If a tenant has left your rental property in disarray, you may be considering a house clearance. Let the professionals take care of getting your cottage or apartment ready for sale or renting.
But, what’s a fair price to pay for a house clearance service?
How Much Does House Clearance Cost?
In general, the cost of house clearing is determined by the number of items to be removed. House clearing rates start at £80 for a very tiny clearance of up to 250kg, or one-fourth of a big vehicle.
House clearing charges begin from £170 – £200 for a small clearance, which equates to up to 500kg or half a large van load. If you have a medium clearance of up to 750kg or three-quarters of a large van load, house clearing will cost you between £250 and £300. Finally, expect to spend roughly £300 – £350 for a significant house cleanout weighing up to 1,000kg or a full van load.
However, certain locations in the UK are known to be more costly, so the price may vary. For a typical three-bedroom property in London, clearing costs around £750 + VAT.
Garden removal costs roughly £180 – £200 in the Northeast, but can cost up to £400 – £450 in London. The national average is between £250 and £300.
The cost of recycling normal home garbage varies greatly; firms are generally paid by weight and for a minimum of one tonne; this can range from £180 – £200.00 per tonne depending on the location and recycling site.
However, if you only have a few items to get rid of, it may be less expensive to take them to a tip yourself. You might also consider reselling them on markets like Gumtree or eBay, and if you aren’t concerned with earning money on the things and simply want to get rid of them, you could give them away for free on the condition that they are collected.
Other Costs
Skip Hire Costs
The cost of renting a skip is dependent on the type of skip required. The most prevalent cost component is the size of the skip. For example, roll-on roll-off skips are less costly per yard than ordinary skips.
Location is also a cost consideration since recruiting expenses in the southeast are expected to be higher than the national average (London especially). In contrast, costs are frequently cheaper in the north of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland than in the rest of the country.
The cost of hiring a skip is affected by the number of tradespeople necessary, which is influenced by the size/type of skip leased. The more tradesmen required, the higher the cost of skip hire.
Garden Clearance Cost
Garden cleaning crews remove grass, weeds, bushes, hedges, trees, and other vegetation. They’ll clear the land of all debris using a mix of heavy-duty tools and expert knowledge.
Garden clearing ranges from £45 to £65 per hour. At its most basic, garden clearance means cutting down unwanted grass, weeds, and plants. They’ll also cut back any hedges, leaving the space looking neat and clean.
Garden removal will often cost between £120 and £350. If the task is more labour-intensive and needs the removal of large or heavy items, clearing it may cost £400 or more.
Garden clearance is often paid on a set price basis, based on a quote made following an initial site inspection. The quotation will include the professional’s estimate of how long the task will take.
Carpet Cleaning Cost
The cost of hiring a professional carpet cleaning company is decided by the size of the cleaning area. A small bedroom, for example, will cost between £20 and £30 to clean, whilst a big bedroom would cost between £40 and £5, and landing and stair cleaning will cost between £70 and £90.
Carpet cleaning in a two-bedroom terraced house will cost between £120 and £160. Carpet cleaning specialists, on the other hand, charge a minimum day cost of around £100, which is usual in northern England. London carpet cleaning businesses, on the other hand, charge up to £140 every day.
Carpet cleaning takes about 30 minutes for a small or big bedroom, up to an hour for a standard living room, and 2 to 3 hours to clean all the rooms in a 3-bedroom detached home.
Disposal Fees
Some clearing companies may advise you that if the goods are no longer useful, extra fees may apply to dispose of them in accordance with trash disposal standards.
This is especially true for white goods like refrigerators, which must be carefully disposed of to avoid the release of toxic or other hazardous trash.
These fines are known as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, and if a firm does not disclose them, be suspicious that they will not simply dump your belongings and leave you with a legal nightmare.
Price Offsetting
If the property has resaleable things, they can be utilized to offset or even pay the cost of a home clearing. Most businesses will resell any valuable items for you, and they will typically deduct the proceeds from the cost of their services. However, this will not be as much money as if you went into the trouble of selling it yourself.
Charities that offer a full house clearance service will take resale items for free and then give you an estimate to clear the other things.
It’s a good idea to remove any precious objects, such as antiques, before bringing in the home removal professionals and selling them separately.
Also, if TVs, refrigerators, and other electronic equipment may still be utilized but are unsellable, it may be cheaper to donate them to a charity. You may avoid the WEEE costs this way.
Irresponsible Cleaners
Keep aware that incredibly low clearing fees are usually unreal. The expenses for properly disposing of trash will be passed on to you by the clearance company. Some dishonest persons will just take your items and fly-tip them someplace, for which you may face penalties if they find out.
If they fly-tip the trash and it can be traced back to you, you might face a £50,000 fine or perhaps a prison sentence.
These costs are known as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive), and if a firm does not disclose them, be wary that they are not simply going to dump your stuff and place you in a legal nightmare.
Always choose a house clearance agency that has a documented track record and reputation in the area. Proof of disposal is usually recommended, which means the provider gives you with photographic proof of disposal or written confirmation from a recycler stating what things were given to them.
They should also have professional accreditations like a trash license and be a member of a business organization like the Chamber of Commerce or AFTA.
To address horror stories about home clearance, the House Clearance Association has produced a list of house clearance contractors who have complete, current public liability insurance and an Environment Agency license.
House Clearance FAQ
Q: What kind of license is required for house clearance?
A respectable home removal company will be registered with the Environment Agency, will hold a current Trash Carriers Licence, and will be able to issue waste transfer stubs. If you choose a company that fly-tips your trash, you may be charged a high cost.
Q: How long does it take to empty out a house?
A: A house clearance is a huge undertaking that may take a whole day or more if the family has a lot of belongings. Smaller house clearances, depending on the size of the property and the quantity of items to be removed, can be accomplished in as little as an hour.
Q: Is the homeowner required to be present during the house clearance?
A: It is totally up to you whether you want to stay during the home clearing; however, if there are certain things you want to keep but do not want to be there, notify the business before the clearance begins, and they will store them separately while the rest of the property is removed.
Let the company know whether you want the entire house cleared, including any carpets, appliances, or fixtures, and they will do it all.
Q: Should I do anything before paying for home clearance?
A: Research neighboring house and garage clearance companies by reading their company profiles and client evaluations. Speak with a few local clearing professionals to get competent advice and accurate bids for the process. Request a detailed cost breakdown, including any additional costs for one-of-a-kind goods. Shop around to get the greatest deals on home and garage clearance. Choose a tradesperson with relevant experience and a proven track record.
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