Redirecting your post

The short answer

Royal Mail's redirection service forwards post from your old address to your new one for a set period, commonly three, six or twelve months, and can be set up online with proof of identity and the new occupant's confirmation. It usually takes a few working days to become active, so it is worth applying at least two weeks before your date of entry to avoid a gap.

How redirection works

You apply online or in branch, providing identification and the date you want redirection to start. Royal Mail typically needs a few working days to set it up, and mail from other couriers is not automatically covered, so it is worth updating those senders separately.

How long to redirect for

A shorter period, such as three months, suits most house moves once the main address changes have been made. A longer period can be useful if you expect delays in updating everyone, or if the move follows an estate or a more complex situation.

• Three months — suitable for most straightforward moves
• Six or twelve months — useful if updating everyone will take longer
• Business redirection — a separate service if redirecting a business address

What redirection does not cover

Redirection only covers Royal Mail deliveries, not private couriers, so parcels sent via other delivery firms may still need the sender's address details updated directly.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Royal Mail redirection, three months, single surname: typically £35–£40
• Six or twelve month redirection: increases with duration, typically £55–£75 for twelve months
• Additional cost for redirecting multiple surnames at the same address

What to do, in order

1. 1Apply for redirection online at least two weeks before moving
2. 2Provide proof of identity as required
3. 3Choose the redirection period that suits your situation
4. 4Update senders using private couriers separately, as they are not covered
5. 5Leave a forwarding note for the new occupants for any stray mail
6. 6Cancel or let the redirection lapse once your address changes are complete

Local detail for the Lothians

• In shared tenement stairs, individual flat mailboxes mean redirection is particularly useful to avoid mail being left in a communal area
• Households moving between Edinburgh and nearby towns such as Musselburgh or Dalkeith should check that both old and new addresses are entered correctly, since postcodes can look similar
• Rural addresses in East Lothian sometimes use a postal town that differs from the local settlement name, so double-check the exact format Royal Mail has on file
• New-build properties in developments around Livingston sometimes take a little longer to appear correctly in postal address databases

Common questions

How long does redirection take to start?

Typically a few working days after your application is processed, so apply at least two weeks ahead of your date of entry.

Can I redirect post to a temporary address?

Yes, redirection can be set up to any UK address, including a temporary one if there is a gap between moves.

Related pages

• Changing your address

  Who to tell when you move, and a sensible order to work through the list.

• Moving home checklist

  A week-by-week plan covering everything from instructing a solicitor to collecting the keys.

• Date of entry and keys

  How the Scottish date of entry works, and what happens on the day keys are handed over.