Garage clearance in London sorted, swept, hazards separated.

Estate lock-ups need access arranged first

A large share of London garages, particularly on 1960s and 1970s estates across outer boroughs, sit in blocks of lock-ups behind a shared gate rather than attached to a house. The managing landlord or the council controls entry to the compound, and a van that arrives without that access confirmed simply cannot get to the garage door. We confirm gate codes, keyholder arrangements or a booked access slot before the visit is scheduled.

Where a resident has inherited a garage with no key at all, cutting the lock is routine and priced as its own line rather than treated as an unexpected delay on the day.

Hazardous items are common and cannot be mixed in

Garages are where household paint tins, old engine oil, car batteries and the occasional gas cylinder end up for years. All of these are classed as hazardous household waste and need a registered carrier and a route to a licensed facility, separate from the general clearance load. We flag anything hazardous at the survey stage so the price and the collection route are agreed before the crew arrives.

Tyres carry their own producer-responsibility charge

Under the tyre producer responsibility rules that apply across London, tyres cannot simply go into a mixed skip or clearance load without a per-tyre disposal charge, whatever the garage otherwise contains. We show that charge on the quote rather than folding it into a vague 'clearance rate' that turns out not to cover it.

Asbestos garage roofing needs its own decision

Corrugated cement sheet roofing on estate garage blocks from the 1960s and 1970s can contain asbestos. We do not disturb suspected asbestos sheeting — the garage contents are cleared and the roof is left for the block's managing landlord to assess separately, because that is a licensed removal job, not a clearance one.