How Much Does Moving a House Cost
How much does moving a house cost is one of the first questions people ask when a sale or purchase is confirmed. The honest answer: it depends. Property size, distance, access, and services all affect the final bill. This guide gives you real numbers, not ballpark ranges, so you can plan your budget properly.
Moving a house costs £149–£1,200 depending on size and distance. Man and van from £35 for small local moves. Full house removals with crew start at £149. All Giant Van jobs are insured and BAR-accredited. Call +44 7414 655129 for a fixed quote.
Getting Home: How Local Movers Quote for Your Move
When you search for movers local near me, the quality of quotes varies enormously.
Some firms quote over the phone without asking enough questions.
Others conduct a proper assessment — either in person or via video call — to account for access, volume, and specific items.
Local movers who operate in your area will price more accurately than national aggregators who pass the job to a subcontractor.
Giant Van operates directly in every area it covers, so the crew who quotes is the crew who turns up.
For local moves within the same city, pricing starts from £49 per hour in London and £35 per hour in regional areas.
Most small local moves complete in three to five hours.
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Get a Free Quote →Moving House Cost Breakdown: What You Are Actually Paying For
How much does moving a house cost is a question that requires separating the removal cost from the total moving cost.
The removal itself — van, crew, loading, and unloading — is one line in a larger budget.
The full cost of moving a house in the UK includes: solicitor fees (£800–£2,000 for a standard sale and purchase), stamp duty (for properties over £250,000 from April 2025), removal company fees (£149–£1,500+ depending on property size and distance), mortgage arrangement fees if remortgaging (£500–£2,000), survey costs (£250–£600), and connection fees for utilities at the new property.
Homebuyers also typically budget for immediate decoration or repairs at the new property, furniture for rooms that the previous property did not require, and the hidden costs of address changes and professional redirections.
The removal fee is often the smallest variable — it is the solicitor and stamp duty that move the total significantly.
Time Cost of Moving House: How Long the Process Takes
Moving a house costs time as well as money.
The legal process — from offer acceptance to completion — takes on average 12 weeks in England and Wales, though it varies from 8 to 20 weeks depending on chain length and conveyancing speed.
Scotland operates under a different system with missives that typically conclude faster.
Within that legal timeline, the physical preparation — decluttering, packing, booking removals, arranging utilities — requires 30–50 hours of work spread over six to eight weeks.
On moving day itself, a one-bedroom flat typically takes four to five hours with a professional crew.
Removal Van Services: Matching the Service to the Budget
Removal van services span a wide price range in the UK.
At the budget end: sole traders operating an uninsured van at £20–£30 per hour.
In the middle: man-and-van services from professional operators such as Giant Van, starting from £35–£49 per hour with insurance and BAR registration included.
At the full-service end: complete packing, loading, transport, unloading, and unpacking with furniture assembly at up to £150 per hour for large crews.
The right level depends on property size and how much physical and administrative support you need.
Giant Van occupies the middle tier — professional service at competitive pricing, without the overhead of white-glove full-service removal firms.
For most one to three-bedroom moves, the Giant Van service level covers everything needed without paying for premium extras.
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Hidden Costs of Moving House: What People Miss
How much does moving a house cost in total is always higher than the initial estimate because of hidden costs most people do not account for.
Cleaning costs at the previous property — landlord deductions or end-of-tenancy professional clean — run £150–£400 for a two-bedroom flat.
Carpet cleaning at the new property if the previous owners had pets: £80–£200.
New curtains or blinds if sizes do not match: £100–£500 per room.
Changing door locks at the new property: £50–£150 per lock.
Royal Mail redirection: £33–£66 for three to six months.
Council tax during a void period between properties: £50–£200 depending on local authority rates.
Parking permits at the new address: £30–£150 annually depending on zone.
Utility reconnection fees for broadband engineers: £30–£150.
These individually small costs combine to add £500–£1,500 to a typical house move budget.
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Changing address when moving house triggers a chain of admin that catches people off guard.
Setting a reminder to complete 10 address changes per week for four weeks before the move keeps it manageable.
Giant Van handles the physical side — house removals from £149 across the UK.
The address change admin is on you, but the heavy lifting does not have to be.
Call +44 7414 655129 to book.
Giant Van provides house removals across the UK from £149.
Fixed-price quotes confirmed before arrival — no mileage surprises or hourly overrun charges.
BAR member, fully insured, rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot.
Man and van from £35 for smaller loads.
Call +44 7414 655129 for a quote that reflects your actual property.
What Our Customers Say
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VerifiedThe quote I got online was exactly what I paid. No hidden fees, no extra charges on the day. The two-man crew were professional, fast, and really friendly.
Same-day booking saved our move
VerifiedOur original movers cancelled last minute. Giant Van had a crew available the same day. They handled a full 2-bed flat and had us settled in by evening.
How Much Does Moving a House Cost — FAQs
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Reviewed by Giant Van Editorial Team, Content Reviewer at Giant Van
Giant Van Ltd. Registered in England & Wales.
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