Setting Up Home in the UK: Utilities, Internet & Moving Essentials (2026)

Moving into a new UK home is exciting — but there are a surprising number of things to set up in the first days and weeks. Gas, electricity, broadband, council tax, TV licence, redirecting your post, and registering with a GP all need sorting. This guide walks you through each one step by step so nothing gets missed.

1. Gas and electricity

When you move in, you will typically inherit the previous tenant's energy supplier. Here is what to do on day one:

• Find both meters (gas and electricity) — usually in a cupboard, hallway, or outside the property
• Take a photo of both meter readings with a timestamp — proof of your move-in reading
• Contact the existing supplier to register the account in your name — your landlord or agent should know who supplies the property
• You can switch supplier at any time — compare deals at uswitch.com or moneysupermarket.com
• If you have a prepayment meter (with a keypad or card slot), ask the supplier about switching to a direct debit account — usually cheaper

2. Broadband and internet

• BT — widely available, reliable nationwide coverage
• Virgin Media — faster cable broadband (up to 1Gbps in some areas) — check availability by postcode
• Sky Broadband — often bundled with TV packages
• Hyperoptic — full-fibre at competitive prices in major cities
• Vodafone, NOW Broadband, Plusnet — budget options worth comparing

Enter your postcode at broadbandchoices.co.uk or uswitch.com to see which providers serve your area. Standard FTTC (fibre) broadband costs £20–£35/month; full-fibre (FTTP) costs £28–£50/month and is significantly faster.

3. Council tax

If you rent your own flat or house (not a room in someone else's home), you are responsible for paying council tax to your local council. You must register when you move in:

• Find your local council at gov.uk/find-local-council and contact them within a few days of moving in
• You will need to provide your name, address, and move-in date
• Bills are issued annually (usually April) and can be paid in 10 or 12 monthly instalments
• Full-time students are exempt — your university will issue a council tax exemption certificate
• If you live alone, apply for the 25% single-person discount

4. TV licence

You need a TV licence (currently £174.50/year) if you watch or record live TV on any channel or device, or watch BBC iPlayer. You do NOT need one if you only use Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, or other non-BBC streaming services. Apply or check at tvlicensing.co.uk.

5. Redirect your post

Set up a Royal Mail redirection from your old address so you do not miss important letters (bank statements, HMRC letters, NHS appointment letters). This costs around £35.99 for 3 months — apply at royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection.

Also update your address directly with HMRC (gov.uk/tell-hmrc-change-address), your bank, your employer, the DVLA if you drive, and the electoral roll (gov.uk/register-to-vote).

6. Register with a GP (doctor)

Find your nearest GP at nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp and contact the surgery to register. You do not need proof of address — a passport or BRP card is sufficient. Registration is completely free. Register your children at the same time. For NHS dental care, find a dentist at nhs.uk/find-a-dentist.

7. Other essential first-week tasks

• Take photos of the entire property on move-in day — walls, floors, appliances — to protect your deposit at the end of the tenancy
• Locate the stopcock (water shut-off valve) — usually under the kitchen sink
• Locate the fuse box (consumer unit) so you can reset a tripped circuit breaker
• Check your contents insurance — your landlord does not insure your belongings; consider a contents policy
• Check your landlord has provided a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — required by law for all rented properties