We've put together this list because we know that calling a clearance company — particularly an emergency one — is rarely something people do casually. Most clients are dealing with a difficult situation and need clear, plain answers before they're ready to commit. The questions below cover the practical, the financial, the legal and the human side of the work, and the answers are exactly what we'd give you on the phone.
Frequently asked
Your questions, answered honestly
These are the questions we get asked at almost every quote. If yours isn't here, please get in touch — there's no such thing as a silly question in this line of work.
How quickly can you attend an emergency clearance?
For genuine emergencies — a burst pipe, an unattended death discovered by police, or a property that needs to be secured the same day — we aim to be on site within four hours in most parts of England, Wales and southern Scotland. Even at weekends and bank holidays we have on-call crews available. For more rural locations a six-to-eight hour window is realistic, and we will always be honest with you up front about the earliest realistic time of attendance.
How much does an emergency house clearance cost?
Costs depend on volume, type of waste, access, parking and any biohazard requirements. As a guide, a standard three-bedroom bereavement clearance typically falls between £900 and £2,500. A heavily hoarded property of similar size can be anywhere from £2,500 to £8,000 because the labour content is many times higher and a far greater volume of waste needs handling. Trauma clearances after an unattended death start at around £1,500 and rise depending on the level of contamination. Every quote is fixed in writing after a survey — there are never surprise charges.
Do you provide written quotes before any work begins?
Yes, always. Every clearance is preceded by either a free in-person survey or, for fully sealed or hazardous properties, a video walk-through. You receive a fixed written quotation, a method statement and a copy of our insurance certificates before we lift a finger. The quote includes itemised labour, transport, disposal fees and any specialist services such as deep cleaning or pest control.
Are you licensed to dispose of hazardous waste?
We hold an upper-tier Waste Carrier, Broker and Dealer Licence issued by the Environment Agency. For biohazard and trauma work we use registered category-A clinical waste contractors. You will always receive a full set of waste-transfer notes for your own records and for any insurance claim. We can also produce duty-of-care paperwork that satisfies environmental health officers and audit teams.
What happens to items of value found during the clearance?
Anything that looks like it might have financial or sentimental value — paperwork, photographs, jewellery, military medals, premium bonds, collectables — is set aside and brought to your attention before it leaves the property. Where the family wishes, we can arrange valuation by an independent auction house, and any proceeds are credited against your final invoice. Nothing of value is ever discarded without your explicit written consent.
Can you work with our insurer or solicitor directly?
Absolutely. We routinely deal directly with loss adjusters, probate solicitors, executors, social workers and local authority housing teams. With your written consent we will handle correspondence, photographic evidence and final invoicing on your behalf, freeing you up to focus on the bigger picture during what is usually a very stressful time.
What about pest infestations and severe contamination?
Hoarded and long-vacant properties frequently have pest issues — rodents, insects, occasionally larger problems. We work with PROMPT-registered pest control contractors and can include a full treatment as part of the clearance. For category-three water damage and trauma scenes we follow documented antimicrobial protocols and validate completion with ATP swab testing.
Will my neighbours know what is happening?
Discretion is central to everything we do. We never put signage on the property, never disclose addresses to third parties, and brief our crews on calm, low-key working — no chatter on the doorstep. Wherever practical we work to a schedule that minimises disruption: early-morning starts, careful planning of skip placement, and noise-aware briefings. To anyone passing by, the operation typically looks like an ordinary delivery. Where you specifically need an unmarked vehicle and plain workwear (for example on a sensitive trauma scene), please request this in advance and we'll arrange it.
Do you offer biohazard cleaning after an unattended death?
Yes. Our IICRC-certified trauma technicians follow documented decontamination protocols approved by environmental health and the HSE. The affected area is contained, soft furnishings and porous materials are removed and incinerated as category-A clinical waste, hard surfaces are cleaned, sanitised and validated with ATP testing, and a full decontamination certificate is issued on completion.
How do you charge — by the hour, by the volume, or fixed price?
Always fixed price, agreed in writing before we start. We may quote on the basis of a survey or a video walk-through, but once the quote is accepted that is the price. The only exception is if the situation is materially different to what was described — for example, we are told the loft is empty and find it full — and even then we will pause work and discuss any change with you before continuing.
Can you recycle or donate any of the contents?
Wherever possible, yes. We have long-standing relationships with British Heart Foundation, Emmaus and several local charity reuse networks. Furniture in good condition, white goods that still work, and clothing in saleable shape are routinely diverted away from landfill. Our average clearance now achieves over 80% reuse, recycling or recovery, and we provide a per-job environmental summary for clients who need it.
Do I need to be present for the clearance?
Not necessarily. Many of our clients live miles from the property concerned, and we routinely operate with key safes, agreed contact protocols and remote sign-off via signed digital paperwork. For more sensitive jobs — a recent bereavement, for example — most families prefer to be there at the start to point out items of importance, and that's something we always welcome.