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Hungary

The general list plus what comes on top in this country: deadlines, offices and customs.

62 tasks · General checklist

Contracts and authorities

17 weeks before
Notice: give it by the 15th, it ends at the close of the next month
For an open-ended residential lease, notice given by the 15th of a month ends the lease at the end of the following month. A fixed term follows the contract.
14 weeks before
Give notice in writing and keep proof it arrived
A registered letter with return receipt is the safe route; an email is enough only if the landlord confirms it.
13 weeks before
Arrange viewings for the next tenant
11 weeks before
Sign the new lease
10 weeks before
Deposit: at most three months' rent
The Civil Code caps the deposit at three times the monthly rent. Anything above that is not enforceable, however the contract words it.
9 weeks before
Arrange the handover date for the old flat
6 weeks before
Cancel internet and TV contracts
6 weeks before
Book a van for the cellar and small items
4 weeks before
Book time off for moving day
4 weeks before
Ask the landlord to sign the address registration form
You cannot register your address without the property owner's consent on the form. Settle this before you sign the lease, not on the day you move in.
3 weeks before
Draw up the list of address changes
2 weeks before
Update contents and liability insurance
7 days before
Cancel the standing order for the old rent

Packing and decluttering

5 weeks before
Get moving boxes
5 weeks before
Get packing material
4 weeks before
Set a decluttering day per room
3 weeks before
Move the cellar and attic ahead of time
2 weeks before
Pack seasonal and rarely used things
10 days before
Pack the workspace
5 days before
Pack the kitchen, defrost the fridge
2 days before
Pack the first-night box
2 days before
Keep the toolbox separate

Old home

9 weeks before
Declutter: sell, give away, dispose
6 weeks before
Clear out the cellar and attic
4 weeks before
Book a bulky waste collection
7 days before
Factory-reset the smart home devices
1 day before
Read and photograph the meters
7 days after
Clean the old place for the handover
10 days after
Sign the handover protocol, count the keys
4 weeks after
Track the return of the deposit

New home

6 weeks before
Book the electrician and tradespeople
6 weeks before
Check mounting points: shower rail, lamps, curtains
4 weeks before
Order the internet connection
4 weeks before
Decide what to buy new
2 weeks before
Draw a furniture plan per room, take measurements
2 weeks before
Electricity and gas: transfer the contract at MVM Next
Both run through the universal supplier for households. Bring the meter reading, the lease and the previous holder's details.
7 days before
Test the internet connection
7 days before
Water: transfer the account at the local waterworks
Every town has its own utility. In a block of flats the water often runs through the building account instead.
1 day before
Handover record: meter readings, keys, photos
An annex to the lease, signed by both sides. Without it the deposit is hard to get back.
1 day after
Record and report defects on moving in
3 days after
Label the doorbell and letterbox
7 days after
Set the smart home up again
7 days after
Meet the neighbours and the property manager

Moving day

13 weeks before
Fix the moving date
9 weeks before
Book the moving company
2 weeks before
Reserve parking outside both buildings
2 weeks before
Reserve the lift at both addresses
10 days before
Arrange care for children and pets
3 days before
Move the plants separately
3 days before
Plan bikes and bulky items separately
On moving day
Food and drink for the helpers
On moving day
Final walk-through of the old flat

After the move

2 days after
Register your address within three working days
Report the move at a government window or online, and you get a new address card. The deadline is three working days from moving in.
3 days after
Building manager: service charge, lift, moving hours
Report how many people live in the flat, because part of the service charge follows that. The house rules set the times for moving furniture.
7 days after
Mail forwarding at the post office is a paid service
You order it for a fixed period. Authorities are notified through the population register anyway, so this is mainly for private post.
7 days after
The reduced tariff has an annual allowance per household
The household price applies up to a yearly volume of electricity and gas; above it the market price applies. The allowance belongs to the meter, so a contract in your own name matters.
7 days after
Waste collection: register the new address with the concession holder
Household waste has run through one national concession holder since 2023. The fee follows the property and the number of people living there.
2 weeks after
School: the registered address decides the catchment
The catchment school has to admit a child living in its district. The address card is the proof.
2 weeks after
Tell the bank, employer and insurers
2 weeks after
Update subscriptions and delivery services
2 weeks after
Vehicle: report the new address within 15 days
The registration document carries the owner's address, and the change has its own deadline. The driving licence is reissued with the address card.
2 weeks after
GP: register with one near the new address
You choose your GP freely, but you have to register in person. Do it before you need a prescription.

In the app: when setting up the move or under Tasks → Template. Everything can be deselected; a template is a suggestion.

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The checklists in this guide are compiled with care, but without guarantee of completeness or currency. Deadlines and responsibilities change. The information of the respective authority or contracting party is authoritative.