House clearance
Clearing a home, room or outbuilding takes planning, especially when there are bulky items, disposal requirements or possessions that need careful handling. Start with a realistic inventory and the local waste rules.
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House clearance guides
Costs, emergencies, how to choose a trade, seasonal timing and what landlords and tenants are each responsible for.
House clearance · Croydon
House clearance cost in Croydon: what moves the price
House clearance is priced on volume, weight and access, not on the number of rooms. Here is how the figure is built in Croydon…
House clearance · Bromley
Urgent house clearance in Bromley: what to do in the first hour
A completion date brought forward, a tenancy ending or a family emergency can leave you needing a house cleared in days. Here is how…
House clearance · Richmond
How to choose between house clearance companies in Richmond
The cheapest clearance quote is often the one that ends with your furniture on a lay-by. Here is how to check a firm properly…
House clearance · Surrey
House clearance in Surrey: what to check before you call
An hour of preparation before you ring a clearance firm saves money on the day and avoids the arguments that follow a rushed job.…
House clearance · Kent
House clearance in Kent: how the season changes the job
Clearance firms are busier at some times of year than others, and the weather changes what the job involves. Here is how to time…
House clearance · Berkshire
House clearance in Reading, Berkshire: how the process works
The most common house clearance problem is the family home that has to be emptied by people who live elsewhere and have never done…
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House clearance explained
House clearance covers the removal of furniture, belongings and bulky waste from a property, in part or in full. Jobs range from a single wardrobe to a whole three-bedroom house, including lofts, garages and sheds. Probate clearance after a death, and end-of-tenancy clearance before a deposit check, are both common requests. Most firms sort what they take for resale, charity donation, recycling and licensed disposal.
Doing it yourself works for small volumes. Your council will collect bulky items for a fee, and a household waste recycling centre takes most things free, though vans usually need a permit. A skip suits heavy loads, but needs a council licence to stand on the road. Hiring a firm saves days of lifting. Check the carrier is registered first, because if your waste is fly tipped the liability can land on you.
Price and timing follow access more than anything else. A ground-floor flat with parking outside clears faster than a third-floor flat with no lift and a shared stairwell. Volume matters next, and is measured in van loads or cubic yards rather than rooms. Hoarded properties, damp contents, loft insulation and garage chemicals all slow the work. Most firms will quote properly only after a visit or a video walkthrough.
What moves the price
- Total volume and van loads
- Clearances are usually priced by van load, with a quarter load typically £120 to £220 and a full load £350 to £550.
- Full clearance against a part clearance
- Clearing one or two rooms typically costs £250 to £500, while a full three-bedroom house with loft and garage runs £900 to £2,500.
- Access, parking and stair carries
- Upper-floor flats with no lift, long carries from the van or paid parking commonly add £50 to £200 to the job.
- Items needing specialist disposal
- Fridges, freezers, mattresses, tyres, paint and gas cylinders attract per item charges of roughly £15 to £45, and suspected asbestos in a garage or shed roof needs a licensed specialist.
- Tip fees charged by weight
- Firms pay commercial tipping charges of around £180 to £320 per tonne, so a dense load of books, soil and rubble costs more than a bulky light one.
Figures are indicative typical ranges for the UK, not quotes. Always get written quotes before work starts.
Before you enquire
- Check the carrier's registration on the Environment Agency public register before you book.
- Move anything you are keeping into one room, and label it clearly.
- Search drawers, pockets, lofts and the backs of wardrobes for paperwork and jewellery.
- Sort parking, a loading bay permit or a lift booking so the van can get close.
Common questions
How much does a house clearance cost?
A part clearance of one or two rooms typically costs £250 to £500. A full two-bedroom house usually runs £500 to £1,000, and a three or four-bedroom property with a loft and garage £900 to £2,500. Poor access, heavy waste and items such as fridges and mattresses push the figure up. Saleable contents can be offset against the bill, so ask for that to be itemised in writing.
How much do the council charge to collect bulky waste?
Most councils charge for a bulky household collection, commonly £25 to £75 for up to three items, with reductions for some residents on benefits. Waits of two to four weeks are normal in busy periods. Your household waste recycling centre takes most items free, although a van or trailer usually needs a permit booked in advance. Councils in England can no longer charge householders for small quantities of DIY waste at those sites.
Who pays for a house clearance after a death?
The cost is normally met by the estate, and the executor or administrator instructs the work. HMRC expects the open market value of household and personal goods at the date of death to be reported on the inheritance tax forms, so value the contents before they leave. If probate has not been granted, or the will is disputed, photograph each room and delay disposal. Keep receipts and the waste transfer note with the estate paperwork.
How does a house clearance work, and do I need to be there?
The firm visits or asks for a video walkthrough, then quotes a fixed price for the volume involved. On the day, two or three people clear room by room, taking four to eight hours in an average house. Items are split between resale, charity donation, recycling and licensed disposal, and the property is left swept. You do not have to be present, but someone must provide access and confirm in writing what stays.
Local house clearance guides
The same service, written for where you live: typical local prices, the housing stock and the trades that cover it.