Moving House Etiquette
It’s easy to forget about the important moving house etiquette that should be followed when moving out of a property. Many people may not be clear on what exactly this etiquette involves, but it’s still crucial to research and follow it. You should aim to leave your house in the same condition as you would expect your new house to be left.
There are several things you should leave behind, items to clean, and a few thoughtful touches you can consider when moving out. We’ve put together a guide on moving house etiquette for when the new owners are welcomed into your home. We've also included answers to commonly asked questions to help you stay organized during the moving process.
5 Moving House Etiquette Tips
We've put together the best tips so you know how to leave your property when moving house.
1. Clean Up After Yourself
Before you move out, it’s important to consider doing a bit of extra cleaning. If you have carpets, a deep clean is highly recommended. Furniture, such as sofas and armchairs, should be thoroughly vacuumed and deep cleaned to remove any leftover hair. If you have pets, you’ll know how much additional cleaning is needed to address pet hair and other messes they might leave behind.
If you're moving at the last minute, downsizing, or simply need extra space for items you’re not ready to deal with, using a self-storage unit is a great option. This ensures your belongings are protected until you're able to organize them, and it also prevents leaving anything behind for the new occupants to handle. Additionally, if you have unwanted furniture, hiring a house clearance company could help you get rid of it efficiently.
2. Leave Nice Touches
As a kind gesture, it’s a great idea to leave thoughtful touches around the house to welcome the new occupants. Many sellers opt to leave a bottle of wine, milk, or bread as a welcoming gift for the new owners. At the very least, make sure to leave moving house essentials like toilet roll and soap to make their first day easier.
If there are any important details they should know about the house, neighborhood, or area, be sure to leave a note with this information. For example, if there’s a faulty bathroom door handle or a similar issue, it’s helpful to let the new owners know so they can address it quickly.
3. Inform the Neighbours
While it's not strictly necessary to inform your neighbors that you're moving house, it's a nice gesture to make them aware of the situation. After all, they'll likely notice the 'for sale' sign outside your home.
It's considered polite to let your neighbors know that new owners will be moving in and share any relevant details, such as whether the new homeowners are a couple, a family with young children, or pet owners. This can help set expectations and ensure a smoother transition for everyone.
4. Leave Fixtures and Fittings
When moving to a new house, it's essential to leave all the fixtures and fittings that were agreed upon in the TA10 Fixtures and Fittings Form. You wouldn't expect to arrive at your new home only to find light fittings, plugs, or kitchen counters and cupboards missing. This should be addressed by your conveyancer and will be reflected in your conveyancing quotes.
If you took substantial fixtures and fittings that were present during the house viewings, the new homeowners may feel that they are receiving less value than what they paid for.
As a general rule, if removing an item from the wall requires tools and may cause hassle, it's best to leave it in place.
Examples of fixtures and fittings:
Light fittings and switches
Boiler
Radiators
Plugs
Bathroom suites
Kitchen counters and cupboards
Wardrobes
Carpets
Curtain rails and curtain poles
Lampshades
TV aerials and satellite dishes
Bed and sofas
5. Create an Inventory
If you plan to take items that were present during the buyer’s house viewing, such as plants from your garden or doorknobs, you must ensure this is clearly communicated to the buyer before signing the fixtures and fittings inventory. There are several moving house apps, like Google Keep, that allow you to create digital inventories. A moving house checklist can be extremely useful to track the process and everything you own.
The buyer could take legal action if you remove an item after it was clearly listed on the inventory as included. Additionally, it’s generally expected that most fixtures and fittings should be left behind when moving house, as it’s considered the right thing to do.
House Viewing Etiquette for Buyers
When property hunting, it’s important to remember that it’s not your house. It’s important to be polite and consider the common house viewing etiquette. To help you get organised, we’ve created a basic list of Dos and Don’ts for your house-hunting experience.
