Rubbish removal
Property and flat clearance
An end of tenancy clearance costs £150 to £350 for a room or studio and £250 to £450 for a 1 bedroom flat outside London (Fantastic Services cost guide, October 2026). Smaller jobs are priced by van load, from £60 to £150 for a small load. Book the clearance before the end of tenancy clean and the check-out inspection, so the property is empty when it is assessed.
What this covers
Typical price. An end of tenancy clearance is priced like a flat or house clearance: £150 to £350 for a room or studio and £250 to £450 for a 1 bedroom flat outside London (Fantastic Services, October 2026).
Typical jobs
- Clearing furniture and bags a tenant left behind in a 2 bedroom flat before the check-out inspection
- Removing a sofa, a mattress and kitchen rubbish from a student house in the summer
- A tenant's own clearance of unwanted furniture before handing back the keys
- Clearing a void property's garden and shed before re-letting
- Removing a broken fridge freezer and a pile of bin bags from a let property's yard
What is involved
An end of tenancy clearance empties a rented property of rubbish and unwanted belongings when a tenancy ends. It is booked by tenants clearing their own things before handing back the keys, and by landlords and letting agents dealing with what a tenant left behind.
Furnished lets often include sofas and armchairs. Since 1 January 2023, upholstered seating containing POPs must be kept apart from other waste and incinerated, so these are priced as separate items. Fridges, freezers and washing machines are electrical waste and also carry surcharges.
Belongings a tenant has left. Before clearing items a former tenant left behind, landlords should make sure the tenancy has properly ended and take advice on giving notice. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 sets out when goods that have not been collected can be sold, and normally requires notice first.
Deposits. If a landlord deducts clearance costs from a protected deposit and the tenant disagrees, the deposit protection scheme offers a free dispute resolution service. GOV.UK says both sides must agree to use it and the decision is final. Photos before and after the clearance, the clearance invoice and the waste transfer note are the evidence the scheme will look at.
Choosing a firm
Ask for an itemised invoice and before and after photos: landlords need them for any deposit claim, and tenants need them to show the property was left clear. Confirm the date and time against the check-out inspection and the cleaners' booking.
The rubbish removal page covers the rules.
Read next
Common questions
How much does an end of tenancy clearance cost?
Fantastic Services prices a room or studio at £150 to £350 and a 1 bedroom flat at £250 to £450 outside London (October 2026). A few bags and items cost less as a small van load, from £60 to £150.
Who pays to remove rubbish a tenant left behind?
The landlord usually arranges the clearance, and may claim reasonable costs from the tenant's deposit. If the tenant disagrees, the deposit protection scheme's free dispute service can decide, if both sides agree to use it.
Can a landlord throw away a tenant's belongings?
Take advice first. Make sure the tenancy has ended, and give written notice before disposing of items: the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 sets out a notice process before uncollected goods are sold in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.