Moving out of a London flat, and what the building decides for you

The short version

The lift, and whether you can actually use it

A lift is only a saving if the crew can use it properly.

• Is it a goods lift or a passenger lift? A passenger lift with a mirror and a carpet is not a lift you want a wardrobe in, and some buildings forbid it outright.
• Can it be booked? In managed blocks the answer is usually yes and often must be. A crew waiting in a lobby for a lift somebody else reserved is a crew being paid to stand still.
• Does it need protecting? Many buildings require blankets on the walls and a floor covering, and will stop the move if they are not there.
• What are the internal dimensions? Not the door width — the box. A three-seat sofa that fits through the doors and not into the car is going up the stairs.
• Is there a service entrance? If there is, it is usually closer to where the van can park, and it is usually the difference between a fifteen-metre carry and a fifty-metre one.

If the block has a concierge or a managing agent, ask them rather than a neighbour. They are the ones who can say no on the day.

The stairwell, if there is no lift

The number people give is the floor. The number that matters is the turn.

A straight run of stairs is slow but predictable. A half-landing with a tight turn decides whether a sofa goes down at all, and that decision cannot be made from a photograph of the living room. Three things are worth checking yourself before you book:

• The narrowest point on the route, which is often a doorway at the bottom rather than the stairs themselves.
• The ceiling height over the turn. A tall wardrobe needs room to tip.
• Whether the handrail comes off. Sometimes it is the only thing in the way, and sometimes it is fixed.

In converted Victorian and Edwardian houses — most of inner London's flats — the staircase was designed for people walking up it, not for furniture. Assume the awkward pieces come apart, and check that you have the tools and the fixings before the morning.

Where the van can stop

Everything gets carried from the van, so the van's position is part of the price. Two questions:

• Is there anywhere legal to stop outside? If the bay outside is a residents' bay or has a loading restriction, the answer is often no, and the answer is a suspension. Fees and notice periods differ enormously between boroughs, and a few do not offer them for removals at all — the comparison is in our London parking suspensions guide, with the date each was checked.
• Is it a red route? Then there is no suspension available at any price, and a dispensation is the only route.

If you are moving between two flats, both ends need this answered. People plan the collection thoroughly and discover the delivery on the day.

Things specific to London blocks

• Estate roads and barriers. Some estates need a permit or a code for vehicle access, and the office that issues it keeps office hours.
• Time restrictions. A number of managed blocks only permit moves on weekdays between set hours, which rules out the Saturday you had in mind.
• Bin stores and fire doors. A propped fire door is the fastest way to have a move stopped by a building manager, so ask how they want the route held open.
• Concierge hours. If the building signs you in, moving before or after the desk is staffed can be impossible rather than merely awkward.

What to measure before the day

Ten minutes with a tape measure prevents the worst outcome, which is furniture that has to go back inside.

• The sofa, corner to corner, including the feet.
• The bed frame, and whether the base splits.
• The wardrobe, height and depth, and whether it comes apart.
• The fridge-freezer, and the narrowest doorway on the route.
• The front door of the flat, the front door of the building, and the lift.

If something is close, decide in advance whether it is coming apart, being taken through a window, or being sold.

Common questions

Does the floor number change the price much? Less than whether there is a usable lift. A fourth floor with a bookable goods lift can be quicker than a second floor without one.

What if the lift breaks on the day? It happens, and it is the reason a crew should be sized for the stairs if the building is more than a couple of storeys. Ask what the plan is before you book rather than on the morning.

Can the crew take a door off? Usually yes, and often it is the simplest answer to a tight hallway. Say so in advance so the right tools are on the van.

Do I need to be in the flat all day? Someone does, with authority to decide things, and at both ends. Access questions come up constantly on a flat move.

Is a smaller van cheaper for a flat? Only if everything fits in one load. Two trips repeat the driving, the parking and the carrying, so a van that is slightly too small usually costs more, not less. Our removal van sizes guide maps vehicles to homes.

What is the one thing people underestimate? The carry. Fifty metres from the door sounds like nothing until it is repeated ninety times.