House Clearance Costs

In this article, we will go over everything you need to know about house clearance prices, including the supply costs, the labour costs and any additional costs that may come up with property clearance.

On average, you're looking at a spend of between £170 and £200.

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We will also go over the process of house clearances and offer tips on hiring the right contractor or clearance company for the job.

How Much Does House Clearance Cost?

It's no surprise that house clearances are becoming increasingly popular among British homeowners. Whether you're doing your life laundry or have too much clutter, you'll want to get rid of everything at once, and this article will look at the average house clearance cost.

House clearance companies charge differently and at different rates for their services. For example, some will charge you by quantity, others by weight, and others may cooperate to a one-time fee.

In general, the house clearance cost is determined by the number of items. The average house clearance cost begins at £80 for a small clearance, equivalent to up to 250kg or one-fourth of a large van.

House clearance costs begin at around £170 - £200 for a straightforward clearance, which weighs up to 500kg or half a large van load. If you have a standard size clearance of up to 750kg, the house cleaning will cost you £250 and £300. Finally, expect to pay around £300 - £350 for an extensive house cleaning weighing up to 1,000kg or an entire van load.

Different parts of the UK are understood to be more expensive, influencing your price. For a typical three-bedroom house in London, clearance costs around £750 + VAT.

You'll probably spend less if you live in a two-bedroom house, flat, or maisonette. You'll also have to pay more if you live in a larger house. As a result, the cost of your house clearance will be affected by your location.

Some clearance companies will inform you that if the items are no longer helpful, additional fees may apply to decompose them following waste disposal regulations. This is especially true for white goods like refrigerators, which must be disposed of properly to avoid releasing poisonous or toxic materials.

The same principle applies if you only want to remove a few items rather than an entire van. Bulky and heavier items would be charged more than smaller and lighter items. For example, clearing an oven will cost around £25, whereas clearing a piano will cost £100.

House Clearance Prices

Supply Only Costs

House clearance is a routine clearance of unnecessary items. Some examples are clearing a furnished house purchased at auction, clearing a house after rental occupants have dominated it, before a sale, or after bereavement.

It might also be a good idea to clear out a garage or an outbuilding that hasn't been used in a long time. Hoarders may hire a house clearance service to assist them in clearing and cleaning their homes for resale or other purposes. This section will discuss the supply costs of a house clearance.

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Additional Costs

There will almost certainly be additional costs during a house clearance that will raise the total price you have been given at the start. As a result, you must bear that in mind before proceeding. This section of the article will list the various types of extra costs that you may incur and how much they will add to the overall cost.

Skip Costs

Hiring a skip is an excellent way to eliminate all your waste. Skips are usually one of the most cost-effective ways to remove waste. The size of the skip required, your location, the period of the hire, and whether you need a permit to hire a skip are factors that significantly influence the cost of your skip hire.

The size of the skip you need is the most expensive factor to consider when renting one. Smaller skips are much less expensive than larger skips. This is because of the amount of waste that the skip can hold.

The skip rental company must remove your waste and dispose of it through a combination of recycling, landfill, and incineration. The larger the job, the more waste there is to dispose of, so hiring a larger skip can cost significantly more than hiring a smaller one.

The average cost of hiring a mini skip for a week is between £90 and £130, whereas the cost of hiring a large 12-yard skip for about the same amount of time is between £250 and £440.

If you would like further information, please refer to our guide on the costs of hiring a skip.

Garden Waste Removal

Several factors determine garden clearance prices. These are the amount of waste you have, the type of waste you have, and how you want it removed.

It can cost between £15 and £300 to hire a contractor with a van to come and eliminate your garden rubbish. The lowest point of this range presumes you have very little waste.

The highest level of protection covers up to 2 tonnes of waste. This price includes labour and disposal fees. You must sit back and watch as the company disposes of your garbage.

Another possibility is to rent a skip but then fill it yourself. Skip hire costs between £70 and £400, determined by the skip size required. You can take your time with the work and dispose of other waste at the same time if necessary.

If you must regularly get rid of a small amount of garden waste, check to see if your municipality has a garden waste removal programme. These are either free or cost between £150 and £200 per year. Everything is up to your local government.

If you would like further information, please refer to our guide on the costs of garden waste removal.

Carpet Cleaning Cost

When things spill or mess after a house clearance, the dirt, grime, spillages, and dust will accumulate over time, despite regular hoovering.

