Money management
How to budget for a loan repayment
The income allocation method, building a payment buffer, aligning your repayment date with payday, and what to do when budgets tighten.
5 min read → Budgeting & saving
Moving Home Costs
Explained
Deposits, removals, overlap rent, and a dozen smaller fees nobody mentions — here's what moving home really costs in the UK and how to plan for each one without getting caught short.
6 min read • Cash Train editorial team
Why moving costs more than people expect
Moving home is consistently rated one of the most stressful — and expensive — events in adult life. The headline figure (deposit + first month's rent, or the purchase deposit on a home) gets the most attention, but it's the cluster of secondary costs arriving in the same 30-day window that catches people out.
A useful starting point: budget for roughly three to four times your monthly rent in total cash flow when you're moving as a tenant. For a home purchase, the rule of thumb is 3–5% of the property price on top of your deposit, covering legal fees, surveys and stamp duty. The breakdown below shows where that money actually goes.
Renters: the big three costs
Security deposit
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, deposits are capped at five weeks' rent (or six weeks' if annual rent exceeds £50,000). On a £1,200 pcm tenancy that's up to £1,384. This money leaves your account before you have the keys — and won't come back until after you've handed them in.
First month's rent in advance
Almost all private tenancies require at least one month's rent upfront, separate from the deposit. That's another £1,200 going out on or before move-in day.
The overlap period
If your new tenancy starts before your old one ends — a very common scenario — you're paying rent on two properties at once. Even a two-week overlap on a £1,200 pcm property costs £600. Indicative figure; your actual overlap depends on notice periods and contract dates.
Worked example (indicative)
Rent: £1,200 pcm | Deposit (5 weeks): £1,384 | Rent in advance: £1,200 | Two-week overlap: £600 | Total before removals: ~£3,184
Subject to your actual contract dates and rent level. Figures are illustrative only.
Removal costs: what drives the price
Removals are priced by volume (how many cubic feet of furniture), distance, and whether you want packing labour. UK removal quotes in 2024 ranged roughly as follows — these are indicative market averages, not Cash Train's own data:
Studio / 1-bed
£250–£500
Local move, man-and-van
2–3 bed house
£600–£1,200
Same city, full van crew
Long-distance
£1,000–£2,500+
E.g. Manchester to London
Three ways to reduce the bill:
Book 4–6 weeks ahead — last-minute slots cost 20–40% more and are scarcer on Fridays.
Move on a Tuesday or Wednesday — end-of-week moves attract a premium.
Declutter before quotes — removal firms price by volume, so fewer boxes = lower quote.
The hidden costs most budgets miss
Even a well-planned move tends to throw up costs that weren't in the original spreadsheet. These are the most common:
Utility set-up fees:
Some energy suppliers charge a connection or transfer fee. Water accounts may need updating. Budget £0–£100.
Broadband installation:
If your new property isn't already connected, an engineer visit costs £50–£150 and you may wait 2–4 weeks with no internet.
Packing materials:
Boxes, tape, and bubble wrap add up quickly — £30–£80 even for a modest flat.
End-of-tenancy cleaning:
Professional cleans typically cost £100–£250 and are often required to recover your full deposit.
Repairs and touch-ups:
Small nail holes, scuffed skirting boards, or damaged fixings cost time and money to put right before handover.
Storage:
If you have a gap between tenancies, a week of storage for a 2-bed household runs £50–£150 depending on location.
Managing the deposit gap
One of the most common cash-flow pinch points is the timing gap between paying your new deposit and getting your old one back. Even when everything goes smoothly, you're typically out of pocket by one deposit amount for three to six weeks.
Pay new deposit
Week 0 — required before keys are released
£1,384 out
Old deposit returned
Week 3–6 — after inspection & agreement
£1,384 back (if undisputed)
Options for bridging this gap:
Savings
The cheapest option — if you have enough liquid savings, use them. Set this money aside specifically for moving and replenish it from your returned deposit.
0% purchase credit card
If your credit score qualifies, a 0% purchase card can cover moving costs interest-free — provided you clear the balance within the promotional window.
Short-term personal loan
For a defined, repayable gap — say, £500 bridging a deposit while waiting for the old one — a short-term loan gives you certainty about cost upfront. Subject to status and affordability, Cash Train's Flex product (49.9% APR representative) runs £100–£5,000 over 3–12 months.
Representative example: borrow £500 over 6 months at 49.9% APR (fixed). Monthly repayment: £95.21. Total repayable: £571.26. Subject to status and affordability.
Moving budget checklist
Use this list to build your moving budget. Tick off each line and fill in your own figures.
New tenancy deposit (up to 5 weeks' rent)
— Before keys
First month's rent in advance
— Before keys
Overlap rent (old property)
— During notice period
Removal company / man-and-van
— Moving day
Packing materials
— 1–2 weeks before
End-of-tenancy professional clean
— Final day at old home
Minor repairs at old home
— Final week
Broadband installation at new home
— Book 2–4 weeks ahead
Utility account transfers / set-up
— Moving week
Storage (if needed between tenancies)
— Gap period
Post redirection (Royal Mail)
— Before move-in
Contingency fund (10% of total budget)
— Hold in reserve
All costs are indicative. Your figures will depend on location, property size and specific suppliers.
Related guides
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Common questions
FAQ
The minimum you need depends on whether you rent or buy, but renters typically need at least one month's deposit plus one month's rent in advance, plus removal costs. On an average UK tenancy at £1,200 pcm, that's roughly £2,500–£3,000 before moving day, before any overlap period is factored in. Homebuyers face much larger upfront costs including a purchase deposit, stamp duty, and solicitor fees.
The overlap is the period when you're paying rent on both your old home and your new one simultaneously. Because most tenancies require a full rental month's notice — and new tenancies often start mid-month — it's common to owe rent on two properties for a week to four weeks. On a £1,200 pcm rent, even two weeks of overlap adds £600 to your moving costs.
A short-term personal loan can bridge a cash-flow gap at moving time — for example, covering the new deposit before your old deposit is returned, or paying the removals company upfront. Subject to status and affordability, Cash Train offers between £100 and £5,000 at our Flex rate of 49.9% APR (representative). Always check the total repayable before borrowing and make sure repayments fit your post-move budget.
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and tenancy deposit protection rules, your landlord or letting agent must return your deposit — minus any agreed deductions — within 10 days of you both agreeing what amount to return. Disputes go to the deposit protection scheme's free adjudication service. In practice, budget for at least 2–4 weeks after key handover before the money arrives in your account.
Cover the gap. Move with confidence.
Cash Train shows you the total repayable before you apply — so you can plan your move without surprises.
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