FAQs

Quotes, surveys and getting started

How do I get a quote for my move in Liverpool?

Call our Knowsley team on 0151 482 0432 or complete the online enquiry form and we will come back to you. For most house moves and all office moves we arrange a free survey, either at your property or by video, at a time that suits you. You then get a clear written quote covering crew, vehicles, packing materials and any storage you need.

Who carries out the survey?

Your survey is carried out by John McCormick, our Move Surveyor, who is usually your first point of contact. John checks access, parking and timings at both properties along with anything needing special handling, so the crew arrive fully prepared and there are no surprises on the day.

Is the survey free, and am I under any obligation to book?

Yes. Surveys and quotes are free and there is no obligation to book with us.

What is the difference between a home survey and a video survey?

A home survey is where John visits your property in person. A video survey covers the same ground over a video call at a time that suits you, which is often quicker and easier to arrange. Both are free, and both let us quote properly rather than guessing.

How long does a survey take?

Not long, and it is time well spent. Our surveyor works through the property room by room, noting what is being moved, access at both ends, parking and anything that needs dismantling or special handling. Larger homes take longer than smaller ones. A video survey covers the same ground and is usually quicker, because there is no travel involved.

How quickly will I get my written quote after the survey?

We aim to get your written quote over to you while the details of the visit are still fresh. Once issued, your quote holds for 28 days from the date on it.

How far in advance should I book my removal?

Two weeks is the minimum we would suggest, but book as soon as you have a firm date. Fridays, month ends, summer and bank holiday weekends fill up first. City centre and larger office moves need longer, because lift bookings and parking arrangements have to be made in advance. If your move is sooner than that, call us anyway and we will check what we have available.

What makes the price go up or down?

Every move is priced individually after a survey rather than off a standard rate card. The main things that move the number are the size of your home and the volume going, the distance between the two addresses, access at both ends such as stairs, lifts, long carries or narrow streets, how much packing you want us to do, whether you need storage between dates, any specialist items like a piano or a safe, and the time of week and year.

Can you provide a quote at short notice?

Where we can, yes. A video survey makes it easier to turn a quote around quickly, so call the Knowsley team and we will do our best.

House removals across Liverpool and Merseyside

Do you handle moves of any size?

Yes. We move everything from a single room or a student flat through to full five bedroom houses, and our storage sizing goes up to the contents of an eight bedroom home. No move is too big or too small.

Which areas do you cover?

We are based at Knowsley Business Park, right by Junction 4 of the M57, which puts Liverpool, the whole of Merseyside and the wider North West within easy reach. Across Knowsley we cover Huyton, Kirkby, Prescot, Whiston and Halewood. Across Sefton we cover Bootle, Crosby, Maghull, Formby and Southport. Across St Helens we cover the town itself, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown and Haydock. We also move nationally across the UK and overseas.

Do you move within Liverpool city centre?

Yes, regularly. City centre moves need more planning than suburban ones, because of loading bay access, service yards, lift bookings and parking restrictions. All of that is checked at survey and arranged in advance, so the day itself runs to plan rather than being sorted out on the pavement.

Can you move me from a flat or apartment with limited access?

Yes. We move from flats and apartments across the city regularly, from converted terraces in Bootle to penthouse apartments, and access is planned carefully in advance. Where a large lorry cannot get close enough, we use smaller vehicles to shuttle instead.

What happens on moving day?

Our crew arrive on time and in uniform. Before anything is moved they protect your home with covers on carpets, floors, radiators, bannisters and doors. Furniture is wrapped individually, loaded and secured for transit, then carried into the correct rooms at your new home.

Can you move me on a weekend or on a specific date?

We always aim to move you on the date you want. Normal removal hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, so a move on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, or one that runs outside those hours, carries an additional charge. Tell us your preferred date at the enquiry stage and we will build it into the quote. Popular dates go quickly.

Can you dismantle and reassemble furniture?

Yes. Anything needing dismantling is noted at survey so the crew arrive with the right tools and it is priced in from the start. Beds, wardrobes and flat pack furniture are routine, and on office moves we dismantle and reassemble desks and workstations as standard.

Do you disconnect and reconnect appliances such as washing machines and cookers?

Tell us when you book and we will note it on your move plan. Gas appliances are a special case: by law these must be disconnected and reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer, so arrange that separately if your cooker or hob runs on gas.

What happens if my completion is delayed on moving day?

