Rubbish Removal Cardiff

In short, SD Cardiff House Clearance  will be able to take everything to take virtually everything from a house. We have a network of contacts in local charities and the knowledge to responsibly dispose of, recycle or sell any unwanted items from a property. The only exception to this would be if hazardous items have been identified in the property. Then depending on what the hazard is a specialist company may need to deal with the hazardous items. Some house clearance companies will have staff trained to deal with certain potential contaminants or hazardous items and have the processes, procedures and equipment to deal with the issue properly. Examples may be sharps such as drug needles or certain corrosive chemicals which may have been used illegally in a home or legally in a commercial or factory environment.

This will depend on a number of factors. Obviously, a major factor is the total amount of items that need to be cleared and what those items are. Will one or two-man teams need to be used, does special equipment need to be used to move items out or even dismantle them first? Will the size and shape of the items require more trips to be taken to remove all the items? Another key factor determining costs will depend on what the owners of the items may want to happen to the items. Segregating waste will take additional time and resources. So, if some items are to be disposed of, whilst others are to be recycled and others are to be sent to a charitable organisation or auction house, these different waste streams with different handling processes will add to the overall cost although some of these costs could be recouped if for example a good sale price can be achieved for items sent to auction. 

To save time and factoring in additional costs to visit the property many house clearance companies such as ourselves will ask for photos of the items to be cleared, whether this is rubbish already bagged, garden waste or a hoarded house so that an assessment can be made and a price given.

Unfortunately, the industry has been hit by people and organisations ‘adding’ items for disposal, after the initial site visit and subsequent quotation. As a result most house clearance companies, including ourselves, will ask for photographs of the waste to be cleared, from which a quote will be given.  This photographic evidence acts as a way to avoid any potential disputes on quotations and costs for both parties. 

Depending on the bereavement and the next of kin situation along with the status of the will and progress of probate proceedings will determine who initially pays for the services of a house clearance. Typically we would insist that the person or company instructing the house clearance will be the ones who reconcile the invoice. So, sometimes this will be the spouse where the property was already in both names. The house automatically assigned to a spouse and if they decide to move out of the property and not move a large number of their joint or deceased partner’s items with them, then that will be their decision and for them to pay for the house clearance. Where a will has a person or legal firm as an executor and probate is required then the person carrying out the probate will pay the initial invoice but will be able to claim this expense back once the estate has been sold and the asset realised. 

There are probably two main advantages a house clearance company has over a skip company. Firstly for houses that have limited front space where a skip could be placed this will mean applying for a skip permit, sometimes known as a skip license if the skip is to be located on a public road from your local council. Without a permit you would be breaking the law and running the risk of being fined, most reputable skip companies themselves would also be reluctant to leave one of their skips on a public road without a permit. A number of skip companies will sort this out on your behalf but some councils will want the homeowner to pay the council directly. Cost for these permits ran across the country with some councils charging just over £20 whilst others, often London districts will be nearer £70. Cardiff Council charges:

£38.87 – Per skip for a 7 day licence

£77.74 – Per skip for a 28 day licence

As well as the cost you will have to wait a few days for the council to issue the permit – sometimes longer depending on the efficiency of the council in processing these requests. None of this is required for a rubbish removal service from a house clearance company. As a result, a house clearance with a professional team using a van for rubbish removal will cost less overall and mean that your rubbish can be removed very quickly at short notice.

The other advantage house clearance has over a skip, is that a rubbish removal company can segregate the waste whilst loading it up. Therefore much more of the waste can be recycled which is a much more responsible way of disposing of your rubbish.

Items from a house clearance typically end up in one, or several of the following places:

- Recycling centres/specialist recycling locations such as scrap yards

- Auction houses

- Charities

Typically when the above has been exhausted we will then use rubbish tips

SD Cardiff House Clearance local teams have appropriate local contacts in each one of these areas to ensure waste items are managed responsibly.