Compare My Move: UK removal costs jumped 48%

In a study carried out by Compare My Move, it was found that removal costs for UK house moves has jumped 48%.

To get an accurate comparison of pre and post-pandemic times, we looked at users’ average removal costs in 2019 and compared that to what they paid in 2022. We worked out the average from the highest and lowest quotes they received, along with the price they actually paid.

We found that although costs increased dramatically, they came down by 7% in 2022 for the first time since 2019.

With unprecedented fuel prices and the Stamp Duty holiday no doubt having an effect on removal costs, we share the best tips to save you money on your removals, using real savings from our customers.

Findings at a glance: 

• • Removal costs increased by 48% in 2022 compared to 2019
  • London sees a 43% increase from £895.06 to £1,282.50
  • East of England jumped the most by 128% from £692.68 to £1,538.31
  • 1-bedroom moves went up by 88% from £323.52 to £608.80

London sees a 43% increase in removal costs

London removal costs went up to £1,282.50 in 2022, increasing by 43%. In 2019, you could book a removal company for £895.06 on average.

Our data shows that Ilford saw the most dramatic increase in price, jumping 151.4% from £672.50 in 2019 to £1,690.94 in 2022.

The only location in London to see prices go down was Dartford, decreasing by 7.6%. This meant removal costs went from £1,252.50 in 2019 to £1,157.07 in 2022.

Move size: 2019 vs 2022

We found that 1-bedroom house moves went up the most, going from £323.52 to £608.80 when comparing pre and post-pandemic times. This is an 88.2% increase from 2019.

Our data shows that 2-bedroom moves saw the least change in price, increasing by only 34.6% from £755.47 to £1,017.06.

It’s not a surprise that 5-bedroom moves were the most expensive in 2022, averaging at £2,897. This increased by 55.9% in 2022 jumping from £1,858.41 to £2,897.25.

Removal cost increases by region

Comparing pre to post-pandemic times, the East of England saw the biggest increase in removal costs, rising by 128%.

In 2022, the average price of a removal company in the area was £1,583, with Ipswich seeing the most damaging increase in prices. Looking at pre vs post-pandemic costs, we can reveal there was a 427% rise in price, making the average removal cost £1,556.

The North West saw the smallest increase in price, rising by only 13.3% going from £809.85 to £917.83.

Reasons for an increase across the UK: 

• • Surge in moves from Stamp Duty Holiday 

The Stamp Duty Holiday extension announced in 2021 created a surge in house moves. Conveyancers and solicitors became backlogged with cases during this time, which saw the demand increase for removal companies. There’s no surprise that removal costs jumped by 58% in 2021 compared to 2019. A removal company cost just £880.65 in 2019, by 2021 this increased to £1,395.53. 

• • Increase in fuel prices 

As fuel prices hit an unprecedented level in 2022, there’s no question that this affected the cost of house removals in the UK. The price of unleaded has risen by 31% in the post Covid-19 period whilst diesel has gone up the most by 36%, according to the RAC. 

• • A national shortage of packing materials 

The demand for cardboard boxes during Covid-19 could have also led removal companies to hike their prices. With an increase in online shopping during the pandemic, there was a national shortage of packing supplies, according to The Guardian. 

Compare My Move’s money-saving tips:

Here at Compare My Move, we have put together our best money-saving tips to help keep costs down during your move. 

1. Declutter before packing – Your house removal quote will depend on the volume of items you’re taking. To keep removal costs down, declutter your personal belongings before you request a quote so you’re not moving items you don’t need. 
2. Use free packing materials – Many people get rid of old cardboard boxes and packing materials for free. Look on websites like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace or ask supermarkets if they have any spares. 
3. Look at quotes for different days – If your completion date allows, comparing your removal quotes for a range of dates will help you to get the best price. Some removal companies will have certain in-demand days and may have different rates. 
4. Book an off-season move – If you can, booking your move in a quiet month will help keep costs down. The Summer time is usually popular for a move, so getting quotes for low-demand months could save you money.
5. Compare removal quotes for big savings – Our users save an average of £752 on their removal costs by comparing quotes, according to our data. You can compare up to 6 local companies to gather a range of prices for your move and then take your pick based on their reviews, services offered and fees. 

Owner and Managing Director of Compare My Move, Dave Sayce, said:

“Although removal costs have jumped a lot since pre-pandemic times of 2019, it’s not putting people off moving house.

“We’re already seeing a high demand for removal companies in the first quarter of 2023, and this doesn’t look like it’s slowing down.”  

A word from Compare My Move 

Compare My Move is a leading comparison website, saving users money on their conveyancing, surveying, removals and storage services. We’ve been helping people save money on their move for over 10 years now. In fact, our users save over £700 on their removals. We connect UK movers with up to 6 removal companies so they can compare quotes and save money. To get accurate data, we requested the lowest and highest quotes along with the price paid from users dating from 2019-2022. 

Kindly shared by Compare My Move

Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay