Moving? Don't Ghost These 12 Things When You Change Address

You found the new place. You've packed (most of) your boxes. You've told your friends the new address so they stop showing up at your old flat.

Job done, right?

Not quite. Changing address is one of those admin tasks that looks simple but quietly snowballs if you ignore it. Here's every organisation you need to notify — in roughly the order you should do it.

🏛️ Government & ID — do these first

These are the most important and the most annoying to fix if you leave them too long.

• Driver's licence — Update it within the required timeframe (it's a legal requirement in most places). In NZ, do it via the NZTA website. In Australia, go through your state's road authority (VicRoads, Service NSW, etc.)
• Electoral roll — Don't lose your vote. Takes two minutes at vote.nz (NZ) or aec.gov.au (AU)
• IRD / ATO — Your tax authority needs your current address for tax assessments, refunds, and notices. Update via myIR (NZ) or myGov (AU)
• Work and Income / Centrelink — If you receive any government payments or benefits, update immediately or payments can be delayed

💡 Pro tip: Most government sites now let you update everything in one login. NZ's RealMe and Australia's myGov link multiple agencies together — do it once, update many.

🏦 Banks & Financial

Your bank sends more to your address than you think — cards, statements, fraud alerts, and annual disclosures.

• Your bank — App or online banking, usually under Settings → Personal Details. Takes 60 seconds.
• Credit cards — Don't assume updating your bank updates your credit card if it's a separate provider
• KiwiSaver / Super fund — This one gets forgotten constantly. Your fund sends important updates, tax documents, and annual statements. Update it in the fund's app or member portal
• Buy now pay later (Afterpay, Laybuy, Zip) — These are easy to forget and they do send physical mail
• Loan providers — Personal loans, student loans, car finance

⚠️ Miss this and: Your new card gets mailed to your old address. Your old flatmate opens it. Awkward.

💡 Utilities — transfer or disconnect

Don't keep paying for power at a place you no longer live in. And don't leave your new place without electricity on day one.

• Power / electricity — Contact your provider to transfer the account to your new address, or close it and open a new one
• Gas — Same process as power if your new place has gas
• Internet — Check if your current provider covers your new address. If not, cancel and set up a new connection early — installers can take 1–2 weeks to book
• Water — Usually handled by the landlord, but worth checking your tenancy agreement

📅 Do this 2 weeks before you move. Providers often need lead time, especially for internet installation.

📬 Post & Deliveries

• NZ Post / Australia Post mail redirection — Set up a redirect from your old address to your new one. Costs a small fee but catches everything you missed for 3–12 months
• Online shopping accounts — Amazon, Trade Me, eBay, ASOS. Update your default shipping address before your next order arrives at your old flat
• Subscription boxes — Meal kits, magazines, beauty boxes. These are easy to forget until a box shows up at your old address

🏥 Health & Personal

• GP / doctor — Your medical records are linked to your enrolled address. Update your enrolment if you've moved suburbs
• Dentist — They send appointment reminders and recalls by mail
• Pharmacy — If you have repeat prescriptions, make sure they have your correct address
• Private health insurance — Especially important if you move regions, as coverage or preferred providers can change

💼 Work & Income

• Your employer — HR needs your current address for payroll records, tax, and any physical mail (like employment agreements or payslips)
• ACC (NZ) / WorkCover (AU) — If you ever make a claim, they'll need your current address
• Professional associations or unions — Update your membership details

🎮 Subscriptions & Loyalty

Easy to overlook, annoying to fix later.

• Streaming services — Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, etc. — some use your address for billing verification
• Loyalty programs — Flybuys, AA Smartfuel, Airpoints — points statements sometimes come by post
• Gym membership — Some gyms have location-specific pricing or membership zones
• Insurance — Car, contents, and renters insurance are all tied to your address. Your premium can change when you move, and failing to update can void a claim

🚗 Car insurance especially. Insurers assess risk based on where your car is garaged overnight. Moving suburbs — or from a house to a flat — can affect your premium. Call them.

📱 The Quick-Win List

Here's a fast-action list for the day you move:

The one rule to remember

If something sends you mail — update your address with them. That's it.

It takes about an hour to work through the full list. Put some music on, make a coffee, and knock it out the day you get your new keys. Future you — the one who doesn't have a new bank card sitting on a stranger's doorstep — will be glad you did.

Looking for your next place to move to? Browse rooms and shared homes on Flathive — and when you find one, you'll know exactly what to update.