A house clearance goes smoothly when you plan ahead, protect your valuables and paperwork, and hand your waste only to a registered carrier. It goes wrong when people rush, lift beyond their limits, mix hazardous items in with general rubbish or pay an unregistered collector who dumps the lot. Whether you are clearing a Glasgow tenement flat after a bereavement, emptying a rental between tenants or downsizing, the lists below explain what to do, what to avoid and why each point matters.
What to do
Do plan the clearance early
Set a date that works for everyone who needs to be involved, then work backwards. If there is a deadline, such as the end of a tenancy or the entry date on a sale, allow time for the family to sort belongings before the clearance team arrives. List every space that needs clearing, including the loft, garage, shed and garden, so nothing is forgotten when you ask for a quote.
Do decide what you are keeping before the team arrives
Go room by room and separate items into keep, pass on and clear. Move keep items into one room or label them clearly. A clearance team works quickly, and clear instructions are the best protection against something precious going out with the rest. Our checklist on how to prepare your home for a clearance team goes into this in more detail.
Do check everything for valuables and documents
Look inside pockets, handbags, books, envelopes and boxes before anything leaves. Jewellery, cash, photographs and important papers turn up in surprising places, especially in an older relative's home. Keep official documents until you are sure they are no longer needed.
Do use a registered waste carrier
Under the duty of care in Scotland, householders must only give their waste to an authorised person, such as a waste carrier registered with SEPA. You can check any company on SEPA's public register before you book. Our list of questions to ask a house clearance company covers the other checks worth making, from insurance to recycling.
Do bag up small loose items
Packaging, cardboard, old cables, ornaments and the contents of kitchen drawers take time to gather. Bagging or boxing them in advance speeds up the day and helps the team load efficiently.
Do tell the company about access and parking
Mention stairs, lifts, narrow landings, door entry systems and parking restrictions when you ask for a quote. In Glasgow's tenements, wardrobes and beds often need to be taken apart to get them down the close, and a team that knows in advance can come prepared.
Do pass on what others can use
Good furniture, kitchenware and linen can help someone else set up home. Zero Waste Scotland's national reuse tool helps you find organisations that collect usable items.
Do keep the paperwork
A professional clearance company should leave paperwork once the job is complete. Executors, solicitors and landlords in particular will want a record of who removed the contents and when.
What not to do
Do not fly-tip, or let anyone do it for you
Dumping household waste is illegal and damages local communities. In Scotland the fixed penalty for fly-tipping rose from £200 to £500 on 1 January 2024, and fines on conviction can reach £40,000, with imprisonment possible. If you pay someone who is not authorised and they dump your waste, you can be held responsible. Our guide to fly-tipping and the law in Scotland explains more.
Do not choose a collector on price alone
A very cheap quote from a van advertised on social media can be a warning sign, because proper disposal costs money. If a collector cannot give you a waste carrier registration number, a business address or any paperwork, look elsewhere.
Do not mix hazardous waste with general rubbish
Garages and sheds often hide old chemicals, solvents, weedkillers and gas bottles. These need specialist handling, and many clearance companies, including Jettison Express, do not remove hazardous waste. Set them aside and ask the council where to take them. If a shed or garage was built before 2000, its roof or panels may contain asbestos cement. Do not break or cut it; use a licensed asbestos contractor.
Do not tear up old sofas and armchairs
Upholstered seating, including sofas, sofa beds and armchairs, may contain persistent organic pollutants. In Scotland it must be incinerated rather than landfilled and must not be torn up or mixed with other waste. Leave it whole for the council bulky uplift, a recycling centre or your clearance company.
Do not lift beyond your limits
Wardrobes, chest freezers, washing machines and sofas are heavy and awkward, and carrying them down stairs without the right technique or help is an easy way to get hurt. Leave the heavy work to a trained team with the tools to dismantle large items safely.
Do not put personal papers out with the rubbish
Bank statements, letters and medical paperwork carry personal details. Shred small amounts, and for larger volumes use a confidential waste disposal service.
Do not rush the emotional decisions
Clearing a family home can bring up difficult feelings. Keep a box for items you are unsure about and revisit it later. Rushing is a common cause of regret after a clearance.
How Jettison Express can help
Jettison Express is a registered waste carrier based in Glasgow, offering house clearances in Glasgow and across central Scotland. We take on single rooms, full houses, lofts, garages and gardens, along with void property clearances for landlords and letting agents. Our uniformed team calls ahead, works to an up-front rate, dismantles larger furniture and lifts carpets, and finishes with a sweep and tidy. Everything goes to our depot to be sorted, with over 90% recycled.
To arrange a clearance, contact Jettison Express or call 0333 880 6800, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fine for fly-tipping in Scotland?
The fixed penalty for fly-tipping in Scotland is £500, up from £200 since 1 January 2024. If a case goes to court, the fine on conviction can reach £40,000 and imprisonment is possible. Householders can also be held responsible if they pay an unauthorised person who then dumps their waste.
How do I check that a house clearance company is licensed?
Ask the company for its waste carrier registration details, then search for it on SEPA's public register of waste carriers. Under the duty of care, you must only give your waste to an authorised person. A legitimate company will be happy to give you its details and explain where your waste will go.
Can I break up an old sofa to get rid of it?
No. In Scotland, upholstered seating such as sofas, sofa beds and armchairs may contain persistent organic pollutants. It must be incinerated rather than landfilled and must not be torn up or mixed with other waste. Use the council bulky uplift, a recycling centre that accepts upholstered seating or a registered clearance company instead.
Should I be present during a house clearance?
It is a good idea to be there at the start, or to stay reachable by phone, so you can confirm what stays and answer any questions. A quick walk round at the end lets you check everything has gone that should have, and you can collect the paperwork before the team leaves.