Everyone wants to know about house clearance costs, but most people aren’t sure what they should actually be paying. I’ve seen homeowners in Newcastle quoted £200 for a full house clearance, and I’ve seen people in Durham charged £1,500 for the same job. The difference isn’t just about greed – it’s about understanding what’s actually involved. Our transparent pricing ensures no hidden costs.
Last week, we worked with a family in South Shields who’d been quoted £300 by a company they found on Facebook. The company turned up, looked at the job, and said it would actually cost £800 because of “extra items.” The family felt trapped – they had the new tenants moving in in three days, and they didn’t have time to find another company. Always verify licensed professionals for transparent pricing.
We stepped in and completed the job for £450, but it shouldn’t have to be like that. Here’s what house clearance actually costs across the North East, and what you should be paying for.
The Real Cost Factors
House clearance pricing isn’t random – it’s based on specific factors that affect the time, labor, and disposal costs involved.
Property size is the obvious one. A one-bedroom flat in Sunderland might cost £300-£400 to clear, while a five-bedroom house in Northumberland could cost £800-£1,200. But size isn’t everything.
We cleared a two-bedroom house in Gateshead last year that cost £600, and a three-bedroom house in Jesmond that cost £500. The Gateshead house had decades of accumulated possessions, a garage full of items, and difficult access. The Jesmond house was mostly empty with just a few items of furniture.
Volume matters more than room count. A property that’s been lived in for 30 years will have more to clear than one that’s been rented out for 5 years, even if they’re the same size.
Access and Location Costs
Here’s something that affects pricing more than most people realize: access and location.
A ground floor flat with a car park right outside is quicker and cheaper to clear than a third-floor flat with no lift and parking half a mile away. We cleared a property in the Ouseburn Valley where we had to carry everything down three flights of stairs and then down the street to our van. That added significant time to the job.
Location matters too. Clearances in central Newcastle or Durham often take longer because of parking restrictions and traffic. Rural properties in Northumberland might have longer travel times, which affects the cost.
During that South Shields job I mentioned earlier, the property was a terraced house with no parking available on the street. We had to park around the corner and carry everything, which added time and labor to the job. Get a detailed quote for your specific property.
What’s Actually Included in the Price
This is where most people get confused. A proper house clearance quote should include:
- Labor – the team doing the clearing
- Loading – getting everything into the vehicle
- Disposal – taking everything to appropriate facilities
- Basic sorting – separating recyclables from general waste
But there are often extra charges for specific items:
- Mattresses – need specialist disposal (£20-£40 each)
- Fridges/freezers – contain hazardous materials (£30-£50 each)
- Pianos – extremely heavy and difficult to move (£100-£200)
- Hazardous waste – paint, chemicals, asbestos (variable)
We had a customer in Stockton who was quoted £400 for house clearance, but on the day the company charged an extra £120 for mattress disposal and £80 for fridge removal. These charges should have been included in the original quote.
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Clearance
Here’s the thing about cheap house clearance: it often comes with hidden costs.
We’ve seen cases where people hired someone offering “cash-in-hand” clearance for £200, only to receive £400 fly-tipping fines weeks later when their waste was dumped near the River Wear or in local parks.
Proper waste carriers are registered with the Environment Agency. Our license number is CBDU 486667. You can check any company’s license on the public register – it takes two minutes and could save you from a hefty fine.
Cheap clearance often means cutting corners. Unlicensed operators might dump waste illegally, use unsafe vehicles, or employ uninsured staff. The initial savings aren’t worth the potential risks.
Regional Price Variations
House clearance costs vary across the North East:
Newcastle and Durham tend to be slightly more expensive because of higher parking costs, traffic, and the age of properties (many have difficult access). Typical prices: £400-£800 for a standard three-bedroom house.
Sunderland and Gateshead are usually slightly cheaper: £350-£700 for the same size property. Better access and lower disposal costs help keep prices down.
Northumberland can vary widely. Urban areas like Blyth and Morpeth are similar to Sunderland prices (£350-£700), but rural properties can cost more (£500-£1,200) because of travel time and access challenges.
Teesside (Middlesbrough, Stockton) is generally the most affordable: £300-£600 for standard clearances, though larger properties in areas like Yarm can cost more.
Getting Accurate Quotes
Here’s how to get accurate house clearance quotes:
First, be honest about what needs clearing. Don’t say “just a few items” if you actually have a house full of furniture. Take photos if you can – they help companies give accurate quotes.
Ask about access. Mention if there are stairs, parking issues, or other challenges. These affect the price, and it’s better to discuss them upfront.
Get at least three quotes, but make sure you’re comparing like for like. One company might quote £400 including mattress disposal, while another quotes £350 but charges £40 extra for each mattress.
Ask what’s included in the price. Does it cover all disposal costs? Are there any potential extra charges? When is payment due?
Value vs. Cost
Sometimes the cheapest quote isn’t the best value.
We worked with a family in Hexham who chose the cheapest quote (£300) for clearing their father’s house. The company took two days longer than promised, damaged the property, and left mess everywhere. The family had to pay for professional cleaning and repairs.
Our quote was £450, but we would have completed the job in one day, left the property clean, and handled everything properly. The extra £150 would have saved them stress and additional costs.
Professional clearance services include proper sorting, responsible disposal, insured staff, and respect for your property. These things matter.
When Professional Clearance Is Worth It
Not every situation needs professional clearance. If you’ve got a few items to clear, your local council’s bulky waste collection service might be sufficient.
But professional clearance is usually worth it when:
- You’re clearing a full property
- There’s a deadline involved
- You’re not local to the property
- There are difficult access issues
- You want responsible disposal
- You need the job done efficiently
Most of our customers are dealing with bereavements, property sales, or tenancy changes – situations where time and reliability matter more than finding the absolute cheapest option.
Service Coordination
If you need a house clearance in the North East, give us a call on 07868 666337. We’ll ask about the property, what needs clearing, any access issues, and your timeframe.
We cover the entire North East region – from Northumberland to Teesside, from Newcastle to Durham. We’re Environment Agency approved (CBDU 486667), fully insured, and our team are all DBS-checked.
We’ll give you a clear, detailed quote with no hidden charges, tell you exactly what’s included, and work around your schedule. We believe in transparent pricing and professional service.
