What is the cost of skip hire for homeowners?

You’re finally ready to renovate the house. Out with the old, in with the new. Unfortunately, the ‘old’ is large, bulky and needs to be dumped, but skip hire comes at a cost. Here’s a brief look at what raises and lowers skip hire fees, so you can cut the cost to fit your budget.

Do you need a skip hire licence?

Most skips are kept on the road, so a licence is mandatory. The cost depends on your local authority. For example, Haringey Council charges £82.70. Licences are valid for 14-28 days. No licence is necessary if a skip is kept on private land.

Another way to legally avoid paying skip licence fees is through same-day hire and collection services. The skip hire company brings the skip to you, you fill it, and then the company takes it away. This saves time and money spent applying for licences, and stops any worries over finishing the renovation before the licence expires.

How long do you need the skip for?

Skip hire companies like us have no problem with customers keeping skips for up to two weeks. Other companies charge for the duration of the job. If you have a big job that takes weeks or months – like a complete home makeover – then expect higher skip costs.

What skip size do you need?

Skips come in a range of sizes. Our smallest skip is 4 yards, which is perfect for quick jobs like renovating a small garden. Larger skips reach 16 yards, which fits 50 bin bags inside. You can see size comparisons HERE.

Think carefully about which size you need. If you order a skip that’s too small, there will be more trips back and forth to empty it. If you order a skip that’s too big, you’ll spend more money for no reason. Skip hire companies can advise you on the right size for your project.

How heavy is the waste?

It’s a common misconception that bulky items – toilets and sinks – cost more to dump than soil and rubble. You can fit more small waste (soil) into a skip than bulky items (baths), so the weight greatly increases. Dumping waste in landfills currently costs £86.10 per tonne – a £4 increase in two years. [3] Packing the skip with less bulky but heavier waste like soil could mean spending hundreds of pounds at landfills. More information can be found HERE.

Could recycling be cheaper?

We were proud to be voted Construction Recycler Of The Year 2009-2010. It’s our mission to halve the wastage sent to landfill sites. Saving the planet isn’t the only benefit. You could lower disposal costs by recycling items and materials instead of dumping them. Certain boroughs offer free recycling collections, including large items like furniture. If you don’t qualify for free collections, choose the cheap collections that cost £15-£50.

Illegal skip hire costs £1,000

If you ignore skip hire laws, you’ll pay a massive fine. Previously, the fine was £100. The London Councils Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) raised the fine to £200 for illegal skip operation – £400 if not paid within 28 days. More information can be found HERE.

Safety measures must be taken when a skip is on the road. A reputable skip hire company encourages use of the following:

• Reflective markings
• Traffic cones
• Night-time lamps

Each Council has their own regulations. Check with your local authority or risk a £1,000 fine.

Estimating skip hire isn’t easy. With so many factors to consider – skip licences, the skip’s size, duration of hire, waste disposal fees and regulations – it’s hard to determine skip hire costs by yourself.

Why not use the instant quote calculator provided here? Compare different dates and sizes until you find a price that fits your budget.

If you would like to hire a skip in Croydon, South Croydon, Sutton, Wimbledon, Clapham, Wandsworth or Streatham, get in touch with us today.