House Clearance Cleaning

House clearance cleaning usually means clearing a property of its contents and then cleaning it, ready to sell, let, return to a landlord or council, or hand back to a family member. It's most often needed after a bereavement, when someone moves into a care home, or when a landlord is left with a property full of a previous tenant's belongings.

There's often a deadline – a council or housing association tenancy end date, a sale completion or care home fees running in parallel – so it helps to plan.

Before anything is cleared, secure the property, redirect the post and look for important documents: wills, bank and pension details, insurance policies, deeds, passports and keys. Photographs, letters and sentimental items are irreplaceable, so the family should go through the home before any clearance company starts. Agree among executors and family who will take what.

If the person was a tenant, check the tenancy end date and what the landlord expects, including whether furniture and carpets must be removed.

Items can be divided into those to keep, sell, donate, recycle and dispose of. Charities often collect good-quality furniture with fire labels intact. Many house clearance companies sell items of value and offset that against their charges, but get any valuable items independently valued first.

Only use a clearance company registered as a waste carrier, and ask for a waste transfer note. If waste is fly-tipped, the person who handed it over can be held responsible.

Once the property is empty, a thorough deep clean gets it ready for the next stage. In an empty home this is similar to an end of tenancy clean: every room from top to bottom, inside all cupboards and appliances, kitchens and bathrooms descaled and degreased, windows, skirting boards and floors.

Homes that were lived in by someone elderly or unwell for a long time often have areas that haven't been reached for years – behind furniture, high shelves, inside the oven, under the bath panel – and may have strong smells from carpets and soft furnishings. Carpet cleaning or removal and an oven clean are common extras.

If someone died at home and wasn't found for some time, or there are bodily fluids, specialist cleaning is needed first – see trauma and biohazard cleaning. Heavily cluttered homes may need a hoarder cleaning specialist. Signs of pests should be dealt with by pest control before the final clean.

Some companies offer clearance and cleaning together, which means one point of contact and one booking. Others specialise in one or the other and work with trusted partners. Either works, but make sure each quote is clear about what's included: how many rooms, what's removed, whether carpets and fitted items go, waste disposal, and the cleaning checklist.

If the home is being sold, a clean empty house photographs well and is easier to show. Our guide to cleaning before selling your house has tips for presentation.

Clearing a loved one's home is hard. It's fine to take time, to ask for help, and to hand the practical work to professionals. Organisations such as Cruse Bereavement Support offer free support if you're struggling.