Moving to Lewisham

Thinking about moving

Services to help you understand what housing options are available.

• Get advice about renting privately

• Find information about affordable ways to buy a home

• Check whether you could get support with housing costs

Looking for a property

Services to help you find a home that meets your needs.

• Check the council tax band of a property

• Work out how much your council tax would cost

• Find your nearest Lewisham primary school, secondary school or college and see how well they perform

• Check whether a property is listed or in a conservation area

• Find out more about local land charges if you are buying a property

Preparing to move

Services to help you to get everything in place for your new home.

• Apply for a school place in Lewisham

• Search for an Ofsted registered childcare provider

• Tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about your change of address if you are claiming any benefits or tax credits 

You must tell the council tax department at your local council that you are moving home. If you’re not sure which council you need to contact, then you can search online using your current postcode.

You should also tell other organisations that you are moving. These include:

• Health services, such as GPs and dentists

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)

• TV Licensing

• Banks and credit card providers

• Insurance providers

• Utility suppliers

• Work and education contacts

Moving in

Services to help you in your first few days as a Lewisham resident.

• Create a Lewisham MyAccount to access online services

• Register for council tax at your new address

• Check if you are eligible for a council tax discount or reduction

• Set up a direct debit to pay your council tax

• Register to vote at your new address

• Find out how to remove the previous resident from the electoral register

• Check what day your rubbish and recycling bins are collected

• Visit the recycling centre

• Arrange a bulky waste or mattress collection

• Arrange garden waste collections

• Buy a residents parking permit if you live in a controlled parking zone (CPZ)

You should also register with local health services as soon as possible. If you’re not sure where your nearest GP, dentist or optician is, you can search online using your new postcode.

After you’ve moved in

Services to keep you entertained and engaged as you settle into your new home.

• Join your local library

• Enrol on an adult education course

• Visit a park or open space

• Book a session at your local leisure centre 

• Learn more about how the council is run

• Find out who your local councillors are

• Have your say on council decisions

• Check if you need planning permission or building control approval to make improvements to your home

You can also subscribe to the Lewisham Life e-newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest council news and information.