Landlord's Guide to Skip Hire Between Tenancies

Tenancy turnover is the landlord's worst logistics problem - old tenants out Saturday, new ones moving in the following week, and a flat full of abandoned sofas, mattresses, broken kitchenware and a stripped garden. Skip hire is almost always the right answer; here's how to use it well.

Skip vs man-and-van for rental clears

Both have their place:

• Man-and-van: good for small clears (a flat with just a sofa + a few bags). 1-hour turnaround. Usually £60-120.
• Skip hire: better for anything over a few bin-bags' worth. Leaves the property ready for decorating. Usually £165-325 depending on size.

For full-flat or full-house clears, skip hire is cheaper per cubic yard and you don't have to schedule the van around a fixed slot.

Typical rental-property skip sizes

Studio or 1-bed flat - mini (2yd)

Usually enough for: the contents of one living room, a bathroom strip, a kitchen tidy, general bin-bagged detritus.

2-bed terrace / end-of-tenancy standard - midi (4yd)

A modal "bad tenant" 2-bed clear typically hits 3-4 cubic yards. Fits a midi with a bit of room to spare.

3-bed semi / full clearance - maxi (8yd)

Anywhere with a garden, shed, loft or garage involved - goes straight to a maxi. We see this pattern across our Leeds, Manchester and Bradford rental markets daily.

The Duty of Care trap

As a landlord you're legally the waste producer when you clear a property between tenants. Under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (the "Duty of Care"), you must:

• Transfer the waste only to a registered waste carrier
• Retain a Waste Transfer Note (or Duty of Care receipt) for 2 years minimum
• Describe the waste accurately

If a cheap van-man tips your tenant's old mattress into a hedge, you can be prosecuted for the fly-tipping - not him. Using a licensed operator with a Waste Transfer Note protects you. Our drivers leave one with every collection.

The items that surprise landlords

Mattresses

Since 2023 these attract a £15-25 surcharge per mattress at most transfer stations. Can still go in the skip, just declare them at booking.

Sofas and upholstered furniture

Since January 2023, upholstered items (containing flame-retardant POPs) must go for incineration. Small surcharge applies. See our fridge/mattress/sofa guide.

Fridges and freezers

Never in a skip (degassing required). Book a council bulky-waste slot or pay a specialist WEEE collector.

Mouldy or soaking contents

Fine for the skip but break them down aggressively - they take up disproportionate volume damp.

Abandoned chemicals

Cleaning products, half-used paint, weedkillers under the kitchen sink. All hazardous - needs separate disposal.

Logistics to speed up turnovers

1. Book the skip for the day check-out ends. Drop it on the driveway (no permit) or the road (permit - see permit guide).
2. Clear in one go, not in stages. A full skip in 2 days is cheaper than three mini-clears.
3. Strip before decorating. If you're repainting, get the skip out before the decorators start.
4. Multi-property landlords: ask about trade accounts. At most of our depots, landlords with 5+ properties get slightly reduced rates and priority scheduling.

Compliance paperwork landlords need

For each skip you hire, keep the following for 2 years:

• The booking invoice (proves you paid a licensed operator)
• The Waste Transfer Note (proves waste went through a permitted route)
• Any photographs of unusual items disposed of (cover for deposit-dispute cases)

These documents together cover your Duty of Care obligation. They also make for strong evidence if a departing tenant disputes your deposit deductions for abandoned contents.

Enter your postcode on the homepage for the skip price at your property's local depot.