How to Prepare for a Flat Move
Reviewed by the Man and Van Manchester team • Last reviewed 28 July 2026
Preparing for a flat move is mostly about access. Book the goods lift or loading bay in advance through building management, check the permitted move hours, tell the concierge around two weeks ahead, measure lifts and doorways for large items, and sort parking at both ends. In Manchester city centre, remember you cannot stop or load on the Metrolink tram tracks.
Goods Lift and Loading Bay
Many apartment blocks require the goods or service lift and the loading bay to be booked in advance through building management, and some only allow moves within set hours, commonly a weekday daytime window. A loading bay may need booking, may already be in use when you arrive and often has a time limit. Sort these as soon as you have a date so the van is not left circling.
Concierge and Building Rules
In concierge buildings, speak to the building manager around two weeks before the move. They often want advance notice, driver details and arrival times, and some ask a mover to show proof of public liability and goods-in-transit insurance before allowing access. Ask us for a certificate if your building requires one, and request it a few days ahead for office and apartment-block moves.
Measuring Access at Both Ends
Before the day, measure the lift door width, corridors, doorways and stairwells at both ends. If a sofa or mattress will not fit the lift, it has to go up or down the stairs, which changes the time and the crew you need. Flagging a tight staircase or a narrow lift in advance means we bring enough hands.
Manchester City Centre Specifics
In the city centre, the Metrolink trams run through pedestrianised streets, and you cannot stop or load on the tram tracks, so loading has to be planned around them. The main apartment areas, Deansgate, Ancoats and the Northern Quarter across the M1 to M4 postcodes, are dense and parking is tight. In inner suburbs like Chorlton and Didsbury, residents' parking zones can mean you need a visitor permit or a bay arrangement for a large van.
Pre-Move Checklist
Book the move early: roughly four to six weeks ahead in the busy summer season, two to four weeks off-peak. Confirm your move date and key-collection time, and if you rent, check your notice period and the building's move rules. Book the lift, reserve the loading bay and arrange any parking. Use small to medium boxes so they stack on a trolley and fit in the lift, and label each with the flat number and room. Set up Royal Mail redirection, which can take up to five working days to start, and notify your utilities and broadband.
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