When you're comparing quotes for a house clearance, it's easy to focus entirely on price. But the number on the quote doesn't tell you much about what actually happens to everything that gets loaded into the van. That's where a short checklist of paperwork questions can save you a genuine headache later.
Ask for their waste carrier licence number
Every company that legally transports waste needs to be registered with the Environment Agency. Ask for the licence number directly and check it yourself on the Environment Agency's public register. It takes a couple of minutes and it's the single most useful check you can do before booking anyone. Our own licence number, CBDU221896, is on that register and we're always happy for customers to look it up.
Ask for a Waste Transfer Note
A licence tells you a company is allowed to move waste. It doesn't tell you where that waste is going. That's what a Waste Transfer Note is for, it's the paperwork that records what was collected, who collected it, and which authorised site it was taken to. Under the Duty of Care set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, you're entitled to this, and it's worth asking for it upfront rather than after the job's done.
Ask what happens to the different types of waste
A house clearance usually involves several different waste streams: furniture, electricals, textiles, general household items, sometimes garden waste too. A properly set up company should be able to tell you roughly how each of those is handled, whether that's recycling, reuse, or authorised disposal, rather than giving a vague "we'll sort it" answer.
Watch for quotes that seem unusually low
If one quote comes in noticeably cheaper than everyone else's for the same volume of waste, it's worth asking why. Legitimate disposal costs money, and undercutting on price sometimes means a company is cutting corners on where the waste actually ends up. That's not a reason to always pick the most expensive option, but it is a reason to ask the same paperwork questions of the cheapest one, not fewer.
A quick checklist before you book
- Waste carrier licence number, checked against the Environment Agency register
- Confirmation you'll receive a Waste Transfer Note
- A rough explanation of how different waste types are handled
- Vehicle registration for the collection, noted down for your own records
None of this needs to slow the process down. A company that does things properly will have the answers ready without hesitation.
How we handle it
Every clearance we carry out includes full documentation and a Waste Transfer Note as standard, whether it's a straightforward single-room clearance or a full house clearance across the North West. If you're comparing quotes for a clearance in Manchester, Salford or Bolton, get in touch and we'll talk you through exactly how your waste will be handled before you book anything.