Tort Notice and the Schedule 1 process
When a tenant leaves belongings behind without forwarding contact details, you cannot simply dispose of them. Schedule 1 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 sets out the process: a notice must be served on the tenant's last known address, items of value must be stored for a statutory period (typically six months for goods left in residential premises), and reasonable steps must be taken to enable collection. We handle the entire process — service of notice, photographic record, storage of items, and documented disposal at the end of the storage period. Your paperwork is fit for purpose if challenged.
Speed without cutting corners
Most tenant-left clearances are complete within five working days of quote acceptance. Our process: attendance and quote within 24 hours, full photo and inventory record on day one, clearance on day two or three, deep clean on day three or four, lettable-standard hand-back on day five. Where speed is essential (a viewing already booked, for example), we can compress to 48 hours; where it isn't, we can spread the work over a week to be gentle on the neighbours.
What lettable standard looks like
Lettable standard means the property is in a state where a new tenant could move in tomorrow: kitchen units cleared and cleaned, white goods cleared internally and externally, bathrooms descaled, carpets vacuumed (or steam-cleaned if needed), hard floors mopped, windows cleaned internally, gardens tidied (basic). We do not do redecoration as part of the clearance, but we can coordinate with a redecorating contractor if the property needs it, and our quote will say honestly whether this is required.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you clear a tenant-left property?
Same day for emergencies, 48 hours for standard bookings. Most clearances are complete within five working days of quote acceptance.
Do you handle the Schedule 1 Torts Act process for belongings the tenant left?
Yes. We serve the prescribed notice, store items of value for the statutory period, and document disposal at the end. The paperwork is fit for purpose if challenged.
What if the tenant left drugs or biohazard waste?
We are IICRC-certified for biohazard remediation. Drug paraphernalia, sharps, and contamination from rough-sleeping are handled to the same standard as any other trauma scene. The quote will identify these elements separately.
Can I see photographs before I commit to the clearance?
Yes. Our standard quote includes photographs of every room with a written assessment. If you'd like a video walk-through before quoting, we can do that too.
Do you provide deposit-dispute paperwork?
Yes — photographs, written inventory of damage, and itemised cost of remediation work form a paperwork pack that satisfies all three UK deposit-protection schemes (DPS, MyDeposits, TDS).