Guides
Moving with a man and van, explained
What it costs, which van, how long it takes, parking the van, clean air zones, insurance, and what to do if something is damaged.
How much does a man and van cost in 2026?
Two people and a van cost £50 to £80 an hour outside London and £60 to £100 in London and the South East, on Fantastic Services' September 2026 guide, and most firms set a two-hour minimum.
Van sizes explained: Luton van size, SWB, MWB and LWB
A Luton van holds about 17 to 19 cubic metres and carries up to about 1,000kg, against about 3 cubic metres for Enterprise's small van, on Enterprise's size guide and vehicle pages.
Man and van or removal company: which suits your move?
A 2 to 3 bed home costs £500 to £800 or more by man and van and £900 to £1,800 for a 3 bed with a removal company outside London, on Fantastic Services' September 2026 guides.
Man and van insurance: what covers your belongings?
Goods in transit cover for a man and van commonly runs from £10,000 to £50,000 a load, on broker pages from Coversure and UK Sure, and public liability from £1 million, but neither is a legal requirement.
Parking for a removal van: suspensions and dispensations
Suspending a parking bay for moving day costs from nothing in Sutton, which waives the fee for domestic removals, to £164.80 for the first day in Islington, on the councils' own pages (checked October 2026), and some councils add an admin fee.
Clean air zones and moving day: what does a van pay?
A van that misses the emissions standard pays £12.50 a day for London's ULEZ and £8 to £12.50 a day in the English clean air zones that charge vans, while any van in central London pays the £18 Congestion Charge in 2026.
Can a man and van take my rubbish away?
In England a householder who hands rubbish to someone who is not a registered waste carrier, without reasonable checks, can be fined up to £600 under a fixed penalty in force since 31 July 2023.
How long does a man and van move take?
A studio takes 2 to 4 hours by man and van, a 1 to 2 bed flat 4 to 6 hours and a 2 to 3 bed home 6 to 8 hours, on Fantastic Services' September 2026 guide.
Moving house checklist: four weeks out to the last box
Book the van 4 to 6 weeks ahead and apply for any parking suspension at least 10 working days before in councils such as Lambeth, then defrost the freezer at least 48 hours before the van comes.
How to pack for a move: boxes, weights and labels
A home typically needs 20 to 50 boxes depending on its size, according to Bishop's Move, and Enterprise rates a large van, sized for a 1 bed flat, at up to 45 medium boxes.
What if a man and van damages my things?
Under section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a man and van must carry out the job with reasonable care and skill, and a claim of up to £10,000 can go to the small claims track in England and Wales for an issue fee of £35 to £455.
What is the cheapest day to move house?
Friday carries 29% of house moves and Sunday just 5%, on HomeOwners Alliance and reallymoving data from more than 750,000 removal quotes (August 2026).
Booking platform or local firm: how does each work?
Man and van platforms work in three main ways, by their own descriptions: a fixed instant price paid to the platform, quotes or bids from transport providers, or leads that firms pay to receive.
How to get rid of an old mattress or sofa: every option
Most councils will collect a sofa or mattress for a fee: £26 for up to six items in Nottingham, £30 to £40 for up to three in Charnwood and £55.50 for up to three in Epsom and Ewell (2026/27).
Moving a washing machine: when transit bolts are needed
Refit the transit bolts whenever a washing machine travels in a van: Bosch says to put them back for a long-distance move such as a house move, and makers say to take them out again before the first wash.
What is a tail lift on a Luton van, and when you need one
A tail lift is a powered platform at the back of a Luton van that raises up to 500kg from the road to the floor of the box, the limit Enterprise and Arnold Clark both give for their hire vans.
How to move a piano yourself, and how much it weighs
A modern upright piano weighs about 190 to 250kg: Yamaha lists its 109cm b1 at 193kg and its 131cm U3 at 246kg, with the GB1K baby grand at 261kg.
Office move checklist: IT, people and a week-by-week plan
For a small office, start about eight weeks out: get the building rules at both addresses, send each van firm a written inventory and book the goods lift.
What time do you get the keys on completion day?
GOV.UK says keys are often handed over around lunchtime on completion day, and under the Law Society's Standard Conditions of Sale money received after 2pm counts as completing on the next working day.
How to move a fridge freezer, and when to switch it back on
Move a fridge freezer upright if you can, then leave it standing unplugged before switching on: Hotpoint says at least 2 hours and Beko at least 4.
What size storage unit do I need? Sizes by home and contents
Safestore puts the contents of a one bedroom flat in 35 sq ft, a two bedroom house in 75 sq ft and a four bedroom house in 175 to 200 sq ft, and Big Yellow describes 75 sq ft as the size of a Luton van.
Run a man and van firm? The guides to insurance, operator licences, driving licences and pricing are on For businesses.