Moving House With Pets: The Admin Checklist You Can’t Afford to Skip

Everyone talks about how to keep pets calm on moving day. Far fewer people talk about what happens when the admin side goes wrong.

Ritchie Clarke and Amber Clarke from The Pets, Homes and Gardens Company, walked us through the practical checklist that every pet owner should work through before, during and after a move. It’s not the exciting part. But it matters.

Update your pet’s microchip details

A microchip is only useful if the contact details attached to it are accurate. If your dog slips out in the first week at a new address, or your cat tries to find their way back to the old house, out-of-date microchip records make everything harder.

It’s also a legal requirement to keep microchip details up to date for both dogs and cats in the UK.

Don’t leave this until moving day. Contact your pet’s microchip database provider in advance, give them your new address and moving date, and confirm the details have been updated correctly once you’re in. For dogs, update the ID tag too so the correct address is on it from the moment you arrive.

Register with a new vet before you move

If you’re moving just a few miles, you may be able to stay with your current practice. Worth checking before you assume. For longer moves, register with a new vet well in advance — not after you’ve moved in and suddenly need an appointment. Many practices are busy and can’t take on new patients immediately.

Ask your current vet to transfer your pet’s records to the new practice. Vaccination history, medication, any ongoing conditions — all of it should travel with them. This is especially important if your pet has existing health needs.

Arriving in a new city with a poorly dog and no vet lined up is a stressful situation that’s easy to avoid.

Tell your pet insurance provider

Your address is linked to your policy. Moving without telling your insurer can cause unnecessary complications if you ever need to make a claim.

Your new location may also affect your premium, so it’s worth a conversation with your provider before the move rather than after. As with microchip details, confirm the update has gone through once you’re settled in.

Renting with pets: your rights under the Renters’ Rights Act

This is especially relevant right now. From 1 May 2026, private tenants in England have a stronger right to request to keep a pet in a rented home. Landlords can no longer refuse simply on the basis of a blanket no-pets rule. They need to properly consider the request and give a fair reason if they decline.

That said, it doesn’t mean every request will automatically succeed. A property that’s too small for the pet, another resident with an allergy, or a freeholder restriction can all still be grounds for refusal.

Ritchie’s advice: don’t assume. Make the request in writing and include as much reassurance as possible. The age, breed, size, temperament and typical home behaviour of your pet. A commitment to keep the property well looked after. And a pet CV – photo, vaccination status, temperament, flea and worming routine, plus a reference from a previous landlord, dog walker or vet if you have one.

It sounds like a lot of effort, but Ritchie and Amber have seen it work. In every case where their clients moved rented properties with pets, the pets were accepted. Preparation and a professional approach made the difference.

Ritchie Clarke and Amber Clarke are owners of The Pets, Homes and Gardens Company. You can find out more about their services here.

Moving soon? Your Man With A Van has 68 branches across the UK, find your local branch here.