Shred or Bin Your Paperwork: Moving House Guide
Moving house provides an excellent opportunity to declutter and sort through things you’ve been holding onto but no longer need. Books that could go to charity. Soup cans in the back of the cupboard could go in the bin. Gardening equipment that’s been sitting at the back of the potting shed for nearly a decade that you swore you’d use beyond that first time could be gifted to family. But, there’s one decluttering job that seems to haunt a vast number of people during the moving process. One that, if you’ve arrived here, you’ve probably been putting off yourself: the paperwork.
If you are staring at your folders of important documents, or the drawer you’ve shoved errand catalogues and bank statements into, thinking, “I’ll get to that eventually,” and are slowly realising that “eventually” has in fact caught up with you, Jack & Jill Removals have the guide for you.
Why sort your paperwork before moving house?
Important documents like bank statements and letters are easily stored and kept for a later date, but most of us are guilty of holding onto paperwork that we no longer require either because going through it all takes time, or because once it’s in that all important folder, it’s surprisingly easy to forget about.
Decluttering paperwork before moving has several practical benefits. You’ll have less to pack, fewer boxes to carry and a much better idea of where your important documents are when you arrive at your new home. It’s also a good opportunity to get rid of personal information securely rather than leaving old paperwork in a household bin where other people might access it.
Should you keep, bin, or shred your paperwork?
The easiest way to approach the job is to set up three clearly labelled bags, boxes or piles before you begin. Work through your paperwork one document at a time, deciding which category it belongs in.
Keep: Keep any documents you may need in the future, original certificates, property records, current policies, physical bank statements where digital alternatives aren’t available, and paperwork needed for tax purposes.
Shred: Anything you no longer need that contains personal or financial information should generally be shredded before disposal. This includes old bank statements, utility bills, payslips and letters displaying your address, account numbers or National Insurance number.
Bin or recycle: Paper that contains no personal information, such as takeaway menus, general leaflets and newspapers, can usually go straight into your paper recycling.
A useful rule of thumb is: if a document contains personal information and you no longer need it, shred it rather than putting it straight in the bin.
What paperwork should you keep when moving house?
Before you start shredding, it’s worth identifying the documents that should stay with you. Some are essential for proving your identity or dealing with legal matters, and others may be needed to support financial records or make an insurance claim.
Identity and personal documents
Keep important identity documents somewhere safe and easy to access. These include:
- Passports
- Immigration documents
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Adoption documents
- National Insurance paperwork
Original certificates can be expensive or time consuming to replace, so don’t pack them into a general box of paperwork. Put them in a clearly labelled folder or document case instead.
Expired passports should not automatically go in the shred pile either. They may contain visas or useful travel records, so consider whether you still need them. If you decide to dispose of an old passport, follow the relevant HM Passport Office guidance.
Property documents
If you own your home, keep paperwork relating to its purchase, sale and ongoing ownership. This might include completion statements, mortgage documents, solicitor correspondence, leasehold information and guarantees for work carried out on the property.
Documents relating to improvements can be particularly useful if you sell the property later and need to work out any Capital Gains Tax liability. Keep relevant invoices and receipts rather than assuming that everything can be retrieved years later.
For rented properties, retain your tenancy agreement, deposit information and relevant correspondence until any outstanding matters have been settled.
Financial and tax records
Tax documents are particularly important because HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has record keeping requirements for people completing Self Assessment returns.
Keep relevant P60s, P45s, payslips, pension statements, savings and investment records, and documents supporting income or expenses.
Insurance and medical documents
A policy that has expired may still be relevant if you need to refer to a previous claim, so check whether there is an outstanding issue before disposing of it.
The same applies to medical letters or reports that may be useful for your future care. Keep important documents organised and accessible, particularly if you expect to need them during or shortly after your move.
Keep:
- Current insurance policies
- Documents relating to ongoing claims
- Wills
- Powers of attorney
- Important medical records
Warranties for valuable items
Before disposing of a receipt, consider whether you still own the item and whether the warranty or any related claim remains relevant.
Which paperwork should you shred before moving?
