Book your removal service 2 to 4 weeks before moving day, and earlier for Friday, month-end or summer dates, when demand peaks. Start 6 to 8 weeks out with decluttering and surveys, so you have three written quotes to compare before you commit. In South East London, leave extra time for a council parking suspension and check whether your route uses a tolled Thames crossing.
8 Weeks Out: Declutter & Measure
Volume sets the price of a move, so cut it before anyone quotes:
- Sort each room into keep, sell, donate and bin piles, starting with the loft, garage and shed.
- Book your council’s bulky waste collection for sofas, mattresses and white goods you will not take.
- Measure doorways, stairwells and alcoves at the new home, then measure your largest furniture against them.
- Note access at both addresses: floor level, lift size, stairs and the walking distance from the kerb.
- Decide whether you need storage if your sale and purchase completion dates do not match.
6 Weeks Out: Surveys & Quotes
Ask three firms for an in-home or video survey and a written, itemised quote. A phone estimate misses the loft, the stairs and the long carry, and those gaps reappear on the final invoice. A local two-bed move in London and the South East costs about £650 to £1,600, including VAT.
Check every removal service South East London residents shortlist for these points:
- Goods-in-transit and public liability insurance, with the cover limit per item.
- Membership of the British Association of Removers (BAR), whose Code of Practice is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
- A crew the firm employs and vets, not one subcontracted on the day.
- Extras listed in writing: packing, dismantling, parking suspensions, clean-air charges and tunnel tolls.
- A written cancellation and damage-claims policy.
4 Weeks Out: Booking & Parking
Confirm the booking in writing with the date, arrival time, crew size and van size. Order boxes, tape and wardrobe cartons for Removal service South East London in the same week, so packing can start on time.
Apply for a parking bay suspension next. Lewisham allows 20 minutes of loading in resident and pay-to-park bays, while a two-bed move takes 5 to 7 hours. Each council sets its own notice period and fee:
- Lewisham: apply online at least 5 working days ahead. The admin charge is £62 per application, plus £56 per bay per day for pay-to-park or shared-use bays, or £62 per resident permit bay. List the registration of every vehicle using the bays.
- Greenwich: apply 10 working days ahead. The admin fee is £66.40, plus £66.40 per bay per day. Residents moving house can suspend a second bay free on the first day.
- Southwark: give at least 7 days’ notice, with payment received 7 days before the suspension starts.
Bays on red routes, such as the A2 and the A205 South Circular, come under Transport for London, not the council.
Crossing the Thames
A move from South East London to North or East London usually crosses the river, and each crossing carries its own rules:
- Blackwall & Silvertown tunnels: both charge in each direction from 6am to 10pm. Since 21 September 2026, Auto Pay rates are £2.60 off-peak and £6.80 peak for large vans, and £5.25 off-peak and £10.50 peak for lorries. Peak runs Monday to Friday, 6am to 10am northbound and 4pm to 7pm southbound.
- Rotherhithe Tunnel: goods vehicles over 2 tonnes gross weight are banned, which rules out removal lorries and most large vans.
- ULEZ: vans up to 3.5 tonnes that miss the emission standard pay £12.50 a day anywhere in London. Lorries over 3.5 tonnes that miss Euro VI pay the Low Emission Zone charge of £100 or £300 a day instead.
A northbound morning move through Blackwall falls in the peak window, so a start after 10am cuts the toll. Ask the firm which vehicle and crossing it plans to use, and whether tolls and clean-air charges sit inside the quote.
2 Weeks Out: Packing & Admin
Pack the rooms you use least first, then work toward the kitchen:
- Start with the loft, spare room, books and out-of-season clothes.
- Put books in small boxes and bedding in large ones, so no box is too heavy to lift.
- Mark each box with its room at the new address and a short contents list.
- Photograph the cables behind the TV and router before you unplug them.
Clear the admin in the same week:
- Set up Royal Mail redirection, which needs at least five working days to start.
- Give your moving date to your energy, water and broadband providers.
- Tell both councils about the move for council tax.
Moving Day
A local two-bed move takes 2 to 3 movers about 5 to 7 hours, and a three-bed takes 3 movers most of the day. The day runs in this order:
- Walk the crew lead through each room and point out fragile pieces and anything staying behind.
- The crew wraps furniture in blankets, takes apart the pieces listed on the quote and loads the heaviest items first.
- Check every cupboard, the loft and the shed before the van leaves, then take final meter readings.
- At the new home, stand at the door and direct each box to its room.
- Inspect furniture before you sign the delivery sheet, and write any damage on it.
Keep keys, documents and valuables in your own bag, not on the van. Report damage found later in writing, within the deadline set in the firm’s terms.
FAQs
What is the cheapest day to move house?
A Tuesday to Thursday mid-month date in autumn or winter usually costs least. Fridays, month-ends, weekends, bank holidays and summer dates are the busiest and most expensive slots for removal firms.
Can I book a removal company at short notice?
Yes, if a firm has a crew and van free. Parking is the harder part: Greenwich needs 10 working days for a bay suspension, and Lewisham adds a £62 fee to short-notice applications.
Do removal companies charge extra for tolls and ULEZ?
Many firms add tolls, clean-air charges and parking suspensions as extras rather than including them in the base price. Ask for each one as a separate line on the written quote.
What size van do I need for a two-bed flat?
A one-bed flat fits in one Luton van. A two-bed home holds about 25 to 35 cubic metres and needs one large van, while a three-bed can need two vans.
Should I empty drawers before the removal crew arrives?
Empty drawers of heavy, fragile or loose items, as full drawers add weight and can split furniture joints. Light clothing can often stay in, but confirm with your removal firm first.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or financial advice. Removal service pricing, parking suspension rules, council fees, toll charges, ULEZ/LEZ rates, and booking timelines vary by borough, vehicle type, and date, and may change without notice. Readers should verify all details directly with their chosen removal firm, local council, Transport for London, and other relevant authorities before booking or moving. Any mention of specific companies, services, or locations does not imply endorsement. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for decisions made based on this content.
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