Moving House at Christmas: A Practical UK Guide

More and more people are finding the benefits of moving in the month of December. The roads are quieter, the new year feels like a fresh start, and you can settle into your new home with the festive season ahead. Moving house at Christmas works best when you plan it properly, so here is how to plan a December move, from key dates to packing the decorations.

Is moving house at Christmas a good idea?

For many people, yes. Some sellers want a pre-Christmas move, and a December completion date can give you a clear head start on the new year. The trade-off is that bank holidays, shorter days and winter weather leave less room for delays, so everything needs a little more planning.

Check the key dates for a pre-Christmas move

In 2026, Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December and the Boxing Day bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December. New Year’s Day is Friday 1 January. Your estate agent and conveyancing solicitors will close on these public holidays and often run reduced hours around them, and completion money cannot move through the banks on those days.

As a guide, conveyancing often takes 12 to 16 weeks from offer to completion. For a pre-Christmas move, aim to exchange contracts by mid-November and complete at least a week before Christmas Day. Speak to your solicitor early about a realistic completion date, and ask what happens if your chain slips past the holidays. A short chain usually gives you more certainty than a long chain.

Start early and have a plan B

December is in high demand, so start early. Book your removals as soon as your moving date looks likely, even before it is final. A deposit secures your date, crew and vehicles, with the balance due 7 days before the move.

Delays happen, so agree a plan B. If your new home is not ready, we can collect your boxes, keep them in storage and deliver them back to you when requested. Our guide to moving house storage explains how it works between house moves.

Pack the decorations last, and keep an essentials box

Start packing non-essential items four to six weeks before moving day, and clear out what you no longer need. Short on time in December? Our packing service can pack your whole home, just the fragile items, or part of it, so you can focus on the festive season.

Pack the Christmas decorations you are happy to leave until January early, and if you are moving before the holidays, keep the tree and lights out of the boxes and pack them last.

Make an essentials box for the first night in your new home: kettle, mugs, bedding, chargers, medication and a few toiletries. Keep presents and anything fragile with you, or let our packers look after the rest. For the kitchen, see our guide to packing a kitchen.

Plan for a winter moving day

Daylight is short in December, so ask for an early start, and allow extra time in case ice or snow slows the journey. Tell us about narrow roads and parking at both properties. We can advise on arranging parking permits or a suspension where they are needed, and our movers confirm that our vehicles can access both properties safely before moving day.

Protect floors and stairs against wet weather, and keep a torch and a towel by the door. Our house removals team checks the inventory at loading and again when we unload, so every box ends up in the right room. You can protect your goods during the move with our insurance, quoted as a separate line.

Settle into your new home

Tell your utility providers your moving date, take meter readings on the day, check the heating works and set up a Royal Mail redirection before you go. Then put up the tree, and enjoy the first Christmas in your new home. With pets coming too, our guide to moving house with pets helps keep them settled.

Planning a Christmas move?

Tell us where you are moving from and to, the size of your home and your preferred dates, or call 0800 626 769. Your Relocation Consultant will take it from there, and you can also get a free quote.