Once you’ve put aside everything you need to keep, you can start working through the paperwork that no longer serves a purpose. Shredding documents containing personal information helps reduce the risk of someone using those details fraudulently.
Shred:
Old bank statements: Old bank statements can contain your name, address, account details and information about your spending. Before shredding them, check whether you still need them for tax purposes, a financial query or another ongoing matter. If you have digital statements available, you may find there’s no need to retain every old paper copy.
Old utility bills: Gas, electricity, water, broadband and phone bills often contain enough personal information to make careless disposal a bad idea. Once the account is closed, you can shred old paperwork.
Expired bank cards: There is no need to hold onto old bank cards and you must shred them once they’ve expired.
Junk mail: Junk mail is generally safe to go straight in the bin, but if you’re concerned about your address being accessed, there’s no harm in shredding these bits.
Anything displaying personal details: This includes old payslips, medical correspondence, insurance letters and documents showing account numbers or your National Insurance number.
Paperwork you can recycle
Any paperwork that lacks personal information that could potentially be used for fraud can safely go in the recycling bin. This includes takeaway flyers and old newspapers, catalogues, and leaflets you might be holding onto for nostalgia or local purposes.
You can also get rid of instruction manuals for items you no longer own. For appliances you still use, check whether the manufacturer provides a digital version before deciding to recycle the paper copy.
How long should you keep documents in the UK?
| Document type | How long to keep it |
| Birth, marriage and other important certificates | Keep indefinitely |
| Wills and powers of attorney | Keep securely while relevant |
| Property purchase and sale documents | Keep while you own the property and for any relevant tax or legal matters afterwards |
| Self Assessment records if employed and not self employed | Generally at least 22 months after the end of the relevant tax year for an on time return; different rules apply to late returns |
| Self employed records | At least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline for the relevant tax year |
| Payslips and P60s | Keep for as long as needed for tax, pension, student loan or employment queries |
| Bank and credit card statements | No single period applies to every personal statement; keep those needed for tax, financial claims or ongoing matters |
| Utility bills | Keep final bills and anything needed for disputes or account queries |
| Insurance policies and claim records | Keep active policies and relevant records until claims or disputes are resolved |
| Warranties and receipts | Keep while the warranty, guarantee or relevant claim remains applicable |
How to shred paperwork effectively
Once you’ve identified which documents can go, you need a safe way to dispose of them. The best option depends on how much paperwork you have and how sensitive the information is.
Using a home shredder
A home shredder is useful if you have a few folders to clear. Cross cut and micro cut shredders offer better protection than basic strip cut models because they break documents into smaller pieces.
Before you start, check your shredder’s instructions and remove staples or paper clips if required. Avoid feeding in too much paper at once, and empty the collection bin regularly so you can keep working without causing a jam.
Using a professional shredding service
If you have years of paperwork to get through, a professional document destruction service may be more convenient than shredding everything yourself.
Can shredded paper go in the recycling bin?
It depends on your local council’s instructions. Shredded paper can be recyclable, but some collections require it to be contained in a paper bag or another suitable container so that loose pieces don’t scatter during collection.
Check the GOV.UK recycling guidance and your council’s local rules before putting shredded paper out for collection.
If you have clean shredded paper that doesn’t contain sensitive information, you may also be able to reuse it as packing filler for suitable items. Avoid using dusty or inky paper around electronics or light coloured fabrics, and keep any sensitive waste secure until it can be disposed of properly.
How to pack and move important documents
Once you’ve sorted through everything, put together a dedicated folder for your important documents so they don’t get lost amongst your everyday items.
We also recommend keeping irreplaceable documents with you on moving day rather than handing them over to the removals company so you know where they are at all times.
Moving soon?
Getting rid of unnecessary paperwork is a useful first step towards a more organised move. Once you’ve sorted what you’re keeping, the rest of your belongings will be easier to pack and prepare for transport.
Jack & Jill Removals is a family run removals company based in West Yorkshire, providing house removals across the county and nationwide. Whether you’re moving from Huddersfield, Holmfirth, Halifax, Barnsley or elsewhere in the UK, the team can help with the practical side of moving home.
