A gap between homes is effectively two moves. Budget for collection into storage, the storage period and delivery out, as well as accommodation for the household. Keep the intended end date flexible enough to reflect any uncertainty in access to the new property.
Separate your belongings
Pack a daily-use group for the accommodation: clothing, documents, medication, chargers and anything needed for work or school. Label the remainder by room and priority. Check whether the storage arrangement permits you to retrieve items, at what times and at what cost.
Check the accommodation terms
- Confirm the permitted number of occupants and any pet arrangements.
- Check parking, laundry, cooking facilities and internet access.
- Understand extension, cancellation and deposit terms.
- Allow for commuting and food costs that differ from normal home life.
Agree how post, deliveries and essential appointments will be handled during the gap. Keep a single record of all provisional end dates and review it before an extension becomes chargeable. When access is confirmed, arrange the second move with the same attention to inventory, parking and key handover as the first.
Put it into practice
Use the housing overlap cost calculator to organise your own figures or next steps. Keep its assumptions alongside your plan.