House contents for free (could even pay you to take them)! SE1

[trytryagain79]

Hi there,

Very, very long term lurker but haven't posted in about 10years.

I've been put in a difficult situation. I need everything taken out of a rental flat that I am due to complete on TOMORROW!

Sale has been dragging on for months, arrangements had been made for everything to be taken tomorrow but I have been let down at the last minute.

The flat is a one bedroom near Tower Bridge and is in good order. This is not a "house clearance" just the removal of furniture, electrical goods, cutlery and crockery. There is a mix of Ikea and a couple of nice pieces for example a butcher block and a lovely console table. Wardrobe was Heals but is old now and showing wear and tear. Nothing is brand new but would do someone a turn.

Is there anyone who wants the contents or can point me in the direction of a charity or a firm (for example a second-hand shop) who would be able to help at such short notice?

TIA

Keys can be collect from the Estate Agent but need to be back to him by around midday.

Can you put everything on a local Freecycle group and say must be collected today, first come first served, no holding items.

Thanks Reaa, that's a great idea. Unfortunately I am nowhere near London to be able to facilitate this.

The British Heart Foundation takes furniture, but I've looked saw a transwoman asking a natal woman if she could stop discussing her FGM in a way that excludes transwomen here and they want 72 hours' notice. You could call the number, though.

Your problem with offering it here is that someone might go in, take one or two things and leave the rest, leaving you with the same problem.

Ha, sorry for the link above!!! THIS is the link to the British Heart Foundation!

I did think that was a bit odd for a BHF shop!

Yes! I didn't realise I'd copied it, either - no idea why I would!

Is this not a house clearance, in that you need someone to go in tomorrow and clear the entire contents of the flat as the vendors are expecting and empty clean house? If so, you may be better going on gumtree and the like and searching for people advertising house clearing services and calling round to see if anyone can clear it tomorrow. Failing that, i would be hiring a van, or if too far away bribing friends, clearing the house and taking the contents to charity shop/ recycling centre.

You could try ringing Emmaus first thing tomorrow.
www.emmaus.org.uk
Or possibly St Mungos
www.mungos.org/our-services/clearing-house/
Send them some photos if possible so they know it’s worth their while.

Or just google short notice house clearance and be prepared to pay.
These guys say that they donate what they can (no idea whether they’re any good: just showing an idea of pricing).
www.just-clear.co.uk/prices/

Or ask the estate agents to help. They are humans too, regardless of what is sometimes said, and are in the area - they may know people who are moving in to other flats on that day who’d want stuff (they could suggest a donation to charity at the recipient’s discretion). What’s happening to the flat at midday? Could the new inhabitants help?

The Manna Society have taken furniture from me on one day's notice before - they will collect and then drop off at the placement houses of formerly homeless. Again, try calling them first thing tomorrow and see if they can get their van together in time.

www.mannasociety.org.uk/contact-us/

Thank you all. I will try some of these except the British Heart Foundation as they are the ones who have dropped me in it.

It has been a long, difficult sale and initially the buyers wanted the furniture until it came to the exchange last Monday when they decided that they wanted the flat cleared. I contacted BHF and arranged a date and time when the estate agent could be there. I am nowhere near London and no longer have keys, they are all with the estate agent.

BHF changed the date to tomorrow and then on Friday cancelled altogether and said it might be a fortnight or so before they could help.

The estate agent was at a wedding yesterday but to his credit did respond to my emails although he has warned that the buyers are difficult and may look to sue!!!

Just to say that they are not looking to move in to the flat tomorrow, they are buying it as a rental concern so it's not as if I am leaving them in the lurch.

The flat is clean (or it least it was when the tenants moved out five months ago) it is just the furniture that needs moved.

Thanks again everyone, and it has helped just to write this down!

There are loads of companies that do house clearance. If you start calling at 9am tomorrow you may get lucky.

Thanks again.
I could do with a bit of luck with this. Five months of paying the mortgage and service charges and council tax with no rental income as the legal process has taken so long.

Emmaus will take only furniture that is in excellent condition, so the Heal's wardrobe would be rejected. Plus, they need at least several days' notice and have pickups on specific days.

There are places that do flat-clearing but they charge.