For many businesses, the week between Christmas and New Year is the quietest of the year. Clients are away, phones are quiet and half the team is on leave anyway. That makes it an obvious window for an office move. Close on Christmas Eve, reopen in the new premises in January, and nobody loses a working day.
It can work very well. But an office move over Christmas needs more planning, not less, because suppliers, landlords and IT contractors are also winding down. If you are considering it, early November is the time to make decisions.
In short: a Christmas office move suits businesses that can close for several days and have a firm date for the new premises. Book your removals, IT support and building access now, confirm who will be available over the holidays, deal with confidential records properly and plan for a short soft launch in early January rather than expecting everything to be perfect on day one.
What Are the Advantages of Moving Over the Holidays?
- Less disruption to customers. Fewer calls, emails and visits means fewer people notice the change.
- Fewer lost working days. The bank holidays and planned closure do some of the work for you.
- Quieter buildings and streets. City centre office blocks are calmer, which can make loading bays and lifts easier to book.
- A fresh start in January. Teams come back to a new space at the start of a new year.
What Are the Risks?
- Suppliers close. Internet providers, phone system engineers, furniture suppliers and building management may have skeleton staff or none at all.
- Key people are away. If the person who knows the server room or holds the keys is on holiday, decisions stall.
- Problems wait until January. If broadband is not live in the new office, it may not be fixed until suppliers return.
- Removals demand is high. The festive period is busy for domestic moves too, so dates need booking early.
None of these is a reason not to move. They are reasons to plan the move properly and confirm availability with every supplier in writing.
How Far Ahead Should You Start Planning?
Ideally three months or more for a full office relocation, which means a late December move should already be under way. If you are starting now, it is still achievable for a small or medium office, but you will need to move quickly on the long lead items.
Book these first
- Broadband and phone lines. New business connections can take weeks. Order now and get the installation date confirmed.
- Your removals company. Arrange a site survey of both premises so the crew, vehicles and timings can be planned.
- IT support. Agree who will disconnect, move and reconnect servers, workstations and network equipment, and when.
- Building access. Check opening hours, loading bay bookings, lift reservations and security arrangements at both buildings over the holidays.
Our complete guide to office and commercial relocation covers the wider planning process, and our office removals service explains how we work with businesses across the North West.
How Should You Handle Confidential Files and Records?
An office move is one of the few times paper records leave a controlled environment, so it needs a plan. Under UK data protection law, you remain responsible for personal data while it is in transit. The Information Commissioner’s Office guidance for organisations is the place to check your obligations.
- Audit files before the move and decide what to keep, archive or securely destroy.
- Pack confidential records in sealed, numbered crates with a signed inventory.
- Keep a clear record of who handled what and when.
- Consider moving records you rarely need into secure archive storage rather than taking them to the new office at all.
If you work in a regulated sector such as finance, law or healthcare, our guide to relocating a regulated office goes into the compliance side in more detail. For a look at what filing cabinets really cost in office space, see our archive and document storage guide.
How Do You Keep the Business Running During the Move?
- Set up call diversion to mobiles or an answering service so callers still reach someone.
- Update your website and email signatures with the new address and closure dates.
- Tell key clients and suppliers in early December, then remind them the week before you close.
- Keep laptops with staff where possible so people can work remotely if reopening slips by a day or two.
- Plan a soft reopening. Expect the first two or three days back to involve some unpacking and troubleshooting.
What Admin Comes With an Office Move?
- If your registered office address is changing, update it with Companies House. GOV.UK explains how to file changes.
- Tell HMRC, your bank, your insurers and your accountant.
- Check your business rates position at both premises with the local council. GOV.UK’s introduction to business rates is a good starting point.
- Review your lease for exit obligations at the old premises, such as reinstatement or redecoration.
- Update Google Business Profile and any directory listings.
What Should Staff Do Before Christmas?
Give every member of staff a short, clear brief. Ask them to clear personal items, pack their own desks into labelled crates by a set date, and take home anything they need over the holidays. Label each crate with the person’s name and the new desk or room number so everything lands in the right place. Our packing guide is written for homes, but the labelling and weight rules apply just as well to an office.
If your date depends on the timings of the wider festive calendar, our guide to moving before Christmas sets out the 2026 bank holiday dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it a good idea to move offices between Christmas and New Year?
It can be, if your business can close for several days and you have confirmed that IT, telecoms and building access will all be available. The risk is that suppliers are closed if something goes wrong. - How long does an office move take?
A small office can often move in a day or over a weekend. Larger offices may need several days, sometimes moving department by department. A site survey will give you a realistic timescale. - Do removal companies work over Christmas?
We do. Cheshire Moving & Storage operates seven days a week, including bank holidays, but dates over the festive period book up early. - What should we do with old office furniture?
Decide early whether it is coming with you, being sold, donated or recycled. If you are not sure, it can go into storage while you settle into the new space. - Can you store our files during the move?
Yes. Records can go into secure archive storage, either temporarily during the move or long term if you do not need them on site.
More in This Series
- Can You Realistically Move House Before Christmas?
- What Is the Best Way to Store Garden Furniture Over Winter?
Related Reading
Plan Your Holiday Office Move
If you want to open the new year in new premises, the time to book is now. We will survey both sites and plan a move around your closure dates. Call 0151 343 1264, email sales@cheshiremoving.co.uk or request your free quote.
