How much does a skip permit cost in london?
Permits in London
If you are considering starting a construction, garden improvement or demolition project in London, you may be thinking of hiring a skip – Our guide explains everything you need to know about obtaining the correct permits and licenses to stay on the right side of the law.
Once you’ve decided to hire a skip, researched the best company to use and established the best size for the job at hand, the next stage is to understand where it will be positioned and the potential skip permit you will need.
We’re here to help with all that you need to know
At Proskips we are committed to working with our residential and commercial customers to increase the quality and quantity of materials that are removed through the provisions of our skip hire services throughout all of the UK.
What is a Skip Permit and when do you need one?
A Skip Permit, (or Skip Licence) will be required before you place a skip on any public highway or road or pavement. The reason they’re a requirement is to manage how many are on our roads at any given time in order to maintain sufficient parking levels and access and also control traffic flow.
Do you need a permit if your skip is on your driveway?
You will not need a permit if you placing your skip entirely on private property, which includes on your driveway, or any other part of your private land.
Who applies for and issues Skip Licenses and Permits?
Individual local councils provide Skip Licenses and Permits. In most instances, Proskips will be allowed to apply for the Skip Permit on behalf of our customers. However in some areas, councils require the individual or business hiring the skip to apply for their permit or licence directly. We would recommend you visit your local councils’ website to understand what their process and specific requirements are.
How long do Skip Permits last?
Skip Permits or Licenses last a certain amount of time and each local council grants a specific period before they expire. Permits are generally granted for 7 to 14 days. Most councils are more than happy to allow for this initial period to be extended (for an additional fee), so we would recommend that you contact them in advance if you need more time.
It’s important to remember that the onus is on yourself to do this, failure to extend the permit beyond its initial timeframe allowed by your permit may result in you receiving a significant fine.
How much do Skip Permits cost?
The cost of a Skip Licence or Permit can vary considerably and the biggest contributing factor is where you are based geographically within the UK with London seeing higher prices. For example, in Croydon, a skip Permit costs £66. Also playing a significant role in the cost of a skip license is the council and borough granting the permit. Skip hire road permits in London will in most circumstances start from circa £30 + VAT, however, fees can range up to £165 +VAT.
Each council controls its own licensing fees and Proskips, unfortunately, has no way of influencing or reducing these fees.
How long does it take to obtain a Skip Permit?
It is worth noting that on average and depending on your local borough council, it can take anywhere from 1 – 10 business days to receive your permit from the date of application. Therefore, please plan accordingly and leave yourself plenty of time if you require a Skip License or Permit.
What about parking suspension fees for skips?
In addition to Skip Hire Permit and Licensing fees, you will need to arrange and are liable for a parking bay suspension if a skip is placed on a public highway that is in a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). Just as the cost of a Skip Permit will vary across the country depending on the council granting it, the same can be said for a Parking Bay Suspension.
When planning your waste removal and the delivery of your skip, please ensure that you leave ample time to arrange for a Parking Bay Suspension (if required). This fee is often charged daily, but some boroughs are free. We would recommend that you enquire early on if you need to apply for a Parking Bay Suspension when applying for your Skip License.
How to check if a neighbour’s skip has a permit
If you find yourself in a situation where a neighbour has placed their skip directly outside your home, you will likely want to check if the skip has a license and has been placed there legally. The quickest and easiest way to check this is to visit your local council’s website.
Some councils have an online tool that will tell you if there is a valid license on your road. If you can’t find anything on their website, we would recommend that you phone them directly. There is an excellent chance they may be able to help and provide some information on the skip’s license or lack of one.
What happens if a skip is on the road without a permit?
If your skip is not on private property, then you will be breaking the law if you do not have the appropriate licence or permit. Besides being illegal, your skip may be removed immediately and that would then be an additional wasted expense of paying for a skip that you have not been able to use.
Remember that if it is on your drive or private land, then you do not need a permit. Out of courtesy rather than a legal requirement, you may want to consider informing your neighbours or landlord that you will be having a skip for a while.
Are there any rules or conditions about skip permits?
Depending on the local council that’s granted you a Skip Permit or Licence, there may be certain conditions you need to follow regarding your skip’s license and usage. Such rules are in place for the safety of motorists and pedestrians. You may need to place safety lighting and/or markings on, or around your skip and your permit may also stipulate the use of some or all of the following:
Safety lamps and lighting (to be turned on for night-time)
Reflective markings on the skip
Traffic safety cones placed around the skip’s perimeter
In addition to meeting your skip permit licenses’ conditions, permission and usage of your skip may be subject to additional conditions that need to be adhered to. These include:
The skip’s placement on the public highway or road
The skip’s permitted dimensions
The appropriate care and disposal of the skip’s contents
The safe removal of the skip
If you do not have a licence or comply with your skip license conditions regarding the safety night-time lights and markings etc, then you could be liable for fines up to £1,000.
London Borough Council’s – Permit Information
For more information about the exact fee for a Permit, the specific conditions imposed and the length of time they are valid for in your local London Borough, we have put together a list of key London councils with links to where you can find this up-to-date information.
Barnet Council skip permit
Bexley Council skip permit
Harrow Council skip permit
Lambeth Council skip permit
Camden Council skip permit
Lewisham Council skip permit
Wakefield Council skip permit
Ealing Council skip permit
Enfield Council skip permit
Greenwich Council skip permit
Haringey Council skip permit
Brent Council skip permit
Hounslow Council skip permit
Islington Council skip permit
Redbridge Council skip permit
Richmond Council skip permit
Southwark Council skip permit
Wigan Council skip permit
Merton Council skip permit
