Home movers in London face parking charges of up to £440 to reserve space for removal vans, with costs varying significantly across the capital’s boroughs.
Research by RemovalCompanies.reviews reveals that Haringey charges the highest fee at £440 for two parking bays for one day, including a £280 administration fee. This represents a near-doubling from £220.60 in the previous year.
The analysis compared costs across London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London, finding an average charge of £140.97 for reserving two bays—the space typically required for one removal van. Sutton charges nothing for domestic removals, while the City of London does not publish costs for house moves.
Pricing variations across boroughs
After Haringey, the most expensive councils are Barking and Dagenham at £343.50, Barnet at £310.65, Richmond upon Thames at £229, and Lambeth at £213.93.
The research also found that pricing can depend on who makes the booking. In Islington, residents pay £164.80 for a suspension, while removal companies are charged £320 for the same service.
Notice periods vary from three working days to two weeks, with several boroughs imposing higher fees for late applications.
Rick Davison, founder of RemovalCompanies.reviews, said: “Moving home is expensive enough without finding out you need to pay hundreds of pounds to park the removal van outside your property. In Haringey the charge has nearly doubled in a year, to £440, while in Sutton it costs nothing.”
Implications for property transactions
The findings add to concerns about the overall cost of moving home in the UK. With property transactions already involving significant expenses including stamp duty, legal fees, and removal costs, the additional parking charges represent an often-overlooked expense.
Davison advised prospective movers to check parking rules early in the moving process, confirm whether parking costs are included in removal company quotes, and avoid last-minute applications to prevent additional charges.
The disparity in charges across London boroughs highlights the importance of factoring in local authority fees when budgeting for a property move in the capital.
