diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart
index d131c33b..b14e0b75 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ class ChannelListView extends StatefulWidget {
     this.onMoreDetailsPressed,
     this.onDeletePressed,
     this.swipeActions,
+    this.channelListController,
   }) : super(key: key);
 
   /// If true a default swipe to action behaviour will be added to this widget
@@ -187,6 +188,12 @@ class ChannelListView extends StatefulWidget {
   /// List of actions for slidable
   final List<SwipeAction>? swipeActions;
 
+  /// A [ChannelListController] allows reloading and pagination.
+  /// Use [ChannelListController.loadData] and
+  /// [ChannelListController.paginateData] respectively for reloading and
+  /// pagination.
+  final ChannelListController? channelListController;
+
   @override
   _ChannelListViewState createState() => _ChannelListViewState();
 }
@@ -194,7 +201,9 @@ class ChannelListView extends StatefulWidget {
 class _ChannelListViewState extends State<ChannelListView> {
   final _slideController = SlidableController();
 
-  final _channelListController = ChannelListController();
+  late final _defaultController = ChannelListController();
+  ChannelListController get _channelListController =>
+      widget.channelListController ?? _defaultController;
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart
index 74942259..e46f0d16 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ class MessageListView extends StatefulWidget {
     this.usernameBuilder,
     this.showFloatingDateDivider = true,
     this.threadSeparatorBuilder,
+    this.messageListController,
   }) : super(key: key);
 
   /// Function used to build a custom message widget
@@ -296,6 +297,10 @@ class MessageListView extends StatefulWidget {
   /// Builder used to build the thread separator in case it's a thread view
   final WidgetBuilder? threadSeparatorBuilder;
 
+  /// A [MessageListController] allows pagination.
+  /// Use [ChannelListController.paginateData] pagination.
+  final MessageListController? messageListController;
+
   @override
   _MessageListViewState createState() => _MessageListViewState();
 }
@@ -347,7 +352,9 @@ class _MessageListViewState extends State<MessageListView> {
 
   bool _inBetweenList = false;
 
-  final MessageListController _messageListController = MessageListController();
+  late final _defaultController = MessageListController();
+  MessageListController get _messageListController =>
+      widget.messageListController ?? _defaultController;
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) => MessageListCore(
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart
index 8b8a8dec..1a67702f 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ class MessageSearchListView extends StatefulWidget {
     this.errorBuilder,
     this.loadingBuilder,
     this.childBuilder,
+    this.messageSearchListController,
   }) : super(key: key);
 
   /// Message String to search on
@@ -127,13 +128,20 @@ class MessageSearchListView extends StatefulWidget {
   /// The builder that will be used in case of loading
   final WidgetBuilder? loadingBuilder;
 
+  /// A [MessageSearchListController] allows reloading and pagination.
+  /// Use [MessageSearchListController.loadData] and
+  /// [MessageSearchListController.paginateData] respectively for reloading and
+  /// pagination.
+  final MessageSearchListController? messageSearchListController;
+
   @override
   _MessageSearchListViewState createState() => _MessageSearchListViewState();
 }
 
 class _MessageSearchListViewState extends State<MessageSearchListView> {
-  final MessageSearchListController _messageSearchListController =
-      MessageSearchListController();
+  late final _defaultController = MessageSearchListController();
+  MessageSearchListController get _messageSearchListController =>
+      widget.messageSearchListController ?? _defaultController;
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) => MessageSearchListCore(
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
index 85666413..07b76f62 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ class UserListView extends StatefulWidget {
     this.emptyBuilder,
     this.loadingBuilder,
     this.listBuilder,
+    this.userListController,
   })  : assert(
           crossAxisCount == 1 || groupAlphabetically == false,
           'Cannot group alphabetically when crossAxisCount > 1',
@@ -140,6 +141,11 @@ class UserListView extends StatefulWidget {
   /// The builder used when the channel list is empty.
   final WidgetBuilder? emptyBuilder;
 
+  /// A [UserListController] allows reloading and pagination.
+  /// Use [UserListController.loadData] and [UserListController.paginateData]
+  /// respectively for reloading and pagination.
+  final UserListController? userListController;
+
   @override
   _UserListViewState createState() => _UserListViewState();
 }
@@ -148,7 +154,9 @@ class _UserListViewState extends State<UserListView>
     with WidgetsBindingObserver {
   bool get _isListView => widget.crossAxisCount == 1;
 
-  final UserListController _userListController = UserListController();
+  late final _defaultController = UserListController();
+  UserListController get _userListController =>
+      widget.userListController ?? _defaultController;
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/message_search_list_core.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/message_search_list_core.dart
index a1eb5d68..d354daec 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/message_search_list_core.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/message_search_list_core.dart
@@ -114,15 +114,24 @@ class MessageSearchListCoreState extends State<MessageSearchListCore> {
     if (newMessageSearchBloc != _messageSearchBloc) {
       _messageSearchBloc = newMessageSearchBloc;
       loadData();
-      if (widget.messageSearchListController != null) {
-        widget.messageSearchListController!.loadData = loadData;
-        widget.messageSearchListController!.paginateData = paginateData;
-      }
     }
 
     super.didChangeDependencies();
   }
 
+  void _setupController() {
+    if (widget.messageSearchListController != null) {
+      widget.messageSearchListController!.loadData = loadData;
+      widget.messageSearchListController!.paginateData = paginateData;
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void initState() {
+    super.initState();
+    _setupController();
+  }
+
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) => _buildListView(_messageSearchBloc!);
 
@@ -176,6 +185,11 @@ class MessageSearchListCoreState extends State<MessageSearchListCore> {
             oldWidget.paginationParams?.toJson().toString()) {
       loadData();
     }
+
+    if (widget.messageSearchListController !=
+        oldWidget.messageSearchListController) {
+      _setupController();
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart
index e7deb356..db6b3586 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart
@@ -128,14 +128,23 @@ class UserListCoreState extends State<UserListCore>
     if (newUsersBloc != _usersBloc) {
       _usersBloc = newUsersBloc;
       loadData();
-      if (widget.userListController != null) {
-        widget.userListController!.loadData = loadData;
-        widget.userListController!.paginateData = paginateData;
-      }
     }
     super.didChangeDependencies();
   }
 
+  @override
+  void initState() {
+    super.initState();
+    _setupController();
+  }
+
+  void _setupController() {
+    if (widget.userListController != null) {
+      widget.userListController!.loadData = loadData;
+      widget.userListController!.paginateData = paginateData;
+    }
+  }
+
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) => _buildListView();
 
@@ -212,6 +221,10 @@ class UserListCoreState extends State<UserListCore>
             oldWidget.pagination?.toJson().toString()) {
       loadData();
     }
+
+    if (widget.userListController != oldWidget.userListController) {
+      _setupController();
+    }
   }
 }