You may need to demolish your house for several reasons.
It may be condemned, or you might simply want to rebuild it.
Either way, there’s a cost involved.
Read on to learn the costs of demolishing your house and the steps you need to take to do it.
Cost of demolishing a house
According to multiple sources, the average cost of demolishing a house is approximately £10,000.
A small house costs roughly £7,500. And a large home can cost up to £17,500 or even more.
If you are not planning on rebuilding a home afterwards, you can at least sell the land.
Costs involved when demolishing a house
Council application
You need to inform your council that you plan to demolish a house.
This involves giving a ‘notice of intention’ to demolish. They can either approve it or not.
This process typically costs a couple of hundred pounds. Hillingdon Council, for example, charges £250 for this process.
Paying the demolition specialist
Your demolition experts will undoubtedly command the largest fee, which will be at least £7,000.
These professionals have the equipment and experience to handle everything correctly.
They’ll ensure everyone is safe and that the demolition is completed on time and to a high standard.
Inspection before the demolition begins
Your demolition professionals won’t begin work until demolition professionals have visited your site.
They could charge a call-out fee for this since there’s no guarantee that you (or they) will proceed with the project. Expect this to be a couple of hundred pounds.
They could then return for a more in-depth inspection to analyse:
- Soil
- Utilities
- Neighbouring houses
And more.
Legal fees to negotiate terms with adjoining properties
Your house demolition may impact some of your neighbours.
In this case, you’ll need to put your intention in writing to the neighbour to avoid a property dispute.
There’s no guarantee that your neighbour will consent right away.
In this case, a solicitor or lawyer can help you to negotiate terms and find a fair settlement. This legal expert charges a fee. So, budget accordingly.
Extra services
There are numerous additional services that your demolition experts will charge for.
It’s your choice whether you take them up on this! Examples include:
- Skip hire
- Garden landscaping
- Waste removal.
How to keep demolition costs down
Get several quotes
You should consult with a few demolition contractors before proceeding with the project.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll get the most cost-effective offer on the first attempt!
Compare these prices and see if there’s room for negotiation. It could save you thousands of pounds.
Just ensure you don’t compromise quality at the same time.
Reuse materials afterwards
Your contractor charges a bit less when you allow them to reuse materials from the demolition.
Items such as bricks and tiles are helpful to these experts.
Discuss this with them and see if it helps reduce the price, especially if you don’t need it.
Handle waste yourself
You can handle the disposal of all waste from the demolition. You could hire your skip and then take care of disposing of it.
Your contractor would charge extra for doing this, so if you’re willing to do it yourself, then it’s a brilliant idea.
Just ensure you follow all the correct safety procedures and regulatory requirements.
Focus only on the parts that need demolition
It’s worth deciding whether the entire house needs demolition or just part of it. This will also be included in your application to the council.
If you demolish less of the building, your contractor shouldn’t charge as much. Use your best judgment and get an expert’s opinion, as well.
Can I demolish a house by myself?
No, not unless you are a professional at demolition yourself.
This project requires expensive equipment and thorough training on its use. There are also strict regulatory procedures that you must comply with.