However, before you go out and buy brand new carpets, you might save money by hiring professional cleaners for a deep clean. The results are often astounding, giving your old carpets a new lease on life.

The cost of hiring an experienced carpet cleaning company varies according to the size of the room that needs to be cleaned. A small bedroom, for example, typically costs between £20 and £30, an enormous bedroom costs between £40 and £5, and landing as well as stair cleaning prices typically range between £72 and £90.

Carpet cleaning in your living room should cost between £32 and £40, whereas an open-plan living room with a dining room should cost between £72 and £90.

If you prefer to have all your carpets cleaned, the cost will vary depending on the type and size of your home. For instance, a two-bedroom terraced house would cost around £128 to £160, a three-bedroom semi-detached house would cost £192 to £240, and a four-bedroom detached house would cost £294 to £368.

These prices may vary depending on the industry you choose and whether you need the carpet cleaners to move furniture, which typically increases labour costs. The condition of your carpets will also determine the final cost. For example, as more stains or spills there are, the longer it will take to clean.

If you would like further information, please refer to our guide on the costs of carpet cleaning.

Window Cleaning Cost

Cleaning your windows is an excellent way to refresh the appearance of your home. You will feel better not only from the outside but also from the inside. Hiring a qualified window washer is one way to get the clean windows and streak-free finish you want.

Of course, every home and office is unique. So, a 1-bedroom home could cost between £50 - £150, whereas a large commercial business could cost more than £500 when hiring companies. So customers must compare quotes, learn what's included in the price, and inquire about guarantees provided by local cleaning professionals before deciding on a company to hire.

Scaffolds and other equipment may be required due to the nature of the work. When you hire professional cleaners, your hourly rates will rise, as will the job's overall cost. Keep this in mind as you compare local service professionals to have your windows done professionally.

If you would like further information, please refer to our guide on the costs of window cleaning.

Driveway Cleaning Cost

If your driveway is overgrown with weeds, moss, or has accumulated a lot of dirt, you should clean it. The best and most efficient type of driveway cleaning is a commercial pressure wash. In the United Kingdom, numerous companies and tradespeople provide driveway cleaning services.

Although a driveway cleaning can be done on your own, hiring a professional cleaning company is more cost-effective to ensure the best results.

It is an excellent option to have your driveway washed once a year to remove surface dirt, which allows water to run off your driveway more efficiently, lowering the risk of injuries from slipping on the driveway. The cost of having your driveway professionally power washed could vary depending on its size. An expert driveway power wash will typically cost between £250 and £400.

Over time, all exterior surfaces will accumulate dirt, grime, algae, moss, and weeds when exposed to the elements. Driveways are no exception, and they must be cleaned regularly to stay in good condition. Allowing moss and weeds to grow in layers of gathered dirt is unsightly, but it also shortens the life of your driveway.

This is necessary to make sure that your driveway is cleaned regularly. An actual professional jet wash is ideal for making your driveway look brand new.

Professional driveway cleaners use high-powered promotional equipment to clean driveways made of concrete, stone, block paving, brick, tarmac, or paving slabs. Most oil stains and moss and weed growth can be removed with an expert clean.

If you would like further information, please refer to our guide on the costs of power washing a driveway.

Labour Costs and Timescales

A tradesperson's hourly rate is likely higher, ranging from £15 to £20. While this is the most expensive option, it also guarantees that if you are unhappy with the work, the organisation will provide you with a backup cleaner or a refund.

On the other hand, a self-employed cleaner will most likely be less expensive, with hourly rates ranging from £10 to £15 an hour. Hiring a cleaner by yourself is riskier than hiring through an organisation because you will be relying solely on the cleaner's impeccable character. The decision is based on your preferences and willingness to pay more for a little more safety.

All house clearances have one thing in common: they are all different, needing consideration in many situations. A house clearance is a significant undertaking that may take an entire day or more if the family has a lot of belongings. Smaller house clearances can take around an hour to complete, based on the size of the home and the number of items to be removed.

The most important factors are the density of the contents, parking, and any restricted access to specific areas of the property. For example, a typical two-to-three-bedroom house with an average amount of furniture, belongings, waste, and rubbish could perhaps take 8 – 14 hours or a full day to clear using a two- or three-person team.

