A shed clearance in London typically costs from £70 to empty a shed of its contents, rising to around £150–£350 if you also want the shed dismantled and taken away in 2026. As with any man with a van job, the price tracks the volume that leaves on the van, the labour involved, and licensed disposal — a small 6x4 shed of light junk is a world away from a large workshop packed with tools, timber and paving.
Sheds hide a particular mix: rusting garden tools, bags of old compost, tins of creosote and weedkiller, broken furniture and, in older gardens, a roof panel that could contain asbestos. Most of it clears easily. A couple of things need care — and one needs a specialist. This guide walks through all of it.
If you also have garden waste from an overgrown plot, pair the clearance with our garden waste removal so it all goes in one trip.
How Much Does a Shed Clearance Cost?
There are two jobs here — clearing the contents, and removing the structure. Here's what each typically costs across London in 2026:
| Job | Typical London Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Empty a small shed (contents only) | £70–£130 | 1–2 hrs |
| Empty a large shed / workshop | £150–£260 | Half day |
| Contents + dismantle small shed | £180–£280 | Half day |
| Contents + dismantle large shed | £280–£450 | Full day |
*Typical London ranges for guidance, not a fixed quote. Concrete bases, difficult rear-garden access or a suspected asbestos roof change the price — flag these up front. Central London jobs cost more due to parking and congestion charges.
What Shed Contents Can Be Cleared and Recycled?
Most of what a shed holds can be loaded and diverted for reuse or recycling:
Anything still usable is offered for reuse before it's recycled. Only what genuinely can't be saved goes to a licensed transfer station — the same responsible approach we take on every rubbish removal job.
What About Garden Chemicals and Weedkiller?
Sheds are where old garden chemicals go to be forgotten, and they can't go in general waste or on a standard van. Treat these as hazardous:
Take these sealed to your local reuse-and-recycling centre's hazardous waste point (many London sites limit chemical drop-offs to around 5 litres per household per month), and return gas bottles to the supplier. Keep them out of the general clearance pile and the crew will advise on the nearest facility.
Can the Shed Itself Be Dismantled and Taken Away?
Yes — a standard timber shed can be dismantled, broken down and removed in the same visit. Felt roofing, timber panels, the floor and the frame all come apart and the wood is recycled where possible. A concrete base can usually be broken out too, though it's heavy work that adds time and cost, so mention it when booking.
Before anyone starts swinging a crowbar, though, there's one check that comes first — the roof.
Timber shed dismantling includes
- Removing felt, panels, frame and floor
- Loading and recycling the timber
- Clearing screws, brackets and offcuts
- Optional breaking-out of a concrete base (extra)
Asbestos in Older Sheds: What You Must Not Do
Stop before you touch that roof
Many sheds and garages built before the 2000s have corrugated cement roof sheets or panels that contain asbestos cement. While the asbestos is bound in cement and lower-risk when left alone, breaking, drilling, cutting or smashing it releases fibres that are dangerous to breathe. Do not remove, break up or bin an asbestos-cement roof yourself.
If you can't be certain a corrugated grey roof is asbestos-free, treat it as if it is and get it assessed. Asbestos cannot go in general waste or on a standard clearance van.
The safe route
Under Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance, work on asbestos cement is classed as lower-risk, non-licensed work, and in principle a well-informed householder can handle small amounts with strict precautions — kept damp, never broken up, no power tools, proper protective equipment. In practice HSE discourages untrained DIY removal, and for peace of mind most people use a competent contractor. Whoever does it:
- The material must be kept whole and wetted, not snapped or drilled.
- Waste is double-wrapped — a labelled red inner bag and a clear outer bag — and taken to a licensed disposal site. Many London councils collect small quantities of household asbestos by prior arrangement only.
- A licensed asbestos contractor is required for higher-risk asbestos — sprayed coatings, pipe lagging and most asbestos insulating board — and for any large or badly damaged job.
Our position: Van Thats Quick does not remove asbestos. If we spot a suspected asbestos-cement roof during a shed clearance, we'll clear the safe contents and signpost you to a licensed asbestos removal specialist for the roof. It's the only responsible way to handle it.