Delays happen and we plan for them. We will keep you updated and wait where we reasonably can, though extended waiting time is chargeable. If the keys do not come through at all, we can take your belongings into our Knowsley warehouse and deliver once you have access. Storage and redelivery in that situation are charged as additional services, so tell us early if a delay looks likely.

Do you arrange parking suspensions or dispensations for the removal vehicle?

Parking is checked at survey, because getting the vehicle close to the door saves time and money on the day. Where a bay suspension or dispensation is needed, particularly for city centre and terraced street addresses, it is applied for through the local council, and councils normally want several working days’ notice. Any suspension or meter charges are passed on at cost.

Will you move houseplants?

Yes, on UK moves we can move your houseplants. Plants cannot be shipped on international moves, as they need a licence and are excluded from our standard terms.

Packing, materials and boxes

Do you offer a packing service?

Yes. Our trained packers arrive before moving day, protect your floors, carpets, bannisters and doorways, then wrap and box everything, including individual furniture covers and portable wardrobes for clothes. Packing is a specialist skill, so we recommend leaving it to the professionals.

Can I pack some things myself and leave the rest to you?

Yes, and it is a popular option. With part packing we handle the awkward and fragile items, such as china, glass, pictures and electronics, and you take care of the straightforward boxes yourself.

Do you sell packing materials and boxes?

Yes, and you do not need to be moving or storing with us to buy them. We stock single walled boxes for lighter items and double walled for heavier loads such as books, in a range of sizes, along with bubble wrap and tape. Everything is made from high quality corrugated cardboard and stacks properly at home, in transit and in storage.

How much should I put in each box?

No more than 20kg. Put heavy items such as books in small boxes and light items in large ones, so nothing gets overloaded. Stack heavy boxes underneath lighter ones, label every box with the room it belongs to, and keep similar items together. Clothes and towels make good free padding.

Do you unpack at the other end?

There is a good reason to ask us to. Under our standard terms, china, glassware and fragile goods are covered only where we have both packed and unpacked them, so unpacking protects you as well as saving you a fortnight living out of boxes. On office moves we unpack and set everything back up as part of the job.

Piano and specialist removals

Do you move pianos?

Yes. We are specialist piano movers and have been moving pianos across Liverpool and Merseyside for over 50 years, from uprights and baby grands to full grands, including a rocking grand piano along the way. Because of the size and weight involved, we always advise using specialists rather than attempting it yourself.

How do you move a piano safely?

We assess access at both ends first, then agree whether parts such as the legs need dismantling. The piano is wrapped in purpose made piano covers and we fit wall protection to the property along the route. An upright piano takes a minimum of two crew, a grand a minimum of three, and we add people where there are stairs, multiple floors or restricted access. Our vehicles have ramps, tail lifts and padded interiors, and we have access to cranes where a lift is the only way in or out.

Can you store a piano?

Yes. We have a designated area for specialist items at our Knowsley warehouse, with breathable protective materials rather than plastic sheeting, so your piano is not sitting in trapped moisture. Short and long term storage are both available.

What other unusual items have you moved?

Over 50 years we have moved museum artefacts, pump engines for canal boats and plenty in between. Our Operations Director helped relocate the bee exhibition from World Museum Liverpool to a museum in Ontario, Canada. Our Knowsley site also has a 20 tonne overhead crane for loading and offloading 20ft and 40ft containers, which matters for larger or part shipped moves.

Do you handle safes, large appliances and other heavy items?

Yes. Heavy and awkward items are noted at survey so the right equipment and crew numbers are in place. We use furniture blankets, dollies, straps and protective wrapping as standard, and specialist lifting equipment where a job needs it.

Office and business removals

Do you handle office and commercial moves in Liverpool?

Yes, and we run two distinct services. Office removals covers workplace moves: desks, workstations, IT, servers, comms, filing and archives. Business removals covers the wider commercial side: retail units, warehouses, industrial premises, hospitality venues and larger fit outs. We have been relocating Liverpool businesses for over 50 years, from independent shops to multi floor headquarters.

Can you move us outside normal working hours to reduce downtime?

Yes. Many of our office moves run in the evenings or over weekends, and retail and hospitality moves often happen overnight, before opening or on quieter trading days. We agree the schedule up front and give you one point of contact who runs the move from first plan to the first morning back at work.

How do you handle IT equipment, servers and comms?