This would entail boxing up smaller items, segregating trash and recyclable materials on the job site, and leaving the house neat, tidy, and clean if the contractor is good. Apart from fixtures, fittings, or white goods, which can be removed upon request, the house should be utterly devoid of all trash and artefacts.

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Cost Factors of House Clearance

You may experience an overall cost increase when having a house clearance due to small things. Here we will go through the different cost factors of a house clearance so you know what to look for.

Items That Weight Raises the Cost

The cost of recycling general household waste varies greatly; businesses are charged by weight and are typically charged for at least one tonne; this can vary from £180 - £200 per tonne based on the area and recycling station; most businesses use Luton vans for ease of access and typically carry up to 1.5 tonnes.

Many items in your home aren't included in the fee, and clearance companies will have to pay extra to recycle products.

Mattresses range in price from £20 to £40, with an average cost of £60 to £80. A fridge or freezer costs roughly £40 per unit, based on an average of two, and ranges in price from £80 to £160.

Television prices range from £15 to £45 depending on the size, with an average price of £40 to £80. WEEE All electrical items, including a kettle, toaster, iron, or radio, have a minimal level recycling price of £5 - £10 per item, which differs depending on the item's size.

Bear in mind that relatively low clearance fees are regularly unreal. The charges for properly disposing of trash will be passed on to you by the clearance company. In addition, some tradespeople will take your goods and fly-tip them somewhere else, resulting in a fine if they find out.

Instead, before hiring a clearance expert, make sure that you pay a reasonable price for your house or garage clearing and receive confirmation of liable disposal and recycling of all clearance items.

Size

House clearance prices are also affected by the number of items removed from your home.

Location

As previously stated, the cost that your location in the United Kingdom determines a contractor charges. The costs in the southeast of England, particularly in London, are significantly higher than the national average.

On the other hand, Scotland and the north of England have lower tradesperson rates than the rest of the United Kingdom.

Access

How easy is it to get to your house? If the house is more difficult to access, whether due to the road, the house itself, or a lack of parking spaces, the job will take longer, and the labour cost of a house clearance will be higher.

Hiring a Contractor vs Doing It Yourself

Whether you hire a professional contractor or do the job yourself can affect the overall cost of your house clearance. You can save money on labour if you do the work yourself. You will, however, need to account for any additional costs that may arise, including hiring a van or a skip.

What's Involved in House Clearance?

A house clearance can be a significant undertaking, and hiring an expert and reputable company to do it for you can be highly beneficial. This article discusses the house clearance process, including what and what to expect to be involved.

You must compare firms before the house clearance. Look for house clearance services that have a good reputation. You can look for information like a VAT registration number, a waste collection registration number, and a working phone number. These may appear simple, but they distinguish good firms from tradespeople.

You will meet with the firm to discuss the job. They will require information about the size of the property and how you'd like to be removed from it. Some companies will survey your home in person to provide a quote, while others will provide an estimate over the phone.

Take the time before the house clearance to remove whatever you want to keep. You may have sentimental value for antiques, photos, jewellery, ornaments, or other personal effects. Keep them in a box for a while. Then, if you prefer, you can always start donating them to charities.

The firm might also remove the designated items during the house clearance. They are responsible for removing any waste, furniture, or rubbish you have designated. Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and televisions can also be removed. Some companies may use a skip to collect items for disposal during house clearances.

A good house clearance company should take everything. They can dispose of household goods at a recycling centre or a landfill. Instead of recycling, household items could be sold to a charity shop.

If the removal is unusual, specialists may be required. For example, many antiques may necessitate the services of an expert. To be correctly cleared of hazardous materials, a specific remedy and the work of experts may be required.

During the house clearance, take down the company's phone number and confirm that they are a qualified waste carrier. Untrustworthy waste hauliers dump furniture and trash. If your belongings are illegally dumped, you may face fly-tipping penalties.

Once the house has been cleared, the items are removed and properly disposed of. The team will make sure that your items are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, following all regulations.

It's critical to hire a company with a valid waste carrier valid license by the Environment Agency. This guarantees that you are not hiring rogue companies that may engage in fly-tipping. In addition, dumped household waste linked back to you may lead to a £5,000 fine, so using an accredited, licenced company to dispose of your general waste will provide you with complete peace of mind.

Hazardous waste cannot be removed during a house clearance, and your company will inform you of what they can and cannot handle. They can, however, guide how to properly dispose of such waste.

After they have completed the property clearance, you could inspect the resale value of your products and ensure you receive any funds owed to you. It's also polite to leave a review with your thoughts on the company and the service you received.