Do:
Be polite
Arrive on time
Ask questions
Offer to remove your shoes
Don't:
Take any food or drink inside
Bring children or pets, if possible
Negotiate on the price whilst there
Open any drawers without asking
Take photos without permission
To learn more, use our house viewing checklist.
When Should I Tell My Neighbours I’m Moving?
An important part of moving house etiquette is notifying your neighbors about your move. While most of your friends and family will already be aware of the move, some of your neighbors may not know yet. Whether or not you notify them depends on your relationship with them.
If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, it's a good idea to let them know as soon as possible. They may offer to help with the move or simply wish you well. An extra pair of hands can always be useful. If your relationship with your neighbors isn’t as strong, it’s still polite to notify them about two weeks in advance. This thoughtful gesture helps them prepare for your absence and ensures a smooth transition for both parties.
Who Can You Ask for Help When Moving?
Never be afraid to ask for help when moving house. It’s not impolite, nor does it go against moving house etiquette. If it makes the process easier for you and your family, don’t hesitate to get as much assistance as you need. While you may dread asking family and friends, as long as you’re respectful and don’t assume they’ll help, there’s no issue.
Make sure to stay organized and provide them with a clear time-frame. If they offer to help, express your gratitude by ordering food, buying champagne, or giving them a ‘Thank You’ card as a thoughtful gesture.
If you'd prefer professional help, you can always book a removals company. Be sure to book well in advance after selecting your removals company to secure a date and time that works best for you. Don’t forget to compare removal quotes with Omni Removals to ensure you get the best deal for your moving budget.
How to Help Your Removals Team
Moving etiquette also extends to the professionals you hire. Don’t forget to show your appreciation and thank your movers for their hard work. Offer them the same hospitality you would offer to friends and family—some tea and biscuits, water, or whatever you have on hand.
You can also make things easier for your movers by labeling boxes and assigning them to specific rooms. Clear communication is key—ensure they know where fragile items are packed and remove any obstacles from their path to streamline the process. If possible, make sure they have a nearby parking spot for their van to save them time.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get everything perfect. Don’t hesitate to ask your removal team any questions you may have during the process. You may forget a few things, and that’s completely fine—moving house is often chaotic. However, by showing gratitude in small ways and making things as easy as possible for everyone, you’ll create a smoother experience for all involved.
Frequently Asked Questions:
We've answered some of the burning questions you have when it comes to what's acceptable to do when moving house. From wheelie bin etiquette to how much you should clean, we have the answers to your frequently asked questions.
Should I Clean Before Moving House?
Before the new occupants move into your home, it's essential to give your house a thorough clean. You wouldn’t want to arrive at your new home and have to clean every surface before you can unpack, so why should the new owners expect anything different?
While you don’t have to hire a professional cleaner, you should make an effort to ensure your house is in acceptable condition. Vacuum carpets, clean floors, scrub surfaces, and tackle areas like ovens and showers where dirt and grime may have built up.
What stays and what goes?
It’s an unwritten rule in moving house etiquette that items such as the doorbell, light fittings, plug sockets, carpets, and curtain poles should remain in place. You’re welcome to take your curtains if they fit in your new home. However, if they won’t fit, it’s courteous to ask the new occupants if they would like you to leave them, as they may already have their own curtains prepared. Regardless, you should never leave exposed wires behind.
If you have mirrors or pictures that are screwed or nailed into the wall, it’s generally acceptable to take them. However, mirrors in the bathroom are usually part of the bathroom suite and are expected to stay.
Can You Leave Rubbish in your Bin When you Move?
It’s crucial to be considerate of the new homeowners when moving out. If you have any rubbish lying around, take the time to remove it. Whether that means making a couple of trips to the dump, hiring a skip, or asking a neighbor to hold onto a bag until bin day arrives, it’s always better to leave the property in good condition.
Before moving out, be sure to read your contract thoroughly, as many agreements specify that the house must be cleaned and cleared before the new owners move in. If this doesn’t happen, the buyers can request that you remove any leftover rubbish. Leaving a bag or two in the wheelie bin may be acceptable if rubbish collection is imminent.
