Moving home is one of my least favourite activities. The stress of packing, unpacking, sorting out belongings and organising a new home is enough to make me anxious. And I know I’m not alone. Even the film industry has produced some great films about moving and dealing with the chaos that comes with relocation.
From My Neighbour Totoro to the early-noughties film Cheaper by the Dozen, moving home has provided plenty of material for the big screen.
In my twenties, I moved all over London, and yes, it was a nightmare! Money was tight, so sometimes I moved little by little, making endless Tube journeys with my suitcase. The last time I moved, after leaving behind the North London neighbourhood where I’d spent more than a decade, I decided to do my own research in order to make the experience less stressful.
How much does it cost to move within London?
The cost depends on how much you need to transport, the size of the van, the number of people helping and how long the job takes.
Having lived in Hampstead for a long time, I regularly saw enormous removal lorries outside some properties, accompanied by teams of people carrying furniture. I even saw large vehicles being used for international moves. I used to think how different my own moves were! For those of us moving between smaller flats, a man and van service can be a much more practical option than the kind of luxury removal service the owners of properties worth millions use. Oh dear, being rich has its downsides!
When researching options for moving west, I looked at local services offering removals West London. There are plenty of companies offering removal services in London, but once I found that The Man Van published its rates online, I didn’t feel the need to spend endless hours scrolling through different options just to get an idea of costs.
If you’re considering man and van hire, remember that the service can involve more than simply providing a vehicle. Depending on what you book, movers can help carry boxes and furniture, load the van and unload everything at your new address.
The Man Van publishes hourly rates, with a medium van and driver starting at £20 an hour, or £30 an hour with two movers. A large van with two movers starts at £35 an hour. The minimum booking is two hours, although a one-hour minimum applies to moves within the same postcode. These are starting prices, so check the company’s current rates and ask for a quote before booking.
Remember London’s extra charges
The Congestion Charge is £18 if paid in advance or on the day, rising to £21 if paid by midnight on the third day after travel.
It applies in central London’s charging zone from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and noon to 6pm at weekends and on bank holidays. The zone includes parts of the West End and the City, not the whole capital. Check your route on TfL’s official Congestion Charge map.
Moving on a Sunday? Driving through the zone before noon avoids the charge during those hours, provided you don’t enter again during charging hours later that day.
The Man Van lists its own £18 surcharge for jobs passing through the zone during charging hours, so check how this applies to your booking. Don’t confuse the Congestion Charge with the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day, across all London boroughs. Non-compliant, non-exempt vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes are charged £12.50 a day. Check whether your vehicle meets the emissions standards before moving day, particularly if you’re hiring a van.
A few tips for a smoother move
Compare weekday and weekend availability rather than assuming one will always be cheaper. Some removal services charge more at weekends, while others don’t publish separate weekend rates.
Think about traffic, too. London’s rush hours can delay journeys, while loading and unloading may take longer than expected. Remember that moving within London can still involve a fairly long journey, particularly if you’re relocating from inner to outer London. If you’re moving further out or to a commuter town, check that the removal company covers your destination and whether fuel, mileage or other additional charges apply. It’s worth researching a few options in advance and keeping the details of a reliable service handy, rather than having to find one in a hurry when your moving date approaches.
Once you’ve sorted out the van, check whether it can stop legally outside both addresses and whether you need to arrange a parking suspension through the local council. Don’t assume that a moving van can simply occupy a parking bay because it will only be there for a short time.
Don’t underestimate how much stuff you have, either. It’s tempting to book a small van to save money, but clothes, books, kitchenware and all those little things you’ve accumulated over the years can quickly fill it up. It’s worth taking a proper look at everything you need to move before choosing the van size. Having to make a second trip because everything doesn’t fit could end up costing you more.
To keep everything under control, measure large furniture and check doorways, staircases and lifts at both properties. Some London flats, particularly in older Victorian buildings, have narrow staircases and no lifts. It is worth checking whether a sofa or wardrobe can get around a tight corner before moving day.
Unpacking can take time, and on the first day your new home might be full of boxes. But eventually, you’ll settle in and know it was all worth it. Stress included.
