Moving from a flat presents different challenges than moving from a house—and understanding these differences helps you plan properly, get accurate quotes, and avoid surprises on moving day. While the fundamentals are the same (pack, load, transport, unload), the practical realities can be quite different.
Access: The Biggest Difference
Access is where flat moves and house moves diverge most significantly, and it’s often the factor that most affects timing and cost.
Stairs and Lifts
Houses typically have internal stairs between floors, but everything enters and exits at ground level. Flats, by contrast, often require carrying items up or down communal stairs or using shared lifts—sometimes for multiple floors.
A third-floor flat without a lift means every box, every piece of furniture, and every appliance must be carried up or down three flights of stairs. This takes significantly longer than loading from a ground-floor house, even if the total volume is smaller.
Lifts help, but they come with their own complications. Lifts have size limits—large furniture may not fit. Lifts are shared—you may need to wait for other residents. Some buildings restrict lift use for moves to certain hours. Goods lifts (where they exist) often require booking in advance.
Many removal services charge extra for stairs, typically per flight, because of the additional time and physical effort involved. When getting quotes for a flat move, always specify which floor you’re on and whether there’s a lift.
Parking and Loading
Houses usually have driveways, garages, or at least kerbside access directly outside the property. Flats rarely have this luxury.
Urban flats often face restricted parking (yellow lines, residents’ permits only), limited space (narrow streets, no loading bays), distance from entrance (the van might be 50 or 100 metres from your door), and time restrictions (some areas only allow loading during certain hours).
Every metre between the van and your front door adds time. A 50-metre carry doesn’t sound far, but multiply it by dozens of trips with heavy boxes and furniture, and it adds up. Some moves have required parking several streets away, turning a straightforward job into an all-day affair.
For flat moves, you may need to arrange a parking suspension with your local council—temporarily reserving a space outside the building for the removal van. This typically costs £30-80 and needs to be arranged weeks in advance.
Building Access and Restrictions
Flats in managed buildings often have rules that houses don’t:
Designated moving hours (often 9am-5pm weekdays only). Requirements to book goods lifts or notify building management. Restrictions on using communal areas. Deposits for potential damage to shared spaces. Rules about protecting floors and walls during the move.
Check with your building management or freeholder before booking your move. Discovering on moving day that you can only use the lift between 10am and 4pm could seriously disrupt your plans.
Volume and Van Size
On average, flats contain less stuff than houses—but this isn’t always the case, and assumptions can be dangerous.
Typical Volumes
A studio or one-bedroom flat usually fits in a Medium van (around 6 cubic metres). A two-bedroom flat typically needs a Large van (around 10 cubic metres) or an Extra Large Luton (around 18 cubic metres) if well-furnished. A three-bedroom house often requires an Extra Large van, and larger houses may need multiple trips or vehicles.
But these are generalisations. A minimalist living in a four-bedroom house might have less furniture than someone who’s filled every corner of a one-bedroom flat. What matters is your actual inventory, not the property size.
Storage Space Differences
Houses tend to accumulate more because they have more storage: lofts, garages, sheds, under-stairs cupboards, garden storage. These spaces fill up over years, often with things you forget you own until moving day.
Flats typically have less hidden storage, which can mean less total volume—but also means less room to stash items temporarily while packing. Everything is more visible and more in the way.
Timing Differences
How long a move takes depends more on access than property size. A well-organised flat move with good access can be quicker than a house move with complications.
Flat Move Timings
Ground-floor flat with nearby parking: Similar timing to a small house—the access advantages largely offset each other.
Upper-floor flat with lift: Add 15-30 minutes per floor for the lift cycles, waiting, and manoeuvring furniture in and out.
Upper-floor flat without lift: Add 20-30% to your expected time. A move that would take 3 hours from a ground-floor property might take 4 hours from a third-floor walkup.
Flat with distant parking: Every 50 metres of carry distance can add 30-60 minutes to a typical move.
House Move Timings
Houses generally offer better loading access but often have more volume and more rooms to clear. The loft, garage, and garden shed can each add significant time if they’re full.
A typical house removal for a three-bedroom property takes 5-8 hours with a professional two-person team—but this assumes reasonable access. Add complications and the day stretches longer.
Cost Implications
Flat moves often cost less than house moves simply because there’s usually less to move. But access complications can change this equation.
What Affects Flat Move Costs
Floor level and lift availability: Upper floors without lifts cost more. Parking situation: Distant parking or permit requirements add cost. Building restrictions: Limited hours may require faster (more expensive) service or split moves. Volume: Less stuff generally means lower cost, but don’t underestimate.
What Affects House Move Costs
Total volume: More rooms and storage areas mean more to move. Property access: Narrow driveways, gravel paths, or long distances from road to door. Special items: Houses more often contain pianos, hot tubs, or workshop equipment. Multiple areas to clear: Loft, garage, shed, and garden items add time.
Hidden Cost Factors
Some costs catch people out regardless of property type:
Furniture dismantling: Beds, wardrobes, and flat-pack furniture may need taking apart—especially important for flats where assembled furniture might not fit through doors or into lifts.
Parking suspensions: A cost unique to many flat moves, but occasionally needed for houses on busy roads.
Waiting time: If you’re in a chain and keys are delayed, you pay for movers to wait—this affects both flat and house moves equally.
Practical Considerations
For Flat Moves
Measure doorways and corridors. Flat access routes are often narrower than houses, and furniture that fit when flat-packed may not fit assembled. Know whether your sofa can make it round the stairwell corner before moving day.
Check lift dimensions. If you’re relying on a lift, measure it. Many lifts won’t accommodate a standard double mattress lying flat or a tall wardrobe upright.
Communicate with neighbours. Blocking the communal hallway with boxes affects everyone in the building. Giving neighbours notice is courteous and reduces friction.
Book building access early. If your building requires advance notice or goods lift booking, don’t leave it until the last minute.
For House Moves
Don’t forget the outdoor spaces. Lofts, garages, sheds, and gardens often contain more than people remember. Walk through every space when creating your inventory.
Check driveway access. Can a large van actually get up your driveway? Are there overhanging trees, narrow gates, or tight turns? If the van can’t get close, the move takes longer.
Consider the garden. Garden furniture, tools, plants, and outdoor toys all need moving—and they’re often dirty or awkward to handle. Decide what’s coming and what’s being left or disposed of.
Choosing the Right Service
Both flat moves and house moves are well-suited to man and van services—the key is matching the service level to your specific situation.
For a straightforward flat move with reasonable access, a two-person team with a Medium or Large van handles most situations efficiently.
For a flat with challenging access (high floor, no lift, distant parking), consider whether a larger team might complete the job faster and therefore more cost-effectively.
For a house move, an Extra Large van with two movers is the standard starting point, scaling up for larger properties or significant complications.
The best approach is to be completely honest about your situation when getting quotes. Describe your floor level, parking situation, lift availability, and any building restrictions. Accurate information leads to accurate quotes—and no surprises on the day.
Whether you’re moving from a flat or a house, you can get an instant quote based on your specific property and requirements.