We disconnect, transport and reconnect IT, servers and comms, working alongside your own IT team or provider, and we label everything so it goes back exactly where it should. We recently relocated a Liverpool business to new offices at the Royal Albert Dock, covering the full fit out and their IT, which we disconnected, moved and reconnected so the team were back up and running quickly.

Can the move be carried out in phases?

Yes. Larger relocations are often run floor by floor or department by department, so part of the business keeps trading while the rest moves. We also coordinate multi site moves where stock, equipment and teams need to relocate in sequence rather than all at once, all through a single point of contact.

Can you provide method statements, risk assessments and certificates of insurance?

Yes. We can supply method statements, risk assessments and certificates of insurance for your landlord, building manager or facilities team on request. Every move is fully insured.

How do you protect our old and new premises?

The level of protection is agreed at survey, then we cover doorways, halls, lifts, stairways and high traffic routes at both buildings. Floors get hard wearing sheeting or board, doors and frames are padded and fixed without leaving marks, and everything is removed once the move is finished. This matters most where a lease and a dilapidations clause are involved.

How do you keep confidential documents secure during an office move?

Confidential records are handled in line with GDPR and tracked throughout, and where you are clearing out old paperwork as part of the move we can shred it securely and issue certificates of destruction. Records that need to go into storage rather than straight to the new premises are held at our own Knowsley site.

Secure shredding and document destruction

Do you offer confidential shredding?

Yes, for businesses and households. Documents are collected and loaded onto our secure vehicles, then taken to our Knowsley depot for destruction using the latest shredding equipment. We are accredited to BS EN 15713, the standard for secure destruction of confidential material, and all staff involved are fully qualified and safety trained.

Do you offer one off shredding or regular collections?

Both. One off shredding suits an office clear out or a house move, and regular scheduled collections suit medium and larger businesses. We visit as often as you need.

Will I get proof that my documents were destroyed?

Yes. After every shredding job we issue a certificate of destruction, so you can demonstrate compliance and keep an audit trail showing your information handling policy meets current legislation.

Can you shred household documents as well as business ones?

Yes. With identity fraud on the rise, sensitive paperwork piles up at home and needs destroying properly rather than going in the recycling. We collect from your home and take it straight to our depot. If you need time to sort through it first, we can store it in the meantime and shred whatever you decide to dispose of.

Storage in Liverpool

What types of storage do you offer?

Four. Household storage in sealed containers for moves and renovations, self storage units with 24 hour access for regular use, mobile storage where we bring a unit to your door, and business storage for stock, equipment, furniture and documents. All of it is held at our own site in Knowsley.

Where is your storage facility?

Everything is held at our own 10 acre site at Knowsley Business Park, Randles Road, Knowsley L34 9HX, which includes a 48,000 square foot warehouse. We have been on this site since 2007 and it is ours, not a third party facility.

How secure is your storage?

Our yard is often referred to as Fort Knox by visiting clients, which we take as a compliment. There are on site security guards and constant patrols, full CCTV coverage, gated access, a complete secure perimeter fence, an intelligent alarm system and fire alarm systems throughout. Self storage and business storage units are individually alarmed on top of that, insulated against the cold and vented against damp, self contained and lockable with two separate locking hoops.

What is the difference between household storage and self storage?

With household storage, our crew wrap and pack your belongings at your home and load them into containers, which are inventoried and sealed on site before being taken to Knowsley and unloaded mechanically. Nothing is handled again until you want it back. With self storage, you have your own private unit and your own key, and you come and go as you please.

How much does storage cost?

Household storage containers hold 7 cubic metres, about 35 square feet, and start from £8.00 per week. An average home needs three to four containers, and the longer you store, the cheaper the weekly rate. Mobile storage is £30 for collection, £30 for delivery and £10 per week for storage, with an extra £20 if you want one of our team to help you load. Those mobile prices include VAT.

What sizes do your storage units come in?

From 35 square foot containers up to 8,000 square foot spaces, so we can hold a few boxes, the contents of an eight bedroom house or a full commercial stock holding. You can upgrade or downgrade your unit at any point if your needs change.

Can I access my belongings while they are in storage?

It depends which service you use. Self storage units have 24 hour access with your own key, and you can come and go as often as you like at no extra charge. Mobile storage units can be accessed free of charge with 48 hours’ written notice. Household storage containers are sealed and stacked, so we need notice to bring yours down.

What is mobile storage and how does it work?