Think about how you would feel if you arrived at your new home only to find it filled with rubbish and waste. After the stressful moving process, the last thing you want to do is sort through someone else’s leftovers when all you want to do is unpack and settle in.
Can I Take My Wheelie Bin When Moving House?
You shouldn’t take your wheelie bin with you when moving house. You’ll have a new bin at your new property, and the new occupants will likely need theirs as well. The general rule is that it’s acceptable to leave some rubbish in the wheelie bin for the new homeowners.
By doing this, you’ll give the new occupants space to add their rubbish until the next bin day. If you have excess rubbish, it should be taken to the tip or disposed of in a skip if you’ve arranged one.
Do You Take Curtains When You Move?
It’s polite to discuss curtains with the new buyers before moving house. Unless it's specified in the contract, you're not required to leave your curtains. If the curtains are something you intend to take with you, make sure to inform the new homeowners as early as possible. No one wants to move into a house with bare windows, and finding the right-sized curtains and fitting them takes time. The new owners will appreciate knowing this in advance to help them plan accordingly.
However, you will likely be required to leave the curtain pole in place. If the signed contract, particularly the fixtures and fittings form, clearly states that certain curtains or fixtures must remain, you are legally obligated to comply with that agreement.
What Do I Have to Leave When I Sell My House?
In short, anything that has been specified in the contract must remain in the house. If you haven’t exchanged contracts yet, it's important to know that there is no law dictating exactly what should or shouldn’t stay. Think about what you would want left behind when you move, and consider if it's a feasible option for you.
Ideally, any fixtures and fittings that are permanently fixed to the structure of the house should stay behind. This includes items like lighting, plugs, radiators, central heating systems, and built-in wardrobes. If it’s nailed, mounted, or bolted down, it should stay. Additionally, there must be no exposed wiring left in the house when you move out. For example, you must leave or replace light fittings if they were part of the house.
To avoid any confusion, make sure you and the buyer reach an agreement before anything is signed. Creating and setting an inventory to follow before moving house will help ensure that you don’t accidentally leave behind anything important or take something you’re legally obligated to leave.
Should You Fill Holes in Walls When Moving?
Again, unless your contract specifically states otherwise, it’s generally up to you to decide whether to repair any damage when moving house. However, if your contract includes a “make good of any damage” clause, you may be legally required to fill in any holes or repair significant damage. This is especially important for large holes or areas that have caused extensive damage to the property.
Do you Have to Leave Light Bulbs when Selling House?
What would you like to be in the house when you move? If light bulbs are one of the things on your list, leave them. However, unless specifically stated in the contracts, you’re not legally expected to leave light bulbs when moving out.
You must leave or replace any light fixtures when moving out as exposed wires are a very dangerous hazard. However, you can take the light bulbs from these if you wish to do so, but working light bulbs are a minor comfort that the new homeowners would appreciate.
Do You Leave Shelves When Moving?
Generally, fittings—items that are fixed to the building's structure—should remain in the house when you move. It's important to read your contract thoroughly to determine whether you’re legally required to leave items like shelves behind. Typically, these would stay, but always check your fixtures and fittings form to be certain.
When reviewing your inventory, have a discussion with the buyer about whether they would like wall fittings such as shelves and mirrors included. To avoid losing any items you want to keep, ensure that you come to an agreement on these details before signing the contracts.
Should You Leave Something for the New Owners?
The main items to consider leaving for the new homeowners are:
A clean house Important details of the property like alarm codes, where the metres are, waste collection dates etc A welcome note, perhaps stating local takeaway numbers or other local information If you would like to leave a gift for the new homeowners, perhaps champagne or flowers, then you are more than welcome to do so. It could brighten up their very chaotic moving day, but it’s not expected or essential. Leave behind what you would like to see if you were moving in and be considerate of their needs. Moving house is a very stressful event, any form of kindness will be appreciated.
To learn more, read our moving into a new home checklist.
