Moving House Over the Festive Break: What Removals Companies Can (and Can’t) Do Between Christmas and New Year

Are you looking at moving house over the festive break?

You are not the only one. Every year, plenty of people find themselves staring at the calendar on Boxing Day, a mince pie in one hand and a moving date in the other, wondering whether anybody will actually turn up with a van during those strange, sleepy days before New Year.

Some have a completion date in late December. Some are renters whose tenancy ends on the 31st. Others simply have a week off work and fancy getting the move done while the rest of the country is still working through the cheese board.

The short answer is yes, moves can and do happen over the festive break. The longer answer is that this “in-between week” works very differently from the rest of the year.

Knowing exactly what a removals company can (and can’t) do in those few days is the difference between a calm fresh start and a very frosty one.

In this guide, we look at which days genuinely work in 2026, what professional movers can realistically offer, where the real bottlenecks sit, and how to plan a move that fits neatly around the festivities.

Your Festive Break Move at a Glance

Moving between Christmas and New Year is perfectly possible, but the window is narrower than most people expect. Here is a quick overview of what this guide covers.

• The 2026 Festive Calendar: Which Days Actually Work: with the Boxing Day substitute on Monday 28 December, only three ordinary working days remain before New Year.
• What Removals Companies Can Do Between Christmas and New Year: move you on those working days, pack before Christmas, store your belongings and handle local moves with ease.
• What Removals Companies Can’t Do Over the Festive Break: hand over keys, move money on bank holidays, beat the early sunset, or control the winter weather.
• Why Completion Is Usually the Real Sticking Point: solicitor closures, lender cut offs and property chains matter far more than van availability.
• Booking Removals Between Christmas and New Year in the UK: How to Make It Work: eight practical steps, from booking early to agreeing a backup date.
• Who Tends to Move During the Festive Break? Renters, chain free buyers, January job starters, and families making the most of the school holidays.
• Festive Week Practicalities: Post, Bins, Energy and Parking: the small admin jobs that behave differently over the holidays.
• How White & Company Can Help Over the Festive Break: our own crews, vehicles, and warehouses, with storage ready if dates move.
• Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Home: seven quick answers to common moving questions, from defrosting the freezer to moving with pets.

Get the timing and paperwork right, and the festive break can be one of the calmer weeks of the year to move. Read on for the full details.

The 2026 Festive Calendar: Which Days Actually Work

First, it helps to know exactly which days are on the table, because the 2026 calendar is a little unusual.

Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year and Boxing Day on a Saturday. As Boxing Day lands on a weekend, the bank holiday moves to the following Monday.

Here is how the festive fortnight shapes up, according to the official GOV.UK bank holidays list:

• Thursday 24 December, Christmas Eve: a normal working day, although many businesses finish early.
• Friday 25 December, Christmas Day: bank holiday across the UK.
• Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 December: the weekend.
• Monday 28 December: substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day across the UK.
• Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30, and Thursday 31 December: ordinary working days.
• Friday 1 January 2027, New Year’s Day: bank holiday across the UK.
• Saturday 2 January 2027: a bank holiday in Scotland, which falls on a weekend this time, so Scottish movers should check GOV.UK for the substitute day in early January.

So, in practice, the true festive moving window is just three working days, Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December.

New Year’s Eve is technically a full working day, but it is rarely a full working day in spirit, as offices, agents and conveyancers often wind down by early afternoon.

That small window is exactly why planning matters so much more at this time of year.

What Removals Companies Can Do Between Christmas and New Year

Professional removals companies can help with house moves between Christmas and New Year, including packing before the holidays, arranging secure storage and transporting household belongings on available working days.

The good news is that a professional removals company can do a great deal over the festive break, as long as you speak to them early enough.

Move you on one of the working days

Many established movers keep crews available on 29, 30 and 31 December, as demand from renters and people with fixed dates is always high. Capacity is smaller than usual, though, because removals teams quite rightly take some time off with their families too. The diary fills on a first come, first served basis, often weeks in advance.

