Items a removal company won’t move for you

When it comes to moving house, it’s important to understand that there are certain items that removal companies will not transport. These restrictions are in place for the safety of both the movers and your belongings. Typically, removal companies do not move hazardous materials, perishable items, pets, and plants. It may seem frustrating at first, but it’s essential to know why these restrictions exist and how you can safely transport these items during your move.

In this article, we will explain the reasons behind these restrictions and provide tips on how to transport them safely.

Dangerous items

While it may be tempting to pack everything you own and have your removal company take care of it, there are certain items that are generally considered hazardous or dangerous and pose a risk to the health and safety of the movers, as well as to your other belongings.

One common category of prohibited items is flammable, corrosive or explosive materials. These can include compressed gasses, radioactive materials and poisonous substances.

If any of these items listed below need to be moved, then keep in mind that you may have to move them yourself as the removals team won’t be able to handle them due to various safety legislation.

• • Nail polish remover
• • Paints and paint thinner
• • Lighter fluid
• • Petrol
• • Fireworks
• • Oxygen bottles
• • Propane Cylinders
• • Motor oil
• • Matches
• • Radio-pharmaceuticals
• • Cleaning solvents, including liquid bleach
• • Household and car batteries
• • Firearms and ammunition
• • Aerosols
• • Fire extinguishers

Perishable Foods

Simply put, these are the items that may ‘go off’ or decompose during transit. Perishable food shouldn’t be packed onto the removal van as these can spoil during transit causing unpleasant odours and the possibility of damaging other items in the truck. All fridges and freezers that you intend to move will also need to be cleaned and defrosted before being packed.

To save wasting such perishables, consider the following:

• • Eating up the items you have left before moving
• • Giving left overs to friends and family
• • Donating food to charity
• • Transporting these items yourself
• • Disposing of them in the correct manner before moving, i.e. household waste/food bin

Plants

As with perishable foods, you will usually find that removal companies may not transport your plants either. Plants can be very particular to changes in their environment and may wilt or die if placed in a removal truck for any length of time., as the space will become cramped and warm once your furniture is packed in tight, and as plants can not be stacked, they can also take up a lot of space. There is also the added worry of them being knocked or damaged whilst in transit.

If you have a lot of plants to move, it is worth asking your removals company if they can suggest an alternative solution. They maybe able to use a smaller van, just for the purpose of moving your plants.

Instead you may be better off transporting the plants yourself. Our guide on How to Prepare Your House Plants for Moving may be helpful.

Pets

Removal vans are not the most comfortable places and can get very hot, so they are not suitable for transporting pets.

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to plan for their transportation If you have a unique pet, it’s best to speak to a specialist mover who can assist you. For more common pets, moving them yourself may be the easiest solution.

Read our guide to Moving house with your pets for some useful tips and advice.

Valuable or Sentimental Items

While any reputable removal company will have both public liability insurance and Goods in Transit insurance in place, there are some items that are too valuable, sentimental, or priceless to entrust to anyone else. This includes items such as photo albums, family heirlooms, and jewellery. For these items, it is advisable for them to be packed and moved yourself to ensure their safety.

The same applies to electronic gadgets such as tablets, laptops, and computers. Even with precautions, it’s best to keep valuable items close by to minimise any risk of damage during the move. No matter how skilled or experienced the professionals are, there are some things too important to risk.

To make sure that your important documents (such as passports, birth certificates, etc.) and paperwork are safe and easily accessible, pack them in a separate box and keep them close to you at all times.

Check with your home insurance provider to find out if these valuable items will be covered during the move.

Removals throughout London and the southeast

At Casey’s Removals, we are widely regarded as the top company for removals throughout London and the southeast area. Over the years, we have assisted hundreds of people in moving house and have gained a reputation for delivering a professional and reasonably priced removals service. Our team are highly experienced in packing and transporting a wide range of items, including delicate and sentimental possessions. Additionally, we provide full insurance coverage for all your belongings, giving you peace of mind in case of any unforeseen circumstances during the move.

Contact Us

If you’re unsure about which items removal companies are unable to move, feel free to contact our team for more information. We can provide you with a comprehensive list of items that we cannot pack or transport in our removal vans. You can reach us at 020 8659 6677 or send us a message via our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

If you are moving house across London and the southeast then we can offer a competitive quote for our services. Get in touch today.