Guide › Moving in India: the checklist

Moving in India: the checklist

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

58 tasks · General checklist

Contracts and authorities

17 weeks before
Check the notice period and lock-in in the rent agreement
One to two months is customary; a lock-in (often six or eleven months) costs the deposit if you leave early.
14 weeks before
Give written notice (e-mail and letter)
State the date and move-out day, get an acknowledgement.
13 weeks before
Arrange viewings for the next tenant
11 weeks before
Sign the new lease
10 weeks before
Pay the security deposit and the first month's rent, register the rent agreement
Two to ten months' rent depending on the city (Bengaluru high, Delhi and Mumbai two to three); the Model Tenancy Act 2021 suggests at most two — only where the state adopted it. Eleven-month agreements are common.
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
3 weeks before
Draw up the list of address changes
2 weeks before
Adjust the home insurance
Not mandatory, but sensible for contents.
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 security deposit
Painting deductions are common — check the rule in the agreement; usually 30 days.

New home

9 weeks before
Record the inventory and condition with photos
As an annex to the agreement; settle painting deductions beforehand.
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
7 days before
Test the internet connection
7 days before
Electricity (discom) and gas: name transfer or new connection
The electricity bill in your name is the key proof of address; transfer the LPG connection (Indane, HP, Bharat) via the distributor.
1 day after
Record and report defects on moving in
3 days after
Label the doorbell and letterbox
3 days after
Housing society: report the move, NOC, police verification
Many societies require tenant registration and an NOC; tenant police verification is the landlord's duty in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
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

7 days after
Aadhaar: update the address (UIDAI)
Online via myAadhaar with proof of address (registered rent agreement, electricity or gas bill); Aadhaar is the proof for banks, SIM cards and gas.
7 days after
India Post: apply for redirection at the post office
Forwarding for three to twelve months.
10 days after
School: transfer certificate (TC) and admission
The TC from the old school is mandatory; mind the new school's admission deadlines.
2 weeks after
Update bank KYC, PAN and employer with the new address
Banks need proof of address (Aadhaar or a bill); PAN address via NSDL or UTIITSL.
2 weeks after
Update subscriptions and delivery services
2 weeks after
Driving licence and RC: change the address via Parivahan
parivahan.gov.in; within 30 days (Motor Vehicles Act, s. 49); moving to another state needs an NOC and re-registration within twelve months.
2 weeks after
Voter ID: change the address via the NVSP (Form 8)
voters.eci.gov.in.

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

Get Homeshift and take the list with you

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.