Can I Clear a House Myself?

A house clearance can be an enormous task, and hiring a reliable and professional firm to do it for you can be extremely useful but not always necessary.

Although hiring a company will provide you with a quick and thorough house clearance, you can do it yourself by renting a skip or a van. Waste removal should be high on any moving house checklist because it should always be meticulously organised.

It's much easier to figure out how to pack for a move once you've gotten rid of unnecessary items. Hiring a skip is a great way to get this done as soon as possible. This type of waste container can be as small as 2 cubic yards and as large as 20 cubic yards or more.

It's a good idea to double-check that you'll have enough space. If not, the local council can obtain a permit to place a skip on the paving outside. It usually takes two working days to organise this.

Based on the service provider, you can typically keep a skip in the exact location for two or three weeks. It's best to hire a large skip just in case because it's less expensive to underfill a skip than to hire a second one. After all, you have more waste than expected.

Using a skip allows you to keep all your trash in one place and remove it all at once. As a result, you won't have to waste time going to the dump because everything will be taken care of for you. Furthermore, many skips hire companies to ensure that the waste they collect is disposed of in the most environmentally friendly manner possible.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission for Home Clearance

Usually, no planning permission is needed for home clearance apart from hiring skips etc., for your clearance. Here we will go over everything you need to do before your house clearance.

A permit from your local council is required before you can place a skip on public lands, such as a road. A skip permit is available to limit the number of skips placed on any given road because they take up a lot of space and can disrupt parking and traffic flow. If you do not have a permit for a skip in a public place, you could face a fine of up to £1,000, and the skip could be removed.

Most skips hire companies will take care of the permit for you. However, if you are unsure about permits, it is worth contacting your local skip hire company for more information to ensure you do not incur any unnecessary fines.

Skip permit prices vary depending on location, but they are typically between £10 and £70. Liverpool is the cheapest place to get a budget to skip hire permit, with a permit costing only £10. At £68, London has the highest cost for a skip permit.

A skip permit is usually valid for one or two weeks, depending on the municipality that issued it. Most councils allow this period to be extended for an additional fee if necessary.

Types of Home Clearance

A house clearance is the best way to make space in your home because you will be disposing of all the piled-up waste which has been in your home for a while. This includes heavy items that you've been trying to get rid of for a long time!

However, there's only one way for a house clearance to occur, and this section of the article will go over the various types of home clearances and the benefits and drawbacks of clearing your home!

Disposal

The objects are removed and properly disposed of after the house has been cleared. The crew will make sure your belongings are discarded eco-friendly and legal.

When looking for a business to hire, ensure they have a valid Environment Agency trash carrier's licence. Because dumping household waste that can be traced back to you can result in a £5,000 fine, using a licenced business to dispose of your waste can give you peace of mind.

Hazardous waste cannot be eliminated during a house clearance, and your cleaning company will advise you on what they can and cannot handle. In addition, they can advise on the proper disposal of this material.

It's a good idea to write an overview of the house clearance company you used, including a summary of their work or a comment on how much they charged about the quality of work they did. Follow up on the resale value of products as well, so they can subtract it from the house clearance cost or pay you back if you've already paid them.

PROS

• ✔ It is possible to make money
• ✔ You have some time before you receive your items

CONS

• ✖ Time-consuming
• ✖ Expensive

Hiring Contractors to Clear a House Checklist

If you are only hiring a company for house clearance, you should look into a few key details.

• Do they have a good reputation? You'll be able to find out if anyone has had a problem with them
• How detailed is their quote? Because so much depends on the type of goods you need to dispose of, you should expect them to ask you numerous questions before providing you with a quote. Also, check to see if there will be any additional charges besides the quoted price
• Do they communicate effectively? You must communicate effectively with anyone you hire to work for you
• Search for 'house clearance near me' to find reputable local companies

FAQs

Sources

https://kekewastedisposal.co.uk/cost-of-a-house-clearance/
https://www.merseysidehouseclearance.co.uk/pricing/
https://www.manorfromheaven.co.uk/post/how-much-does-a-house-clearance-cost
https://topwaste.co.uk/how-does-house-clearance-work/
https://www.chappellsremovals.co.uk/our-blog/what-house-clearance-involve/
https://www.propertysolvers.co.uk/articles/how-can-i-clear-my-house-quickly/