Guide to moving freight

Having your own possessions around you when you move will make you feel much more at home and help you to settle into your new house. But what you are able to bring depends on the rules in your contract about weight limits, international freight and customs regulations and whether any furnishings are provided in your UK accommodation. Work out the practicalities before packing your boxes!

You can move items over by air, sea or road freight. Your local freight agent will arrange for packing and shipment to a UK airport or seaport. Air consignments are quick, taking only a few days to reach the UK; freight takes much longer, around several weeks, but offers no weight restrictions.

There may be duty to pay on accompanied baggage or unaccompanied freight. Regulations are complex and subject to change so seek advice from your local freight agent. All goods imported into the UK are subject to a customs examination, so you will need to provide a declaration listing of the items in your freight. Failure to do this properly can involve heavy penalties.

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