Before you hire a house clearance company, ask whether they are a registered waste carrier, where your waste will go, what the price includes, whether they are insured and what paperwork you will receive. The answers tell you whether you are dealing with a professional business or someone who might dump your belongings at the side of a road. In Scotland that matters to you personally, because if your waste is fly-tipped by someone you paid who was not authorised, you can be held responsible under the duty of care.
Here are the questions worth asking, why each one matters and what a good answer sounds like.
1. Are you a registered waste carrier?
Why it matters: householders in Scotland must only give their waste to an authorised person, such as a waste carrier registered with SEPA. If you hand it to someone unauthorised and it is fly-tipped, you could face a £500 fixed penalty, and fines on conviction can reach £40,000.
A good answer: a clear yes, with registration details you can check yourself on SEPA's public register of waste carriers. In Scotland the regulator is SEPA, not the Environment Agency, which covers England.
2. Where will my things go?
Why it matters: a cheap clearance that sends everything to landfill is bad for the environment, and one that cannot explain where your waste goes at all is a warning sign.
A good answer: a specific explanation of how items are sorted for reuse and recycling, ideally with a recycling rate. They should also know the Scottish rules for particular items. For example, upholstered seating such as sofas and armchairs may contain persistent organic pollutants and must be incinerated rather than landfilled, and fridges need to go to approved treatment facilities. Our post on what happens to your items after a house clearance explains how this works.
3. Are you insured?
Why it matters: moving heavy furniture down stairs and through narrow doorways carries a risk of damage to the property, a neighbour's property or the common stair.
A good answer: confirmation that they hold public liability insurance and are willing to show you the details. Recognised accreditations, such as SafeContractor approval, are another good sign.
4. What exactly is included in the price?
Why it matters: a low headline quote can grow on the day if dismantling, carpets or the loft were not included.
A good answer: an up-front price that lists what is covered. Check whether it includes:
- dismantling wardrobes, beds and other large furniture
- lifting carpets, underlay and flooring
- the loft, garage, shed and garden
- a sweep and tidy at the end
Our guide to what a house clearance service involves sets out what you can normally expect.
5. Is there anything you will not take?
Why it matters: you need to know in advance so you can make other arrangements.
A good answer: an honest list. Many clearance companies do not remove asbestos or hazardous waste such as chemicals and gas bottles. Sheds and garages built before 2000 may have asbestos cement roofs or panels, which need a licensed asbestos contractor. Be cautious of anyone who says they will take absolutely everything without question.
6. What paperwork will I get?
Why it matters: paperwork is your evidence that your waste went to an authorised carrier. Executors and solicitors need it for the estate file, and landlords may need it for their records. Businesses must also complete waste transfer notes.
A good answer: confirmation that you will receive paperwork once the job is complete, with the company's details.
7. How do you deal with personal papers and devices?
Why it matters: old letters, bank statements, computers and phones can all hold personal information.
A good answer: a clear process, such as a confidential waste disposal service for paperwork. Hard drives should be securely wiped or physically destroyed, with a certificate.
8. Do you cover my area?
Why it matters: a company working far from its base may add travel costs or have less flexibility on dates.
A good answer: a straightforward list of the towns they cover. A Glasgow firm may also work across central Scotland, including house clearances in Edinburgh.
9. Who will turn up on the day?
Why it matters: you are letting people into a home, often one full of personal and sentimental belongings.
A good answer: the company's own uniformed staff, enough people to do the job safely, and a call ahead to let you know when they are on the way.
Red flags to watch for
- no registration details, or vague answers about where waste goes
- cash only, with no paperwork or receipt
- a price far below every other quote
- no business address or landline, only a mobile number on a social media advert
- pressure to decide immediately
We cover these risks in more detail in why you should call us instead of a white van man.
How Jettison Express answers these questions
Jettison Express is a registered waste carrier based in Glasgow, and you are welcome to check us on SEPA's register. We hold ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 accreditation, are SafeContractor approved and are a Living Wage Employer. We give up-front rates, call ahead when our uniformed team is on the way, dismantle large furniture, lift carpets and flooring, and finish with a sweep and tidy. Everything goes to our depot to be sorted, with over 90% recycled, and we leave paperwork once the job is complete. We do not remove asbestos or hazardous waste, and we will tell you so at the quoting stage.
Find out more about our house clearances in Glasgow or our house clearance services across Scotland, then contact Jettison Express or call 0333 880 6800, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, to put your questions to us directly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a house clearance company is a registered waste carrier?
Ask the company for its waste carrier registration details, then search for it on SEPA's public register of waste carriers. In Scotland, SEPA is the regulator. A legitimate company will give you its details without hesitation, and the register lets you confirm them independently before you book.
Can I be fined if a clearance company fly-tips my rubbish?
Yes. Under the duty of care in Scotland, you must only give your waste to an authorised person. If you pay someone who is not authorised and your waste is fly-tipped, you can be held responsible. The fixed penalty for fly-tipping is £500, and fines on conviction can reach £40,000.
Should a house clearance company give me a fixed quote?
You should get a clear, up-front price before any work starts, along with a list of what it includes, such as dismantling, carpet lifting and loft or garden clearance. Photographs or a site visit help the company quote accurately. Be wary of anyone who will not commit to a price or who adds charges on the day.
Do house clearance companies take everything?
They take most household contents, including furniture, mattresses, appliances, carpets, clothes and general rubbish. Many do not take asbestos or hazardous waste such as chemicals and gas bottles. Jettison Express removes non-hazardous waste only and will tell you at the quoting stage if anything needs a specialist.