Moving FAQs — Your Questions Answered

The cost of a house removal in London depends on four main factors: the size of your home, the distance of the move, access conditions at both properties, and whether you need additional services such as packing or storage. As a general guide, a studio or one-bedroom flat costs from £249–£349 for a local London move. A two-bedroom property typically ranges from £349–£549. Three-bedroom homes are usually £499–£750. Larger four or five-bedroom homes vary widely based on volume and complexity, typically ranging from £750 to £1,500 or more. These figures are for the removal service itself. Packing, dismantling, and storage are priced separately. We always provide a fixed, all-inclusive quote after a free survey or video call so there are no hidden charges on moving day. Call us on 0734 6595 376 for a no-obligation estimate.

A man and van in London typically costs between £60–£120 per hour depending on the time of day, area, and van size required. For a small one-bedroom flat or single-room move, expect to pay £150–£250 for a half-day booking. For larger loads or longer distances, full-day rates of £350–£500 are common. We charge transparent fixed rates rather than hourly billing wherever possible, so you know exactly what you'll pay upfront.

Our standard quotes include reasonable access conditions. If your property has more than two flights of stairs, a particularly long carry from van to door, or requires a hoist or crane (for very large items through upper-floor windows), this may affect pricing. We'll always discuss access when you book so we can quote accurately — there are no surprise charges on the day.

Yes, all our quotes are fully inclusive of VAT. The price you're quoted is the price you pay — no additional charges are added at any stage.

We require a small deposit to secure your moving date, which is fully refundable if you cancel more than 48 hours before your move. The balance is due on the day of your move once the job is complete.

Yes — for most removals we prefer to provide a fixed, all-inclusive price after assessing the volume of your items. This gives you certainty and removes the anxiety of watching the clock on moving day. We offer free home surveys or virtual surveys via video call to generate accurate fixed quotes.

We recommend booking at least two to four weeks in advance for most London moves. For Friday, Saturday, or end-of-month moves — the most popular dates in London — we suggest booking four to six weeks ahead. During summer (June–August) and around bank holidays, availability fills quickly, so eight weeks is advisable for peak dates. If you're in a property chain, book your preferred date as early as possible to give yourself flexibility if the chain slips. We do also accommodate last-minute moves subject to availability — call us and we'll do our best.

Yes, we work seven days a week including bank holidays. There is no weekend surcharge for Saturday moves. Sunday and bank holiday moves may carry a small premium — we'll always confirm this at the time of booking.

Completion date changes are unfortunately common in property chains. We allow you to amend or reschedule your booking free of charge up to 48 hours before your confirmed move date. For very last-minute changes — such as a completion delayed on the morning of your move — we will do everything we can to accommodate you. If we can't slot you in immediately, we can arrange short-term storage for your belongings at a competitive rate while you await a new completion date.

We offer a same-day delivery and collection service across London, subject to availability. Call us on 0734 6595 376 as early as possible in the day and we'll confirm whether we can help. Same-day service is most readily available Monday to Thursday.

Yes — we can accommodate early-morning starts (from 7am) and evening moves where required. Many commercial clients choose overnight or early-morning office moves to minimise business disruption. Contact us to discuss timing.

Yes. Metro City Moves carries £1 million public liability insurance and goods-in-transit cover as standard on every move. All policies are underwritten by reputable UK insurers. We are happy to provide proof of insurance on request, which many landlords and letting agents require before granting access.

In the rare event that an item is damaged during your move, our goods-in-transit insurance covers the replacement or repair cost. You must report any damage to the team on moving day or within 24 hours of completion. We will open a claim with our insurer and resolve the matter as quickly as possible. Our damage rate is extremely low thanks to careful wrapping, handling, and loading procedures.

Our goods-in-transit policy covers items while they are being moved by our team. For very high-value or irreplaceable items, you may wish to arrange specialist fine art or valuables insurance — we can advise on this. Items you pack yourself in your own boxes are generally covered for external damage but not for breakage due to poor packing, so we recommend using our packing service for fragile items.

Yes, all our removal operatives are DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked. Your home and belongings are in safe hands.

For a full removal service, we recommend that boxes are packed and sealed before the team arrives. However, we also offer a full or partial packing service where our team does the packing for you — using premium materials and proven techniques to protect your belongings. If you're tight for time or have fragile, valuable, or awkward items, our packing service is well worth considering.

We supply all materials included in a full packing service: double-walled removal boxes in multiple sizes, acid-free tissue paper, bubble wrap, packing paper, mattress covers, wardrobe boxes (included free on all house removals), and fragile stickers. If you'd like to purchase materials for a DIY pack, we can supply a box pack tailored to the size of your home.

Yes — basic furniture disassembly and reassembly (beds, wardrobes, flat-pack furniture) is included as standard on all house removal jobs. For specialist furniture, modular wall units, or complex assembly items, we'll discuss the scope at the survey stage.

Label each box with the destination room and a brief description of contents (e.g. 'Kitchen — plates and glasses'). Mark fragile items clearly on all sides. Heavier items should go in smaller boxes; lighter items such as bedding and clothes can go in larger boxes. We'll provide labels and markers on moving day if needed.

We can transport a small number of household plants, but they are not covered by goods-in-transit insurance as they are classed as live goods. Very large, heavy plants may not be practical in a removal van. We recommend transporting delicate or valuable plants in your own vehicle. For long-distance moves, plants are generally not advisable due to transit times.

Yes — we offer short-term and long-term secure storage solutions. Our storage facilities are alarmed, CCTV-monitored, and fully insured. We can move your belongings into storage on your move-out day and deliver them to your new home as soon as you're ready. This is particularly useful when there is a gap between your sale and purchase completions.

Storage pricing is based on the volume of items and the duration of storage. A one-bedroom flat's contents typically cost £60–£120 per week. We charge per container or per square metre depending on the facility. We'll include a storage quote alongside your removal estimate if required.

Absolutely. All items going into storage are wrapped and protected as if they were being delivered. Our storage containers are weatherproof, dry, and temperature-controlled. Items are stored off the ground on pallets, and every container is individually locked and tagged to your job number.

Yes — we cover all London postcodes from outer boroughs such as Croydon, Barnet, and Bromley to inner areas including the City of London, Islington, Hackney, and Westminster. We also handle moves beyond the M25 for long-distance removals.

In many London boroughs, particularly those with Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), you will need to apply for a parking suspension to give the removal van legal access at both your old and new addresses. Suspensions must be applied for through the relevant local council — usually at least 48–72 hours in advance. Some councils require up to 7 days' notice. We'll advise you on this when you book and can guide you through the application process. Failure to arrange a suspension can result in the van having to park further away, adding time and cost to the job.

Yes — all our vehicles comply with ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) requirements. We do not pass on ULEZ or Congestion Charge fees to customers for moves within London.

Moves that require our vehicles to enter the Congestion Charge Zone (roughly central London within the North/South Circular) may incur a congestion charge of £15 per vehicle per day. We will always make you aware of this when quoting for moves in affected areas.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are typically quieter and often cheaper than Fridays and Saturdays. End-of-month dates are the busiest by far, as most tenancy agreements and property completions fall on the last working day of the month. If you can move mid-month or mid-week, you'll have more choice and may pay a slightly lower rate.