House Clearance Edinburgh | Full & Part Clearances

A full house clearance is a substantial undertaking — emotionally as much as practically. Whether you are clearing a family home before a sale, downsizing into something more manageable, or dealing with a property after probate, the volume of decisions can feel overwhelming. Edinburgh Clearance has handled thousands of full and part house clearances across the capital and the surrounding counties since we began, and our team approaches every job with the same care: clear pricing up front, no rushing on the day, and proper respect for the property and its history.

What a Full House Clearance Includes

When we say full clearance, we mean exactly that. Every room of the property — lounges, bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, lofts, cellars, sheds, garages and gardens — is emptied, with the property left broom-clean and ready for sale, rental or handover. We deal with all the items you do not want to keep: furniture, carpets and rugs, white goods, electrical items, books and paperwork, kitchen contents, clothing and linens, garden tools, garden waste, bric-à-brac, accumulated household clutter, and anything else the property contains. Items of value that you want kept are identified at the survey stage, set aside and either moved to a nominated room or delivered to a relative or charity of your choosing. We make a deliberate effort to spot items of obvious sentimental value — old photographs, letters, family bibles, jewellery boxes, military medals — and put these aside even if they have not been specifically flagged.

Part Clearances and Tailored Jobs

Not every job calls for the full property to be emptied. A part clearance might cover a single room you cannot face tackling alone, the contents of a deceased relative's flat where the buyer has agreed to keep the white goods, or simply the awkward heavy items — beds, sofas, wardrobes, fridges — that you cannot move yourself. We are happy to quote for jobs of any size, from a single sofa upwards. There is no minimum charge that prevents small jobs from being economical: we will tell you honestly if you would be better off using the council's bulky uplift service for a one-off item.

Pricing — How It Works

House clearance pricing is based on three factors: volume of waste leaving the property, access difficulty (top-floor tenement with no lift versus ground-floor cottage with driveway), and time on site. We do not charge by the hour — every quote is a fixed all-in price agreed in writing before any work begins. The price covers the team's labour, the vehicle and fuel, all disposal and recycling fees, and the SEPA-compliant waste transfer notes you will receive at the end. If items of resale value are present and significant, we may reduce the price to reflect what we expect to recover; we will always discuss this openly at the survey rather than promising vague 'rebates' that fail to materialise.

Recycling and Disposal Standards

We are licensed waste carriers, registered with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). That means every item leaving the property is tracked, and you receive a waste transfer note as proof of legal disposal — important documentation if you are an executor or a landlord. Wherever possible, items in usable condition are donated to local Edinburgh charities — Bethany Christian Trust, Cyrenians, Shelter Scotland, Salvation Army and others — or sold through our own outlets to keep usable goods in circulation. Recyclables (metals, electricals, cardboard, glass, textiles) go to licensed recycling facilities. Only what genuinely cannot be reused or recycled goes to landfill, and we will tell you honestly what proportion that is.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a full house clearance take?

A typical three-bedroom house clearance is done in a single day with our standard two-person team. Larger properties, hoarder situations, or jobs with difficult access may take two or three days. We will give you an honest time estimate at the survey stage and stick to it.

Do I need to be there on the day?

Not necessarily. Many of our clearances are done with the executor or estate agent meeting us briefly to provide keys and access. We can collect keys from a solicitor, hold them during the job, and return them afterwards. We have CCTV body cameras and full public liability insurance, so you can be confident the property is in safe hands.

What if you find money or valuables?

Anything that appears valuable or sentimental — cash, jewellery, deeds, photographs, personal letters, military items — is set aside and handed back to you. This is part of our standard practice and is written into our terms.

Can you handle clearances in tenement properties?

Yes — most of central Edinburgh's housing stock is tenement, and we clear them every week. Narrow stairs, no lift access, and tight communal closes are no obstacle. We use protective coverings on shared stair walls and carry trolleys suitable for tenement steps.

Do you charge to come and quote?

No. Survey visits and written quotes are free and carry no obligation. We will visit any property within our service area at a time convenient to you.