Moving your belongings, including through removal companies

When moving between properties, you and those in your household should try to do as much of the packing as you can. Where possible, you should clean your belongings with standard domestic cleaning products before they are handled by others, including removal companies.

Removal companies are able to operate, although they may need to adjust usual procedures in order to ensure moves happen as safely as possible. If you are using a removal company, you should contact them as early as possible in advance of your move.

Whilst the removal company crew are in your home, you should ensure any internal doors are open and seek to minimise your contact with the operatives. Anyone involved in any aspect of the home moving process should practice social distancing in line with public health advice.

All parties should wash their hands or use hand sanitiser and avoid touching surfaces where possible to reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus. You should not provide refreshments but you should ensure they have access to hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards. Towels should not be shared. If you are particularly worried about the risk of infection, then speak to the removal firm as they may be able to put in place extra measures.

Make sure that you tell the removal company if you or a member of your family are shielding or self-isolating as they will not be able to progress with the home move and it will need to be rescheduled. Ask them how they will maintain the social distancing requirements, make sure that you know what to do when they arrive to keep you and your household safe. You should ask what measures the removal company will take to adhere with Government guidance, and what protective equipment they will use.

If you are particularly worried about the risk of infection, then speak to the professionals involved, your landlord or removers as they may be able to put in place extra measures.

Moving out of your home 

If you are purchasing a home, starting or ending a new tenancy agreement, you should check the agreed process for leaving the property you are moving from as there might be new requirements on cleaning and dropping keys off, for example.

If you are a social or private sector tenant, your landlord or agent will be able to give you more information.

If you are purchasing a property, you should agree the process before completing on the property to ensure all parties are clear on what is expected.

Moving from Wales to other parts of the United Kingdom

Anyone who is in Wales, whether resident or travelling here, is bound by the rules in Wales. Under the rules that apply in Wales travelling to move home, or to view a property in connection with its purchase, sale, letting or rental, is a reasonable excuse to enter Wales. Similarly the rules in Wales allow people to travel to other parts of the United Kingdom for the purposes of moving home or to view a property in connection with its purchase, sale, letting or rental.

If your move involves a move into or out of Wales you must ensure that you comply with the rules applicable in Wales as well as any rules that apply in the area you are moving to or from.