Why Duty of Care Applies to Shed Waste Too
Even a humble shed clear-out falls under your household duty of care. Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires you to make sure your waste only goes to a registered waste carrier — and if a cut-price operator fly-tips your old fence panels and mower down a country lane, it traces back to you.
Councils can issue householders a fixed penalty of up to £600 for breaching this duty, and fly-tipping itself carries an unlimited fine and up to 5 years in prison in serious cases. With 1.15 million fly-tipping incidents recorded in England in 2023/24 (Defra), it pays to check. Anyone can verify a carrier's registration free on the Environment Agency's public register.
Van Thats Quick clears sheds in line with Environment Agency duty-of-care rules, fully insured, with waste taken only to licensed facilities.
How Can You Tell If Your Shed Roof Contains Asbestos?
You can't confirm asbestos by eye alone — only a lab test on a sample is definitive — but a few clues raise the odds enough to treat a roof with caution. Asbestos cement was widely used in sheds, garages and outbuildings until it was fully banned in the UK in 1999, so age and material are the biggest tells:
- Grey corrugated sheets on a shed or garage built before 2000 are the classic asbestos-cement profile.
- A slightly fibrous, dimpled underside and a hard, brittle feel are typical of cement sheeting rather than modern coated steel or bitumen.
- An old panel with weathered, flaking edges is more of a concern than a clearly modern felt or plastic roof.
If any of those apply and you can't rule it out, assume it could be asbestos and don't disturb it. A specialist can take a sample for testing, and licensed removal specialists can safely remove and dispose of a confirmed asbestos-cement roof. The cost of testing is small next to the health risk of breaking one up in your garden.
Repair, replace or clear?
Once the roof question is settled, deciding what to do with a tired shed is simpler. A sound timber frame with a failed felt roof is often worth re-felting rather than scrapping. A rotten, leaning or water-damaged shed is usually past saving — clear it, deal with any asbestos properly, and start fresh. Either way, get the contents out first: it's far easier to assess the structure, and to dismantle it, once the shed is empty.
Shed Clearance FAQs
How much does shed clearance cost in London?
Clearing shed contents in London typically costs from £70, while clearing plus dismantling and removing the shed usually runs £150–£450 depending on size, base and access. You pay for the volume removed plus labour and licensed disposal.
Can you dismantle my old shed as well as clear it?
Yes — a standard timber shed can be dismantled, broken down and taken away in the same visit, with the wood recycled. A concrete base can usually be broken out for an extra charge. Always mention a suspected asbestos roof first.
My shed roof might be asbestos — can you take it?
No. We don't remove asbestos, and you shouldn't break it up yourself. Older corrugated cement roofs may be asbestos cement, which must be handled with precautions, double-wrapped and taken to a licensed site. We'll clear the safe contents and signpost a licensed asbestos specialist for the roof.
What do I do with old weedkiller and garden chemicals?
Garden chemicals, weedkiller, creosote and solvents are hazardous and can't go on a standard van. Take them sealed to your recycling centre's hazardous point, and return gas bottles to the supplier. Set them aside from the main clearance.
Do you recycle the timber from the shed?
Yes. Sound timber is recycled where possible, along with metal fixings and any usable contents. Only genuinely unusable material goes to a licensed transfer station.
Do I need permission to remove my shed?
For a standard domestic shed on your own property, no — removing it is not something you need council permission for. The exception is if the shed is listed, in a conservation area, or shared with a neighbour, in which case check before you start. Removing a suspected asbestos roof is a safety matter, not a planning one, and should always go to a licensed specialist.
Do you cover my area for shed clearance?
Yes — we clear sheds across every London borough from our Uxbridge base, including Hillingdon, Harrow and beyond. Call 07547 467335 for a quote.
Book Your Shed Clearance
Send a photo of the shed — including the roof — and we'll give you an honest price for clearing and, if you want, dismantling it. Disposal and recycling included.