On occasion, a landlord may find that they need to clear a property after a tenant has left unexpectedly. It might be that household waste has been left behind.

You may also be left to deal with belongings such as furniture, clothing, and electrical goods. Understandably you will want to remove leftover items and rubbish to get the home ready for a new tenant. Depending on the volume of items, you could require a skip or large vehicle for removing the items. This is where specialist house clearance professionals can be of use. 

House clearance companies are experts in removing unwanted items in a home. Unlike a removal company, the removed items are either sold, donated, recycled, or disposed of responsibly.

When Would a Landlord Need a Clearance Company?

The most common reasons a landlord would need a clearance company include:

• If a tenant has left the home in a bad state, for example large amounts of waste, junk and unwanted belongings
• In the event of a tenant death and relatives cannot be contacted
• If a tenant leaves their items behind and can’t be reached
• A tenant with a hoarding disorder 
• Following an eviction

What If a Tenant Has Left Belongings?

First of all, you must be clear on both your rights as a landlord and the rights of your tenant. The Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 means items cannot be disposed of immediately. The items will still belong to the tenant and if you want them out of the property, you will need to find somewhere safe to store them.  It is customary to give the tenant 21 days’ notice to collect their goods. 

You must take “reasonable” steps to contact them and inform them that their goods need to be collected. Not doing so could put you at risk of civil action. There are companies who offer a “no find no fee” service to track down tenants for landlords. Using one of these, even if they do not find the tenant, shows that you have taken steps to contact them. This will be necessary to move forward in disposing of or selling their items. 

From here, the tenant can either collect their belongings themselves, or give you permission to dispose of them accordingly.  If you cannot contact the tenant or have not had a response after 21 days, you can remove and dispose of the items.  This is when you may need the services of a clearance company. 

How Much Does It Cost and Who Pays for It?

On average, a house clearance will cost between £325 and £595, depending on the size of the home and the volume of items being removed. 

As the landlord and owner of the property, unfortunately you may be left with picking up the cost of clearing it. If a tenant has left the premises and cannot be contacted, it will be up to you to clear the home. 

You may be able to recoup some of the costs if you can sell items left by the tenant. Be aware that you can only do this if you have made attempts to contact them and given sufficient time for a response. Any money made that does not go towards expenses such as clearing, storage, maintenance or rent owed must be kept aside for the tenant for six years.

In the event of a death, the executor of the tenants’ will is responsible for dealing with their personal effects. In this case, funds from the deceased person’s estate can be used to pay for the clearance costs.

Finding a House Clearance Company

There are a few ways to find a house clearance company for your property:

– Ask your letting agent (if you are using one) if they can recommend anyone;

– Ask other landlords if they have used a house clearance company and can they suggest the best one;

– Ask family and friends if they have used a reputable house clearance company recently;

– Use a comparison website like Compare My Move to find local companies.

Regardless of your reason for needing house clearance, there are a few checks you should make before choosing a company:

Check they have Public Liability insurance: This must be in place to protect your property and the clearance company in the event of any damages.

Check they hold a Waste Carriers License: Any company that carries waste in a commercial capacity is legally required to hold a Waste Carriers License. If you want to check a company license number for peace of mind, you can do so on the Environment Agency website. 

Check their customer feedback and reviews: It is vital that you read reviews from previous customers to get an idea of their level of service and experience. This is especially useful if they have reviews from other landlords. 

* This article was prepared by Compare My Move *