Moving house in Scotland has a few quirks that generic UK checklists miss: month-end tenancy endings, tenement stairs with no lift, controlled parking zones, and council tax that has to be closed with a different local authority than the one you are moving to. This checklist works backwards from moving day so nothing lands on you at the last minute.
Four weeks out: paperwork and dates
The earlier you fix the date, the more choice you have of removal slots. In Scotland the last few days of any month are the busiest, because most tenancies and many settlement dates land there.
- Confirm your entry date in writing with the solicitor or letting agent
- Give notice on your current tenancy — usually 28 days for a private residential tenancy
- Book your man and van slot, especially if you need a month-end Friday
- Tell your council you are moving so council tax closes on the right day
- Start a spare-room pile of anything going to charity, resale or clearance
Three weeks out: sort before you pack
Every box you move costs time, and time is the price. The cheapest move is the one where you shifted less. Be ruthless with the loft, the garage and the cupboard under the stairs first — that is where volume hides.
Anything broken, unsellable or unusable can go on a clearance run rather than into the new place. If you are booking a clearance separately, do it before the pack rather than after the move.
- Photograph and list furniture you are selling, with dimensions
- Book a waste clearance for the leftovers so the van is not carrying rubbish
- Measure large furniture against the new doorways and stairwell
- Order boxes, tape, bubble wrap and a marker pen
Two weeks out: utilities, post and packing order
Pack in the reverse order you use things: the loft, spare room and books first, the kitchen and bedding last. Label every box with the room it goes to at the new address, not the room it came from — that is what saves time on the unload.
- Set up Royal Mail redirection
- Give final meter readings to your energy supplier and note them with a photo
- Transfer or cancel broadband — engineer appointments book weeks ahead
- Update your address with your bank, GP, employer, DVLA and insurers
- Pack a clearly marked essentials box: kettle, mugs, tea, phone chargers, toilet roll, medication, tools
Moving week: access, parking and stairs
Access is what makes or breaks a Scottish move. A tenement flat on the third floor with a 40-metre carry to the nearest legal parking will always take longer than the same volume on a driveway, and it is fairer to everyone if we know in advance.
In controlled parking zones you can usually apply to the council for a temporary suspension or dispensation for a removal van. It takes a few working days, so ask the week before, not the day before.
- Confirm the floor number, lift availability and carry distance at both ends
- Apply for any parking dispensation or bay suspension needed
- Defrost the freezer 24 hours ahead and drain it
- Dismantle beds and wardrobes, or ask us to do it on the day
- Keep keys, documents and valuables with you rather than in the van
Moving day itself
On the day your only jobs are access, decisions and a final sweep. Be at the property when the crew arrives, point out anything fragile before it is loaded, and walk every room, cupboard and the loft hatch before the door closes for the last time.
- Meet the crew, show them the route to the van and flag fragile items
- Keep pets and small children in one closed room, or offsite
- Take meter readings at both properties
- Check every cupboard, the loft and the garden shed before leaving
- Have the new address, contact number and parking notes ready on your phone
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book a man and van in Scotland?+
One to two weeks is comfortable for most dates. For the last Friday of the month, or a Saturday in summer, aim for three weeks ahead.
Should I pack myself or pay for packing?+
Packing yourself is the biggest single saving, because it removes hours from the job. Leave only awkward items — mirrors, TVs, wardrobes — to the crew.
What if my keys are late?+
It happens on almost every settlement day. Tell us as soon as you know, the van waits with your belongings loaded, and only the actual waiting time is charged.