Removal Services: What They Include, What They Cost & How to Book One
Removal services load, transport and unload your belongings, with packing, dismantling and storage available as add-ons. A local London move costs about £400 to £950 for a one-bed flat and £1,150 to £2,400 for a three-bed house, including VAT. Volume, access, packing and parking decide where your quote falls. In Croydon, the van’s parking bay needs a council suspension booked at least 10 working days before moving day.
What Removal Services Include
A full-service removal company covers these jobs:
- Survey: an in-home or video survey measures the volume of your belongings and fixes the quote.
- Packing: full packing, fragile-only packing, or boxes and tape delivered for you to pack yourself.
- Dismantling & reassembly: beds, wardrobes and tables taken apart at the old address and rebuilt at the new one.
- Loading & transport: furniture wrapped in blankets, strapped inside the van and driven to the new address.
- Unloading: each box and piece of furniture placed in the room marked on its label.
- Storage: short-term storage when your sale and purchase completion dates do not match.
Pianos, antiques and artwork need specialist handling and a separate line on the quote.
Removal Costs in London
These 2026 ranges cover a local London move with VAT included and you packing your own boxes:
- Studio or one-bed flat: £400 – £950
- Two-bed home: £650 – £1,600
- Three-bed house: £1,150 – £2,400
A man and van costs £60 to £100 an hour in London for two people and a van. That suits studio flats and single large items. For whole-house moves, a fixed quote usually costs less.
Four factors push a quote toward the top of its range:
- stairs with no lift, or a long carry between the van and your door
- a Friday or month-end moving date, when demand peaks
- loft, garage and shed contents left off the survey
- parking fees added to the quote
Parking for the Removal Van
A removal van parked in a residents’ bay without a suspension risks a penalty charge notice. Croydon Council suspends parking bays for moves at these residents’ charges:
- Administration charge: £46
- Central controlled parking zone (CPZ) bays: £46 per day
- All other parking bays: £35 per day
If your removal services in Croydon applies as a business, the commercial rate applies: a £57 administration charge plus £68 a day in central CPZ bays or £57 a day elsewhere.
Email [email protected] at least 10 working days before moving day. Include your phone number, as the council calls back to take payment. The suspension goes ahead only after payment, and every request depends on availability.
To park on yellow lines, apply for a dispensation at [email protected] under the same 10-working-day notice period.
Declutter Before the Survey
Every item you clear before the survey comes off the volume, and the volume sets the price. Croydon Council collects bulky waste for £40.40 for one to three items or £65.30 for four to six items.
Sofas, armchairs and foam mattresses go in a separate collection on the same day, as they may contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Book the collection before the surveyor visits, so the quote covers only what is moving. Donate furniture in good condition to charities that collect from homes, such as the British Heart Foundation.
How to Choose a Removal Company
No trade licence is needed to run a removal firm in the UK, so the checks fall to you. Run every firm through this list when you compare removal services in Croydon:
- Get three written quotes based on a survey, not a phone estimate.
- Check for British Association of Removers (BAR) membership. BAR members follow a Code of Practice approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, and the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee protects money you pay before the move.
- For lorries over 3.5 tonnes, confirm the firm holds a goods vehicle operator’s licence.
- Ask for goods-in-transit and public liability insurance details, including the cover limit per item.
- Check that packing, dismantling, parking and storage appear as separate lines on the quote.
- Read the cancellation and postponement terms, as chains often push completion dates back.
Prepare for Moving Day
- Label each box with its room and contents on two sides.
- Pack a first-night box with a kettle, chargers, bedding, toiletries and medication, and carry it in your car.
- Defrost and dry the fridge-freezer the day before the move.
- Take meter readings at both addresses.
- Keep keys, documents, jewellery and laptops with you, not on the van.
- Tell your council about the move for council tax.
FAQs
How far ahead should I book a removal company?
Contact firms once you have a target completion date, then confirm at exchange of contracts, when that date becomes fixed. In Croydon, allow at least 10 working days for a parking suspension.
Is a man and van cheaper than a removal company?
Yes, for a studio flat or a few large items. A London man and van costs £60 to £100 an hour. For whole-house moves, a fixed removal quote usually costs less.
What will removal companies not move?
Most firms refuse hazardous goods such as paint, gas bottles, petrol, chemicals, fireworks and aerosols. Use up, give away or safely dispose of these items before moving day.
Are my belongings insured during a move?
Most removal firms carry goods-in-transit cover, but limits vary by company. Boxes you pack yourself often get lower cover than boxes the crew packs, so check the terms before you sign.
Do removal companies take apart furniture?
Most full-service firms dismantle and reassemble beds, wardrobes and tables. Tell the surveyor which pieces need it, including flat-pack furniture, as the extra labour time goes into the quote.