How to use a removal hoist when moving home in London

Removal hoist

Why might you need to use a removals hoist?

For most house moves, boxes and furniture can simply be carried down the stairs and out the front door. Some bulky or large items might need to be dismantled or manipulated carefully to get them to fit through doorways, but an experienced moving team will usually manage it with no issues.

But what about items that simply won’t fit through regular doorways or around corners? Corner sofas and pianos of all types are the main culprits for this.

There are also issues with tight access in some places, with London in particular often throwing up tricky access situations.

In these cases, a removal hoist may need to be used.

Can I hire a hoist myself or do I need a professional moving company?

We would always strongly recommend using a professional moving firm with experience in using removal hoists. They’ll have their own equipment (or know the best place to hire it) and be fully trained in how to use it safely and competently.

Try to do it yourself and not only will it cost a small fortune to hire the equipment, but you could end up damaging your property and surrounding buildings and vehicles. This kind of damage can potentially be catastrophic, and there’s also the risk to people if a large item is accidentally dropped. It’s just not worth the risk.

Our sister company Kiwi Movers offer a removals hoist service, along with a full range of moving services to get your stuff safely from A to B. Find out more here.

Are removals hoists expensive?

A removal hoist will likely cost several hundred pounds to hire, and there will be a minimum hire period too. This can appear a bit daunting, but it could just about work out a similar price as using a removals company once labour is factored in. But remember, for safety and many other reasons, it’s best to use a professional removals service when a hoist is involved.

There are several different size hoists available depending on the load you need and also the height of your property – which one you choose can affect the hire price.

Do you need a permit for a removals hoist in London?

In some parts of London, you will need to apply for a permit from the local authority. This is because you may need to reserve the bays outside the property or in some cases, position the hoist on the footpath.

This isn’t an issue though if you use a removals company, as they can usually sort the permits on your behalf.

For more information about moving with a hoist, contact Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682.

Watch a removal hoist in action