What removal companies won't move (and what to do instead)

The short answer

Removal companies won't carry anything that could catch fire, explode, leak or harm people, and they won't take living things. Most also ask you to keep cash, important documents and small valuables with you. The rules are there for safety and because goods-in-transit insurance normally excludes these items.

If you are not sure about something, ask when you get your quote. It is far easier to sort out a week before the move than on the doorstep.

Flammable, explosive and hazardous items

Gas bottles and canisters (camping gas, patio heater bottles, BBQ gas), petrol, diesel and paraffin, including fuel left in lawnmowers, strimmers and generators. Empty and run dry any garden machinery before moving day.

Paint, paint thinners, varnish, white spirit, oils and solvents. Opened tins can leak and are flammable. Use up, give away or take them to a household waste recycling centre.

Aerosols, fireworks, matches, lighter fluid and pool or garden chemicals such as weedkiller, bleach and chlorine. These can react or ignite when packed tightly together in a warm van.

Ammunition and firearms are not something a general removal company will carry. They need to be moved in line with the law and your licence.

Living things and food

Pets travel with you, never in the van. Plan their day in advance, whether that is a quiet room, a friend's house or a kennel or cattery for the day.

Plants can usually travel short local distances if they are boxed and stable, but most firms won't take responsibility for them, and they can suffer on longer trips. Many people move their favourite plants in the car.

Fresh and frozen food should be used up before the move. Defrost and dry the freezer at least a day before, so it does not leak on other furniture.

Things you should keep with you

Cash, jewellery, watches and other small valuables. Keep them on you rather than packed in a box among everything else.

Passports, birth certificates, house sale paperwork, keys, bank cards and medication. A clearly marked bag that stays in your car is the simplest way to keep them safe.

Laptops and hard drives with personal or work data. Back them up before the move and carry them with you if you can.

What to do with them

Start a box or a corner of the garage for the things that can't go in the van, so nothing gets packed by mistake. Then deal with them in this order: use up, give away or sell, recycle at your local tip, and move the rest yourself.

Kirklees and Calderdale both run household waste recycling centres, and many sites accept items such as paint, engine oil and gas bottles. Check your council's website for what your nearest site takes, its opening times and any booking rules before you go.

What about items that need special handling?

Some items are not banned but need extra planning, such as pianos, safes, very heavy stone or marble pieces and hot tubs. These are specialist items, and they need the right equipment and enough people to move them safely. They are usually quoted as a separate extra rather than included as standard.

Tell us about any of these when you ask for a quote, with a photo or video and the access route. That lets us say clearly whether we can move it and what it involves. Large gym equipment, American-style fridge freezers and solid wood furniture are fine as standard, but it still helps to mention them.

If you are not sure whether something counts as specialist, ask. It is much better to raise it at the quote stage than to find on the day that an item needs more people or different equipment.

How do you get rid of hazardous items safely?

Start with what you can use up. Use paint for small jobs, finish cleaning products and run garden machinery dry well before the day. Half-used tins and bottles that are still useful can often be given away to neighbours or through local community groups.

For what is left, check your council's household waste recycling centre. Many sites take paint, oils, batteries, gas bottles and fluorescent tubes, but what is accepted and how varies by site and council. Some councils also offer collections for bulky or hazardous waste. Never pour chemicals down a drain or put gas bottles in household bins.

Our moving house checklist suggests clearing this kind of thing early, around eight weeks before your move.

Some items only need emptying rather than throwing away. Oil-filled radiators are fine as they are, paraffin heaters and generators can travel once drained, and patio heaters can go once the gas bottle is removed.

How to move the things that stay with you

Pack one clearly marked bag or box for documents, keys, medication and valuables, and put it in your car before the van is loaded. That way it cannot be packed by mistake. If you are travelling by train, keep it on you.

For pets, a quiet room with the door shut and a note on it works on moving day, or a friend or kennel for the day if you prefer. Our guide on moving house with pets covers this in more detail. For plants, put pots in boxes, wedge them upright and water them a day or two before so they are not dripping in the car.

Medicines deserve their own mention. Pack enough for a few days in your essentials bag, along with your repeat prescription details, in case boxes take longer to unpack than you expect.