How long does a house clearance take?

A team can usually clear a flat or a small house in a day. Larger houses, or ones with lofts, garages and sheds, can take two or three days. With a skip, it takes as long as you need, up to the hire period.

Is a skip or a man and van cheaper for a house clearance?

A skip is usually cheaper per load if you can do the carrying. A man and van costs more but does all the lifting, which matters for heavy furniture, stairs or if you live far away.

What size skip do I need for a house clearance?

An 8 yard skip for a flat or small house, and a 12 yard skip for a typical family house. Larger houses may need two skips or a roll-on roll-off container.

Can furniture go in a skip?

Most can, but sofas and armchairs often can’t because of the rules on persistent chemicals (POPs) in upholstery. Mattresses often carry a charge. Ask the skip company first.

What happens to the things that are cleared?

A good clearance firm sorts them: some is reused or sold, metal and wood are recycled, and the rest goes to a licensed waste site.

Do I need to be there for a house clearance?

Not always. Many firms work with a key and a list of what stays, which helps if you live away. Agree it in writing first.

House clearance

Clearing a whole house, after a bereavement, before a sale or between tenants, is a bigger job than it looks. You can do it with a clearance team (man and van), a large skip, or both. Here’s how to choose, what it costs and how to get ready.

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Three ways to clear a house

A man and van clearance teamThey carry everything out, load it and take it away, often in one day. Best when you can’t do the lifting yourself.
A large skipAn 8 or 12 yard skip that you fill over a week or two. Cheapest per load if you and others can do the work.
BothA team for the furniture and heavy items, and a skip for the rest. Common for bigger houses.

How much waste is in a house?

A rough guide to how much a full clearance fills. Every house is different, so treat these as starting points.

Home	Man and van	Or a skip
Flat or one-bed	About 1 to 2 van loads	One 8 yard skip
Two-bed house	About 2 to 3 van loads	One 12 yard skip
Three-bed house	About 3 to 4 van loads	One or two 12 yard skips
Four-bed or more	4 or more van loads	Two 12 yard skips or a RoRo

A full van load is roughly the same as 60 bin bags.

How to prepare a house for clearance

1Find the paperworkGo through drawers, files and boxes for documents, photos and anything of value before anything is removed.
2Sort what staysMark the things family want to keep, and anything to sell or give away, so the team doesn’t take them.
3Separate the awkward itemsFridges, TVs, sofas and mattresses usually need separate collection or carry a charge. Point them out when you book.
4Check accessParking for a van or space for a skip, keys for sheds and lofts, and any lift or stairs the team needs to know about.

What a house clearance costs

A man and van usually charges by how much of the van you fill. A full van load is often around £250 to £300, so a three-bed house might cost anywhere from £800 to £1,200, more if there are lots of heavy or awkward items.

A skip is usually cheaper per load, but you do the carrying. A 12 yard skip for a house clearance typically costs around £400 before VAT, plus a permit if it has to go on the road.

Extras that add to the bill: fridges and freezers, mattresses, sofas, and anything hazardous like paint or chemicals. Ask for these to be listed in the quote.

Make sure it’s done legally

You’re legally responsible for your waste, even after someone else takes it. If an unlicensed clearance firm fly-tips it and it’s traced back to the house, you can be fined.

Only use a registered waste carrier, and keep the waste transfer note they give you. It records what was taken and where it went.

House clearance questions

How long does a house clearance take?: A team can usually clear a flat or a small house in a day. Larger houses, or ones with lofts, garages and sheds, can take two or three days. With a skip, it takes as long as you need, up to the hire period.
Is a skip or a man and van cheaper for a house clearance?: A skip is usually cheaper per load if you can do the carrying. A man and van costs more but does all the lifting, which matters for heavy furniture, stairs or if you live far away.
What size skip do I need for a house clearance?: An 8 yard skip for a flat or small house, and a 12 yard skip for a typical family house. Larger houses may need two skips or a roll-on roll-off container.
Can furniture go in a skip?: Most can, but sofas and armchairs often can’t because of the rules on persistent chemicals (POPs) in upholstery. Mattresses often carry a charge. Ask the skip company first.
What happens to the things that are cleared?: A good clearance firm sorts them: some is reused or sold, metal and wood are recycled, and the rest goes to a licensed waste site.
Do I need to be there for a house clearance?: Not always. Many firms work with a key and a list of what stays, which helps if you live away. Agree it in writing first.

Other ways to clear waste

For part of a clearance, the council or the tip may be cheaper.

Option	Best for	How much	Permit	Loading
Skip	Building work and clear-outs you fill over days	2 to 12 yards	Only if on the road	You load it
Skip bag	Small jobs with a little waste	About 1 yard	Usually not	You load it, collected by crane
Man and van	Rubbish that’s ready to go today	Single items to a full van	No	They load it
Grab lorry	Big piles of soil and rubble	8 or 16 tonnes	No	The lorry loads it
Council bulky collection	One or two large items	A few items	No	You put it out
The tip	A car or van load you can move	What you can carry	Some need a van permit	You take it

House clearance and rubbish removal in your town

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