Pack everything before Christmas

One of the smartest ways to handle a festive move is to pack your home the week before Christmas. A professional packing service can wrap and box everything except the essentials, leaving you free to enjoy Christmas surrounded by neatly labelled boxes rather than half-finished ones. Just keep one box aside for the tree, the decorations, and the all-important crackers.

Store your belongings over the break

If your new home isn’t ready until January, or your completion date wobbles, secure storage solutions bridge the gap. We can collect your furniture before Christmas, keep it safe in a clean, dry container, and deliver it once you have the keys. For items you might need to dip into, self-storage might be a better option for you, find out more via our Self-storage vs Removal Company Storage article.

Handle local moves comfortably

A local house removal usually fits neatly into a single winter day. Longer journeys need more thought. A move from the South Coast to Scotland, for example, may need two days with an overnight stop, so our long distance removals team would typically plan it across the 29th and 30th rather than squeezing it into New Year’s Eve.

Survey your home before the holidays

A free home or video survey (a vital step for all movers) means you can agree your quote in November or early December without anyone needing to visit, so the paperwork is settled long before the festive rush begins.

What Removals Companies Can’t Do Over the Festive Break

Moving house over Christmas comes with additional challenges, including bank holiday closures, reduced conveyancing services, limited removals availability, shorter daylight hours and unpredictable winter weather.

Now for the honest bit. However willing your movers are, some things simply sit outside their control between Christmas and New Year.

• They can’t hand you the keys. The estate agent or seller releases keys once completion is confirmed. If the money hasn’t moved, your removals crew can’t unload, however beautifully packed the van is.
• They can’t make money move on a bank holiday. House purchase funds normally travel between solicitors by CHAPS, the same-day payment system run by the Bank of England, which only operates on working days. No banking day, no completion.
• They can’t conjure up a crew on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. You can call on 27 December to book for the 29th, but availability will be very slim.
• They can’t beat the sunset. The sun sets around 4 pm in southern England in late December, and earlier further north. Crews work safely with lighting, but an early start is far better than a late finish.
• They can’t control the weather. Snow, ice, and storms can delay any move. Keep an eye on Met Office weather warnings in the days beforehand and have a plan B.

None of these is a reason to avoid a festive move. They are simply things to plan around from the start.

Why Completion Is Usually the Real Sticking Point

Property completions between Christmas and New Year can be affected by solicitor closures, mortgage lender deadlines and bank holidays, making it essential to confirm arrangements before booking festive removals.

Here is the thing most people don’t realise until it is too late. When a festive move falls through, it is rarely because there was no van. It is almost always because the conveyancing couldn’t happen.

Many solicitors and licensed conveyancers close from Christmas Eve until the first working days of January or run a skeleton service.

Mortgage lenders often set their own cut-off dates for requesting and releasing funds before the holidays.

In a property chain, every single link needs its solicitor and lender open on the same day. If just one firm is closed, nobody moves.

That is why the most common festive arrangement is to exchange contracts before Christmas and complete in early January.

You get the certainty of a fixed date, everyone enjoys the holidays, and your removals company can pack you before Christmas and move you as soon as offices reopen.

If you are buying or selling, ask your conveyancer now for their exact holiday closing dates and your lender’s deadlines.

Our earlier guide on how to move house over Christmas covers the wider planning in more detail.

Booking Removals Between Christmas and New Year in the UK: How to Make It Work

If a festive break move is on the cards, these eight steps will keep it on track.

• Book early. For removals between Christmas and New Year, book in October or November to secure a date. Our guide on how far in advance to book a removals company explains why.
• Agree a backup date. Pencil in an early January date as a fallback, so a delayed completion doesn’t leave you stranded.
• Get surveyed before December. A video survey is a quick, accurate and convenient alternative to a home visit.
• Ask about storage as a safety net. Knowing storage is available if needed takes the pressure off everyone.
• Pack before the celebrations. Leave only festive essentials and everyday items unpacked.
• Declutter in November. Fewer belongings mean a quicker, cheaper move. Our decluttering guide for New Year movers is a good place to start.
• Sort access and parking. Tell your movers about narrow lanes, shared driveways, lifts and parking restrictions in advance and book parking permits if parking is limited.
• Check your cover. Make sure your belongings are protected in transit and in storage. Our MoveProtect cover is designed specifically for removals.

