HOW TO HIRE · REMOVALS & STORAGE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a house clearance firm in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A house clearance in Ireland costs €200–€1,200 per job, typically around €500. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a house clearance firm in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers house clearance firm work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — specialised Waste Disposal — certain items, like electronics or hazardous materials, require specialised disposal methods.
- How does volume of items to be cleared change the price?The total is what the quote is built from. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does location change the price?Coming to your door is a convenience you pay for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does size of the property change the price?A small job and a large one are the same work at different lengths. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Attic and Basement Clearance — attics and basements often accumulate unwanted items over the years — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a house clearance firm job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE APPLIES TO REMOVALS FIRMS. The protection is the insurance, and the word to listen for is GOODS IN TRANSIT — public liability does not pay for your own property being damaged in their van. Trade membership of the Irish Association of Movers is voluntary and brings a complaints route.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
GOODS IN TRANSIT cover and its limit per item and in total — a €10,000 total on a four-bedroom move is not cover, it is a gesture; Whether the limit falls for items you pack yourself, which it usually does; A written inventory before loading, signed by both of you; How a claim is made and within what deadline — often days, not weeks; Whether the crew on the day are employees or casual labour; For storage, who insures the goods while stored and against what.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect goods in transit and public liability, with the limits named. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers house clearance firm work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — specialised Waste Disposal — certain items, like electronics or hazardous materials, require specialised disposal methods.
A good answer: The total is what the quote is built from. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Coming to your door is a convenience you pay for. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A small job and a large one are the same work at different lengths. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Attic and Basement Clearance — attics and basements often accumulate unwanted items over the years — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a house clearance firm job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect goods in transit and public liability, with the limits named — garden Waste Clearance — many house clearance services also handle garden waste, including branches, soil, and other debris.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the house clearance firm starts, and an itemised invoice after — general Household Items — house clearance typically includes the removal of general household items such as furniture, appliances, and personal belongings.
Getting the quote right
- Volume of items to be cleared — the total is what the quote is built from.
- Location — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for.
- Size of the property — a small job and a large one are the same work at different lengths.
- Garden Waste Clearance — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: volume of items to be cleared — the total is what the quote is built from
- They will not talk about it: location — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for
- They will not talk about it: size of the property — a small job and a large one are the same work at different lengths
- A price for the house clearance firm before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the house clearance firm has begun
What a house clearance firm costs: €200–€1,200 per job
The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Full house clearance and Garden clearance each carry their own band. House Clearance price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
House clearance firms near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstVolume of items to be cleared — the total is what the quote is built from — that is what the house clearance firm is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLocation — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSize of the property — a small job and a large one are the same work at different lengths — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherGarden Waste Clearance — it is the detail most people forget to mention when asking — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the house clearance firm is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check that the service provider is licensed for waste disposal and adheres to local regulations.
- General Household Items
- House clearance typically includes the removal of general household items such as furniture, appliances, and personal belongings.
- Garden Waste Clearance
- Many house clearance services also handle garden waste, including branches, soil, and other debris.
- Attic and Basement Clearance
- Attics and basements often accumulate unwanted items over the years.
- specialised Waste Disposal
- Certain items, like electronics or hazardous materials, require specialised disposal methods.
- Full House Clearance
- This involves clearing out all unwanted items from a property, including furniture, appliances, and personal belongings.
- Garden Clearance
- Specialised service focusing on removing debris, overgrown vegetation, and unwanted garden furniture or equipment.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a house clearance firm: questions people ask
The cost of house clearance can vary based on the volume of items to be cleared, the type of items, and the location. Additional costs may arise for specialised disposal of hazardous materials or heavy items.
The duration of a house clearance depends on the size of the property and the amount of clutter. Generally, a standard clearance can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day.
For standard household items, a general clearance professional is usually sufficient. However, if there are hazardous materials or specialised equipment, it’s best to hire a qualified specialist.
Many house clearance services offer same-day availability, but this often depends on their current workload and the complexity of the job. It's advisable to contact them directly for immediate needs.
Yes, many companies offer the option to bundle house clearance with related services, such as removals or storage. This can often lead to cost savings and a more streamlined process.
Most house clearance services will not handle hazardous waste, large construction debris, or items that require special disposal methods unless specifically stated. Always check with the service provider for their specific exclusions.
MORE GUIDES