Moving house in Luxembourg: a checklist

Six to eight weeks before

Book the movers early

Good movers fill up fast, especially at the end of the month and in summer. Ask two or three for a quote after they have seen what you are taking, either at a visit or by video. A written quote should say what is included: packing, dismantling furniture, insurance for your belongings, and access at both ends.

Check the access

Tell the movers about stairs, lifts, narrow streets and how far the van can park from the door. Ask your commune whether you need permission to reserve space on the street for the van, and ask your syndic if the lift can be protected or booked.

Sort before you pack

Every box you do not move saves time and money. Sell, give away or recycle what you no longer use, and book a collection for bulky items if your commune offers one.

While you pack

Make an inventory as you go. Number each box, write the room it goes to on the side, and keep a simple list of what is inside. Take photos of valuable or fragile items before they are wrapped.

Pack one box of essentials you will open first: documents, chargers, medicines, a few tools, bedding, a kettle and something to eat with. Keep passports, contracts and keys with you, not in the van.

Utilities and post

Contact your electricity, gas, water and internet providers to close or transfer the contracts on the right date. Internet in particular can take time to set up, so call well ahead.

On moving day, read the meters in both homes and take a photo of each reading. Arrange for your post to be forwarded for a few months, and update your address with your bank, your employer, your insurer and anyone who sends you bills.

Register at your new commune

When you move within Luxembourg or arrive from abroad, you declare your new address at the commune you are moving to. Do it soon after you arrive, and check on the commune's website which documents to bring, as each one has its own opening hours and process.

Your address affects your tax, your post, your vehicle papers and your children's school, so it is worth doing in the first days rather than the first months.

Leave the old place clean

If you rent, the handover inspection compares the home with how you received it. Fill small holes, clean the kitchen, the bathroom and the windows, and descale the taps. Book a cleaner for the day after the movers if you will not have the time.

At the handover, go round with the landlord or agent, note the meter readings together, hand over every key and keep a signed copy of the report.