House Clearance Charges

Ladywriter1968

My Father has gone into a home, after 6wks a review, if all ok get rid of council house. The council charge £70 to do a house clearance. Myself and huband are on benefits and no way we can afford to pay for it, plus I think its wrong anyway that the council charge for this. I rang up a few house clearance places and they also charge, what can I do? Please help? I have no ideas? do you know anyone that collects house clearance for free? I thought of trying to sell the stuff, but dad has my god, so much stuff that it would be impossible, even then thats if anyone would want to buy it in the first place. A lot of the furniture is very bulky as well. I read about house clearance they take up the carpets to, surely the council would not expect me to pull up all the carpetting as well? I am on the sick I cant do it all, I certainly cant move heavy furniture. What I need is to be able to sell it off or have a house clearance that come and do it for free. Unless the council dont charge if we are on benefits? or expect my dad to pay from his benefits cause his name on the house? Or maybe I could tell the council to get stuffed, after all, they want the house, I am gaining nothing by giving them dads stuff for free that they can sell and then paying them to take it to. Any ideas anyone???

poppysarah

Freecycle will get rid of most of the furniture.

but sort through and make sure there's nothing really good quality that you can sell. remove all personal paperwork and shred.

clothes, junk, kitchenalia can all go on freecycle or the charity shop if you can get it there.

The carpets will need taking up and taking the tip - which will cost if you don't have a car. You could discuss leaving the carpets for the council to remove but they will charge you probably for this - ring a bloke in the paper who does rubbish removal to see how much it'd cost.

Seriously use freecycle for the furniture. Someone on my local group just asked for a house full of stuff !

Ask any friends/neighbours if they want any furniture first - always easier if it's got less far to go.

G_M

Either your dad's possessions have some value, in which case you can sell them, or get someone in to clear the house and take the items of value to cover their costs (and perhaps pay your dad if the value is enough), or his possessions have no value, in which case no one is going to take them away for free.

Ladywriter1968

Well I dont know what I will do then, I simply do not have the money. I am on sick benefits, we are struggling as it is to survive.

Jowo_2

With the major pieces of furniture, you may find a housing furniture charity could take them. These are the types of organisation that donate furniture to poor tenants and give work experience to the unemployed.

See if they wouldn't mind uplifting some of the remaining stuff and take it to the tip for you as a favour. I'm not sure that they would but you could always ask if they'll do a run for you.

DVardysShadow

What makes you think they will charge you? BTW do make sure he has not hidden cash under the mattress for his funeral or whatever as some old folk do - before letting anyone clear the house.

justjohn

Try calling a general household auction house they may empty it..

Milliewilly

Ladywriter1968 wrote: »

Well I dont know what I will do then, I simply do not have the money. I am on sick benefits, we are struggling as it is to survive.

Put an advert in freeads that anyone can take what they want on a certain date.

blckbrd

Councils charge for clearance because people have to make arrangements for their own belongings - what ever the circumstances. Without wishing to sound judgemental, why should they pay for it? The place was empty (presumably) when it was let so it should be returned in the same state.

Check if the LA offer any incentives for giving up a council property - some do depending on size and there's usually a cash incentive. Don't know how much or what the timescales/criteria are, though if you don't ask...

The only available help may be a Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund. I'd call leaving the flat empty part of removal expenses which are covered. Your dad would need to claim although you could fill the form on his behalf. Link to printable blank form below:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/sf500_print.pdf

BexInLondon

I don't really see how they can charge YOU unless your name is also on the tenancy. They might try to bully you into paying, but it's not your bill.

g_attrill

BexInLondon wrote: »

I don't really see how they can charge YOU unless your name is also on the tenancy. They might try to bully you into paying, but it's not your bill.

That's what I was thinking... unless she has power of attorney and is signing the release forms for the council? That would still presumably mean he is authorising the cost to him though.

Either way, as mentioned make sure you turn through the house and check that there is no cash or items of value there, also remove and sort all the paperwork, photos, keepsakes etc. Offer the furniture and appliances through Freecycle/Freegle too.