Commercial Property Clearance for Landlords and Businesses

How a commercial clearance differs from a house clearance

In a house the contents are mostly furniture and household items. In a commercial space you meet desks in long runs, filing cabinets, shelving, display units, counters, stock that was never sold and a surprising amount of paperwork. Items are heavier, there are more of the same thing, and the building usually has rules about when and how you can use the lifts, the loading bay or the front door.

There is also more than one person to satisfy. The outgoing business wants the job done quickly and cleanly; the landlord or managing agent wants the space returned as agreed in the lease; other tenants in the building want to be left alone to work. Good planning keeps all three happy.

Steps in a typical commercial clearance

• A walk round, in person or by photos and video, to see what is in the space and how it gets out.
• Agreeing what is kept, what is moved to a new site, what goes into storage and what is cleared.
• Checking building rules: lift bookings, loading times, parking and whether insurance proof is needed.
• Dismantling desks, shelving and display units so they come out safely.
• Clearing room by room, then a final walk round so nothing is missed before hand back.

Clearing and moving in one job

Many clearances are really half a relocation. A business moving to a smaller unit might take the best desks and the server cabinet but not the old boardroom table. Because we also run commercial removals, the items that are staying in the business can be taken to the new premises or held in storage at our Birtley yard, and the rest is cleared on the same visit. It saves booking two firms and makes sure nothing ends up in the wrong van.

Working around trading hours and other tenants

If a shop is still open or neighbours in a shared building are working, noise and disruption matter. That is why commercial work is booked in evenings, at weekends or in phases, a floor or a section at a time. Building managers often want to see public liability cover before a crew uses a shared lift or corridor; we can send proof before the day.

For landlords recovering a unit

When a commercial tenant leaves items behind, the landlord needs the unit empty before agents can show it or a fit-out can begin. Tell us who holds the keys, whether anyone needs to be present, and whether any fixtures or fittings belong to the building and must stay. Clear instructions on day one are worth far more than a quick job that removes the wrong things.

What to prepare before the clearance

• An up-to-date list or photos of each room or area.
• Labels on anything that stays, is moving, or belongs to the landlord.
• Confidential paperwork dealt with or boxed and clearly marked before the crew arrives.
• Contact details for the building manager and the times the building is open.

Common questions