Clear the property
Book clearance once the contents have been agreed.
A sale, tenancy handover or new insurance almost always requires the property to be empty.
- How long it takes
- 1–3 days for a typical house
- Typical cost
- £300–£1,500 for a typical two or three bedroom house
- What you need before you start
- Contents photographed and anything kept removed
- Access and parking
Ask whether the price is a flat fee or per load, whether it includes the loft, garage, shed and garden, and whether they hold a waste carrier licence. Fly-tipped waste traced back to the house is your problem, not theirs.
Ask them to set aside anything paperwork-like they find rather than bin it.
Charity shops will collect furniture in good condition free, and some house clearance firms will offset value against the bill.
You can use any local provider, or do it yourself with a van and a tip permit.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 19 August 2026 by Simon D Campbell. Applies to England and Wales.