A trustworthy hoarding cleaning service holds recognised professional accreditations, carries full professional indemnity insurance, and provides a written, itemised quote after inspecting the property in person. It should also have a documented process for identifying … [Read more...]
How does hoarding clearance differ from a normal house clearance?
Hoarding clearance differs from a normal house clearance in scale, risk, and process. A hoarded property is often packed floor to ceiling, may contain hazardous materials, and requires staged sorting, specialist safety measures, and careful identification of valuables … [Read more...]
How much does a hoarding cleaning service cost in the UK?
A professional hoarding cleaning service in the UK typically costs between £1,000 and £10,000 or more, depending on the volume of belongings, the condition of the property and how much specialist cleaning is needed. Small, low-level cases sit at the lower end, while … [Read more...]
Is it safe to clear a hoarder’s house without help?
It is rarely safe to clear a hoarder's house without professional help. Hoarded properties often contain structural, biological, and legal hazards that are not visible from the doorway, and untrained clearance can injure the person doing it or destroy valuable items. … [Read more...]
What qualifications should a probate valuer hold in the UK?
In the UK, a probate valuer should hold RICS accreditation to provide valuations that HMRC will accept without challenge. For property, this means being a Registered Valuer under the RICS Valuation Global Standards. For contents, art, and antiques, the valuer should … [Read more...]
What happens if HMRC challenges a probate property valuation?
When HMRC challenges a probate property valuation, it typically means the submitted figure is queried as too low, triggering a formal enquiry that can delay the Grant of Probate, result in additional Inheritance Tax liability, and expose the estate to interest and … [Read more...]
What types of property require a valuation for probate in 2026?
For probate purposes in the UK, almost every asset owned by the deceased at the date of death requires a valuation, including all property, whether residential, commercial, jointly owned, or held overseas. The valuation must reflect open market value at the date of … [Read more...]
What does a RICS-compliant probate valuation report include?
A RICS-compliant probate valuation report contains a formal, documented assessment of all assets forming part of a deceased estate, prepared by a RICS-registered valuer in accordance with recognised professional standards and the requirements of HMRC. It covers both … [Read more...]
How do probate valuations work for jointly owned properties?
For probate purposes, a jointly owned property is included in the deceased's estate based on their share of ownership, either half of the property's open market value for joint tenants, or the precise percentage held for tenants in common. The type of joint ownership … [Read more...]
My Friends Say I Am a Hoarder. Could This Be True?
My friends say I am a hoarder. As we grow older, many of us accumulate possessions. Cupboards become crowded, drawers fill with things we might need one day, and garages become storage spaces for items we have not used in years. We keep old clothes, broken … [Read more...]