We bring a mobile storage unit to your door, you load it at your own pace, and we collect it and store it in our warehouse. It saves the cost of van hire and the effort of loading twice, which also reduces the chance of damage. Each unit holds the equivalent of a 35 square foot store room. We can supply packing materials and send someone to help you load if you want it.

Is there a minimum storage period or a deposit?

No deposits, no solicitors and no long term contracts. You sign a simple agreement, move in, and move out whenever you want, paying only for the time you have stored with us. When you want to close the account we ask for at least 10 working days’ notice, and charges run to the date the notice takes effect.

How many self storage units do you have?

We invested in our first 18 units with 24 hour access in 2015, and they stayed occupied almost continuously. Demand kept building, so we recently added 29 more to the same specification, giving us 47 in total. They are filling quickly.

Can you store business stock, equipment and archives?

Yes. We hold documents, records, office furniture, tools, machinery, merchandise and stock. Units are easy access with your own key, individually alarmed, and we can collect from your premises and deliver to your new address when you are ready. Where documents reach the end of their retention period we can arrange secure shredding and recycling.

Do you offer student storage?

Yes. Self storage and mobile storage both work well between terms, over the summer or during a gap year. With mobile storage we collect from your student accommodation and bring everything back when you are ready, so you are not moving your possessions home and back again a few months later.

Are my goods insured while they are in storage?

Our liability while your goods are with us is limited, in the same way as during a move, so we recommend arranging cover. We offer competitive insurance rates alongside our storage, and cover can be arranged for goods in transit and in store together, which is usually simplest where storage sits between two moves.

Moving abroad: European and international removals

Do you handle removals to Europe?

Yes, and it is one of our strongest areas. As well as being full members of the British Association of Removers, we are members of the European Moving Group, a network of European movers running over 1,500 vehicles and employing more than 8,000 staff between them. Over the past five decades we have moved customers to every country in Europe.

Which countries do you ship to worldwide?

We ship worldwide, with dedicated guides for Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, South Africa, the UAE and the USA, and across Europe for Belgium, Cyprus, Eastern Europe, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Scandinavia and Switzerland.

What is the difference between a full container and a shared load?

A sole use container is reserved for your belongings alone and is normally packed outside your home, sealed there and taken straight to the docks. If your move will not fill a container, we take your effects to our consolidation warehouse and load them alongside others heading the same way, which costs less but takes longer. We advise which suits your move at the pre move survey.

Can I track my belongings while they are in transit?

Within Europe, yes. All our vehicles carry sat nav and advanced GPS tracking, so we can see where your cargo is at every stage of its journey. European moves are handled by a team of two trained removal staff from collection through to delivery.

How are my belongings protected for an overseas move?

Small items are wrapped in paper and packed into strong cartons. Furniture and larger pieces are wrapped in multi layer export grade wrappers, with card added where needed, and high value or unusual items can be protected further with custom built casing. Everything is then marked with your name, the destination and its inventory number.

Can you ship a car or other large items overseas?

Yes. Your car can travel in your own sole use container or as part of a shared consignment. Anything you need urgently at the other end can go by air freight, packed into airline approved cartons or cases. Large or unusual items are identified at survey so the right materials and equipment are ready.

Is my money protected if I pay in advance for an overseas move?

Yes. As part of Britannia Movers International, payments are covered by the pre payment bond, which means money you pay for your removal is held securely until your goods arrive safely at their destination. That protection sits alongside the British Association of Removers Advance Payment Guarantee scheme.

Do you handle customs paperwork?

Yes. We provide a door to door service and handle the customs paperwork and documentation, and we can advise on country specific legislation, restrictions and procedures, which matters most for non EU destinations.

Do you offer storage at the destination?

Yes. Through the Britannia network of global partners we can arrange storage in your destination country, and we can hold goods at Knowsley before they ship or after they arrive back in the UK.

Insurance and protecting your belongings

Are my belongings insured during the move?

Our liability is set out in your contract and limited to a fixed amount per item, which is not the same as insurance. We recommend arranging cover for the full value of your belongings and can arrange it for you on request. That policy sits alongside your removals contract rather than inside it.

What level of cover is included as standard?

Where we are negligent or in breach of contract, standard liability is up to £40 for each item lost or damaged. An item means the entire contents of a box, carton or similar container rather than each object inside it, so a box of glassware counts as one item. That limit exists because we do not know what your belongings are worth, and it is reflected in what we charge. For most households it sits well below replacement value, which is why we recommend arranging proper cover.

Can I increase the cover for high value items?