Our Moving Checklist and Planning Your Move pages will help you keep the rest of your to-do list in order.

Who Tends to Move During the Festive Break?

Renters, families, professionals relocating for January jobs and buyers without property chains often choose to move between Christmas and New Year, taking advantage of time away from work and school.

Every year we see the same groups making the most of the quiet week between the celebrations.

• Tenancies often end on 31 December or start on 1 January, and with no chain or mortgage involved, renters are usually the most straightforward festive movers.
• Chain free and cash buyers. Fewer parties involved means a much better chance of completing on a working day.
• January job starters. People starting a new role in the new year often use the break to relocate. Employers supporting them can lean on our Employee Relocation and Corporate Relocation
• With children off school until early January, there is no school run to juggle and time to settle in before term starts.
• People moving in or out of storage. Those between homes often time their final delivery for the festive lull.

Festive Week Practicalities: Post, Bins, Energy and Parking

A few everyday jobs behave a little differently over the holidays, so it pays to tackle them early.

• Set up Royal Mail Redirection well before Christmas. Bank holidays don’t count as working days, and plenty of cards and parcels will be in transit.
• Bins and recycling. Collection days shift over Christmas and New Year. Check your local arrangements through your council using the UK find your local council tool, rather than leaving a mountain of cardboard on the drive.
• Take dated meter readings on moving day and tell your supplier. Ofgem explains what to do about energy when you move home.
• Engineer appointments are limited over the holidays, so book your new connection as early as possible.
• Town centres are busy with sales shoppers, and councils may need notice for parking suspensions, so arrange space for the removal vehicle well ahead.

Need some festive inspiration for the packing itself? Our lighthearted 12 Days of Moving survival guide is a fun read.

How White & Company Can Help Over the Festive Break

White & Company has been moving families since 1871, and we know the festive calendar like no other.

Unlike many movers, we own and maintain our own vehicles, depots and warehouses, and we employ and train our own crews rather than relying on subcontractors. That means when you book a date between Christmas and New Year, you know exactly who will be turning up.

With 19 locations across the UK, including the Channel Islands, a fleet of more than 265 vehicles, and secure containerised storage at our own warehouses, we can pack you before Christmas, store your belongings if dates change, and deliver to your new home the moment the keys are released.

As founder members of the British Association of Removers, we work to the BAR Code of Practice, so you can relax and enjoy the festivities.

Use our branch locator to find your nearest office, get your free, no obligation quote today, or contact our team to talk through your festive moving plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving House Over the Festive Break

No matter what time of year you are moving, these are some of the questions we hear most often.

Do I need to empty my chest of drawers before moving?

Usually, it is best to empty heavy items such as books, but light clothing can often stay in place. Always check with your removals company first, as overloaded drawers can damage furniture and are much harder to carry safely.

What items won’t a removals company move?

Most movers won’t transport hazardous items such as paint, gas bottles, fuel, fireworks, aerosols, and certain chemicals. Valuables like jewellery, cash and important documents are best kept with you on moving day.

How do I move house with a cat or dog?

Keep pets in a quiet, closed room or with a friend on moving day so they don’t slip out among the boxes. Once you arrive, set up a calm space with familiar bedding and keep cats indoors for at least a couple of weeks while they settle.

Should I defrost my fridge freezer before moving?

Yes. Switch it off and defrost it at least 24 hours before your move, dry it thoroughly, and leave the door ajar. Once it is in place at your new home, let it stand for a few hours before switching it back on.

How many boxes will I need?

A common rule of thumb is around 10 to 15 boxes per room, although kitchens and studies often need more. A survey gives you a far more accurate figure, and our packing service can supply exactly what you need.

Who do I need to tell when I move house?

Your bank, employer, GP, dentist, council, utility suppliers, insurers, and HMRC are a good start. You must also update the address on your driving licence with the DVLA, as it is a legal requirement.

Do I have to clean my old home before I leave?

If you are renting, you usually need a thorough clean to get your deposit back. Buyers aren’t legally owed a deep clean, but leaving the home tidy, with bins emptied and keys labelled, is good manners and makes for a happier handover.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.