Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

Got A Lot Of Rubbish? Skip Hire Could Be The Answer

12th June 2020

With ever-growing queues at recycling centres and current restrictions on the amount and type of waste that you can dispose of, waste disposal can be a problem. Skip hire may seem like an extreme solution to a minor problem, but it could actually save you time, money and inconvenience in the longer term. Here are some of the top times that you should consider hiring a skip for an easy life.

Garden clearance

It is truly remarkable how much waste can be generated when you clear out your garden. From branches to tree trunks, grass clippings and brambles to rocks and rubble, a small skip is a convenient, time-saving and low-mess way of storing and disposing of your waste. Plus, there is nothing as satisfying as having a skip full of greenery to show for your day’s work.

Renovations and extensions

From small scale room renovations to full extensions, skips come in all shapes and sizes to meet your needs. They make it simple to store obsolete units, materials, white goods, earth and stone while you get on with the job at hand, without having to undertake a multitude of time-consuming trips to the recycling centre.

Driveway installation or wall construction

Driveway installation is a relatively simple process that creates a lot of waste. Usually your driveway installer will need to remove the old driveway before laying the new one. At the very least, a layer of soil will need to be removed before the installation can start. A small skip is a perfect way to streamline the process. What’s more, a lot of the waste material from driveway installation or external wall demolition and reconstruction can be reused; you can reduce your carbon footprint by limiting numerous trips to the dump as well as recycling your waste efficiently.

House clearance

Whether you are clearing a property post-tenancy or you have bought a property that is partially furnished, dealing with stained carpets, outdated avocado bathroom suites and worn out furniture may seem more than a little daunting. Skip hire will help you to get this pretty grubby job done. Glove up, get a team of helpers and you can have the property cleared in no time. No moving items to a van or car, driving to the tip, unloading and repeating; the job will be done and dusted in one clear swoop.

If you are having work done, speak to your tradesperson and see if hiring a skip would help you to save time on labour hours and waste disposal. If you would like to find a skip hire company that you can rely on, check out Trust A Trader’s directory of rated, vetted traders.

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Looking for more homeowner advice advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.
Which home improvements add the most value to a property?

Improvements that add usable space or modernise the rooms buyers scrutinise most tend to deliver the strongest returns. Loft conversions consistently top the list - adding a bedroom and bathroom can add more value than the work costs in many areas. Kitchen and bathroom updates are next. Open-plan ground-floor extensions connecting to a kitchen-diner have become one of the most sought-after layouts in UK family homes. And energy improvements - insulation, a new boiler, solar panels - are increasingly influencing buyer decisions as running costs become a bigger part of the conversation.
Should I renovate my home or move house?

There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.
What does a home survey actually cover and do I need one when buying?

A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.
What should I do before starting any major home improvement project?

Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold and why does it matter for home improvements?

If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.

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