Yes. We can agree a higher limit of liability in writing before work starts, and the price is adjusted to reflect it. Tell us about anything unusually valuable at survey rather than on the day, so it can be priced and planned properly.

Does the cover change if I pack the items myself?

Yes, and this is the most important thing to understand before deciding to self pack. China, glassware and fragile goods are covered only where we have both packed and unpacked them. Anything you pack yourself, or anything left inside wardrobes, drawers or appliances, is treated differently. Where an accident would have damaged an owner packed item regardless of how well it was packed, liability is capped at £40 per item or the actual value allowing for age and condition, whichever is lower.

What should I do if something is damaged?

Tell us straight away. Check your belongings as soon as you can and put anything you find in writing as soon as it comes to light, and in any event within 7 days of delivery, with enough detail for us to investigate. If you collect your goods yourself, damage has to be raised in writing at the moment they are handed over.

How do I make a claim?

Contact our Knowsley office in writing within the timescales above. Claims are handled personally by Ashley Fleet, our Office Manager, who has been with the business for 24 years. If your goods were covered by a policy we arranged, the claim goes to the insurer under that policy. If we cannot resolve a dispute between us, you can refer it to the low cost independent dispute resolution scheme run by the British Association of Removers, which is one of the practical benefits of using a BAR member.

Payment, booking and cancellation

How and when do I pay?

Payment is due in full in cleared funds at the time you book, unless we agree otherwise in writing. That advance payment is protected under the British Association of Removers Advance Payment Guarantee scheme, so your money is safeguarded between booking and moving day. Overdue balances carry an administration fee, which will not exceed £50.

Do you require a deposit?

Our standard removals terms ask for payment in full at booking rather than a deposit, and that payment is protected under the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee scheme. Storage is different: there are no deposits and no long term contracts on our storage units.

What is your cancellation policy?

It depends how much notice you give, because once a slot is booked we are turning other work away and rostering crew. More than 10 working days before your move there is no charge. Between 6 and 10 working days, 30% of the charges apply. Between 2 and 5 working days, 60%. Within 1 working day, 75%. On the day itself or once work has started, the full amount is payable. Working days means Monday to Friday, excluding weekends and public holidays.

Can I reschedule if my dates change?

Get in touch as soon as you know. Chains move and dates slip, and the earlier you tell us, the better the chance of holding your crew and vehicle for the new date. Postponement is treated the same as cancellation for charging purposes, so the notice bands above apply. More than 10 working days’ notice and there is nothing to pay.

About Britannia Fleet

How long has Britannia Fleet been in business?

We were founded in 1972 by Mal Fleet and have been moving Liverpool and Merseyside ever since, over 50 years and three generations of the same family. Our vans even appeared in the very first episode of Brookside, moving new neighbours into Brookside Close.

Who runs the company?

Mal Fleet is Managing Director, having taken over from his father in 2006 after starting out working on the vans in his late teens. Mal Fleet Jr is Operations Director, a Class 1 HGV driver and qualified Transport Manager who also started as a porter. Ashley Fleet is Office Manager and has been with the business for 24 years, since starting as a Saturday girl at 16. Chris Dooley is Facilities Manager and joined in 2007. Mal also sits on the board of Britannia Movers International.

Are you a member of the British Association of Removers?

Yes, membership number F011, and we are also members of the BAR Commercial Moving Group under the same number. We hold QSS certification to BS EN 12522 for domestic removals, certificate 20130339, and BS 8522 for commercial moving services, certificate 20130341. Our shredding service is accredited to BS EN 15713. We are also members of the European Moving Group.

Are you part of a larger removals network?

Yes. We joined the Britannia Moving Group in 1996 and trade as Britannia Fleet Removals, while the Fleet family retained complete ownership. Britannia Movers International is the UK’s largest network of owner operated removal companies, with more than 40 locations, shared vehicles, warehousing and destination agents. We are a standalone Merseyside company with our own crews and our own vans, not a franchise and not a branch office.

What other names do you trade under?

The company is incorporated as The Quality Moving Group Ltd and also trades as Fleet Removals, Fleet Business Services, Southport & Formby Removals and F. C. Morgan Removals.

Where can I read reviews from previous customers?

You can read verified reviews on our Google Business Profile, where we hold 4.6 out of 5 from 210 reviews, and on our British Association of Removers profile. Customer comments are also published on the testimonials page of our website.

What are your opening hours?

Our Knowsley office is open 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Moves themselves can run outside those hours by arrangement.