Moving house in winter in West Yorkshire: weather and roads

Winter moves are perfectly doable

Moving in winter has a reputation for being awkward, but plenty of people do it — often because it lines up with a house sale or a rental contract. The trick is to respect the weather, plan for shorter days and keep the practical things in order.

Up in the Pennine parts of West Yorkshire, winter can bite a little harder than in the towns, so it pays to build in a bit of slack rather than working to a tight schedule.

Make the most of daylight

It gets dark early in winter, and nobody wants to be carrying boxes down an unlit path. Where we can, we start a little earlier to make use of the daylight, and we keep torches to hand for the last runs to the van.

If your new home has outside lights, check they work before moving day. A working porch light makes the final unloading much easier.

Cold, wet and slippery

Wet or icy steps, paths and drives are a genuine hazard when you are carrying heavy boxes. Gritting or clearing the path, and keeping door mats down at both properties, makes a real difference. We lay floor protection inside anyway, which also helps keep the wet out.

It is worth having a few old towels to hand for wet feet and drips, and keeping the heating on low at the new place if you can, both for comfort and to help things dry.

Roads, hills and the forecast

West Yorkshire is hilly, and a bit of ice or snow can change a route. For longer moves, we keep an eye on the forecast and the main routes and adjust the plan if needed. A short delay is far better than a rush on a bad road.

On village and hillside moves, an untreated lane can be the deciding factor. Let us know if your road is steep or often untreated in winter, and we can plan the day around it.

Protect your things from the cold and damp

The cold itself is rarely a problem for furniture, but damp and condensation can be. Wrapping furniture properly keeps it dry in transit, and putting rugs and mattresses in covers helps. Electronics cope better if you let them settle at room temperature before switching them on at the other end.

Plants are the ones to watch. Cold-sensitive plants travel badly in a freezing van, so move them in the car if you can, or keep the journey as short as possible.

Keep the day calm

Winter moves go best when there is a little slack in the plan. Agree a realistic start time, dress for the weather, and keep the kettle and snacks handy for a warm-up. If the forecast looks rough, tell us early and we will help you adjust.

Whatever the weather, the aim is the same: your things arrive safely, in the right rooms, at the price we agreed in writing.

What should you sort out at the new house before a winter move?

A cold, dark house on arrival makes a long day feel longer. Before you move, ask the seller or landlord to leave the heating on frost protection, and arrange with your energy supplier for the account to be in your name from moving day. If the property has a prepayment meter, check it has credit.

Find out where the boiler controls, stopcock and fuse box are, ideally before the keys are handed over. Check the outside lights, and if the house has been empty for a while, ask whether the pipes have been protected. A burst pipe on moving day is the kind of surprise nobody wants.

It also helps to put a doormat, a roll of kitchen towel and a couple of old towels just inside the front door before the crew arrives. Small things like this stop mud and slush spreading through rooms you have not yet unpacked.

Packing for a winter move

Pack your summer clothes, garden furniture and outdoor gear early, as you will not need them for months. Keep warm clothes, coats, hats and waterproofs out until the end, and pack a bag with dry socks, gloves and a spare jumper for each person.

Use plastic boxes or extra layers for anything that would be ruined by damp, such as documents and photographs. Cardboard that stands on a wet path or in the rain loses strength quickly, so keep packed boxes inside until the crew is ready for them. Our packing service can take on the whole job if time is short.

Put the kettle, mugs and a flask in your essentials box. A hot drink goes a long way on a cold day.

Moving around the holidays and the new year

December and early January bring their own pressures. Solicitors, letting agents and utility companies may work reduced hours, and completion dates can slip if paperwork is held up. Keep in close touch with your solicitor and agent in the weeks before.

If your move is close to the holidays, book your removal as early as you can once you know the date, and tell us your preferred date and time so we can do our best to fit it. Plan for shops and services being closed on certain days, and stock up on basics before you go.

For a move further afield over winter, our long-distance removals page explains how we plan longer journeys.

Bin collections often change over the holidays, which matters when you are clearing cardboard and packaging after the move. Check your council's collection calendar before you start flattening boxes.