: Set up payment for the new provider, then stop autopay or pre-authorized debits to the old one after the final bill.

Why: Autopay keeps charging the old provider until you stop it, and the new provider's first bill may need a payment method.

Check it worked: The new account shows a payment method, and your bank shows no new debits to the old provider.

Do this: In the first couple of weeks, confirm forwarded mail is arriving. Each forwarded item tells you a sender that still has the old address.

Why: Forwarding sometimes starts late or misses items.

Check it worked: Forwarded letters are arriving, and you've noted each sender to update.

Do this: When the first utility and internet bills arrive, check the start dates and readings against your move-in date and meter photos.

Why: The start dates and readings on the first bills show whether each account started correctly.

Check it worked: Each first bill starts on your move-in date.

Do this: Run a speed test near the router and in the rooms you use most, and walk through each device (TVs, consoles, printers, smart-home).

Why: It's easier to raise a problem with the new provider in the first few days.

Check it worked: Speeds match roughly what you're paying for, and every device is online.

Do this: Watch for final utility, internet and alarm bills for the old home. Pay them, confirm each account is closed, and remove any automatic payments.

Why: Final bills often arrive after you've moved, and automatic payments keep running until you stop them.

Check it worked: Each old-home account shows a zero balance and is closed.

Do this: Clean and photograph each room once it's empty, attend the move-out inspection if one is offered, and give the landlord your new address in writing for the deposit.

Why: A deposit refund depends on the home's condition when you leave and on the landlord knowing where to send it.

Check it worked: You have dated photos, the inspection report and written confirmation of when the deposit will be returned.

Do this: Cancel after the new service has worked for a few days, giving the notice your contract requires. Ask for a confirmation number and the final bill date.

Why: Cancelling is the step you can't easily undo, and some providers need notice.

Check it worked: You have a cancellation confirmation and the date service ends.

Do this: Ask how and by when to return each item, get a receipt or tracking number, and factory-reset any device that stored your settings.

Why: Rented modems, routers and TV boxes usually have to be returned, often within a set time.

Check it worked: You have proof of return for each item.

Do this: For a few months, update each sender whose mail is forwarded. Check when forwarding ends and extend it if senders are still turning up.

Why: Mail forwarding is temporary, and senders you forgot only show up when their mail is forwarded.

Check it worked: Nothing new has been forwarded for several weeks.

Do this: Check or update your registration with Elections Canada. Provincial and local voter lists can be separate, so check those too.

Why: Electoral records use your current details.

Check it worked: Check your registration status online.

• Voter registration

Do this: Check the final bill against your contract and the cancellation confirmation. Query anything unexpected with the provider.

Why: Final bills can include partial months, fees or credits owed to you.

Check it worked: The final balance is zero, or any refund has arrived.