Removals in London.

Book as soon as you know your moving date. A man and van for a small move can sometimes be booked at shorter notice. Leave time for parking too: if there is no legal loading space near your door, you may need a parking bay suspension from your council, and some councils ask for more than two weeks’ notice (Camden asks for at least 17 days). Ask the company whether they arrange the suspension or whether you need to.

A man and van in London costs about £35 to £100 an hour, depending on the size of the van and whether a helper comes. A local move from a studio or one-bed flat typically costs £400 to £950, a two-bed home £650 to £1,600, and a three-bed house £1,150 to £2,400. Packing is extra, often around £250 to £500 plus materials. Other costs can include a parking suspension, the £18 daily Congestion Charge, stairs without a lift and dismantling furniture (often £15 to £40 an item). You pay the company directly; Loacally takes no payment and holds no deposits.

A man and van is a van and driver, sometimes with a helper, usually paid by the hour. It suits a studio flat, a student move or a few large items. A removal company brings a crew, bigger vehicles and packing options, and usually quotes after a survey of what you are moving. It suits a home with two or more bedrooms, fragile or valuable items, or a move on a tight completion day. Both sit under Removals on Loacally, and each profile shows which moves that business takes on and how it prices them.

Every application to join Loacally is reviewed by hand before the profile goes live. We do not check insurance or trade memberships, so ask before you book. A removal company should have goods in transit cover for your belongings and public liability insurance. Ask what the cover limit is per item, and whether boxes you pack yourself are covered, as some policies only cover items the company packed. Membership of the British Association of Removers is a useful sign, and you can check it with the association directly.

If there is no legal loading space near your door, it is worth applying to your council to suspend a parking bay for moving day. Notice periods and fees vary by borough, so check your council’s website early. Red routes are run by Transport for London and have stricter loading rules, so a van may not be able to stop outside your home at all. Ask the removal company whether they arrange the suspension for you, and tell them about any access problems, such as a narrow street or no lift.

Many removal companies also offer house clearance, usually for an extra charge. Taking away unwanted items counts as carrying waste, so the company must be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency. Ask for their registration number and check it on the public register on GOV.UK, as you share a duty to make sure your waste goes to someone authorised to take it. Removal companies will not usually carry hazardous items such as paint, gas bottles or chemicals, so plan to dispose of those separately, for example at your council’s recycling centre.