Removals in Southampton

Top Rated Removals Company in Southampton

Shiftify Removals is a Southampton and Hampshire moving company. We handle home moves, office moves, and man and van jobs across the city and the SO postcodes, and further across the UK. Every move is fully insured, every crew is trained and checked, and every price is fixed in writing before we load the van. We know the city’s terraced streets, the waterfront blocks, and the university areas, so your move is planned around the reality of your address. 

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What you get when you book with us

• A fixed price agreed up front, with no hidden fees on the day
• Fully insured moves, with goods in transit and public liability cover
• Trained, checked crews who pack, load, drive, and unload themselves
• Real local knowledge of Southampton streets, access, and parking
• We arrange the parking bay suspension with the council, so the van parks legally outside your door
• Free quotes with no obligation, by phone or video survey

Our removals services in Southampton

We do the whole move, or just the part you need. Tell us the job and we plan around it.

House and home removals

We move families across Southampton and the wider Hampshire area. That includes Victorian terraces around Portswood and Freemantle, family homes in Bitterne and Bassett, and larger houses in the suburbs. Our team packs, loads, drives, and unloads, then places each box in the right room. We move you locally or long distance.

Flat, apartment, and student moves

Southampton is a busy port and university city, so flats and student moves are a big part of our work. The University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University bring thousands of moves each year. We move studios, waterside apartments at Ocean Village, and shared houses near Highfield and the city centre. We plan for the real problems: narrow stairs, no lift, and shared entrances. Tell us the floor and access when you book.

Man and van and small moves

Need something smaller? Our man and van service suits single items, part loads, and small flat moves. It is the budget choice for a few boxes, a sofa collection, or a student move across town, say from Shirley to Bassett. You can book one mover or a two person team.

Office and business moves

We relocate offices, shops, and studios across Southampton with as little downtime as possible. We plan the move around your working hours, label and number every desk, handle IT equipment, and get your team trading again fast. We also offer weekend and out of hours moves so your business keeps running.

Furniture removals

We move furniture of every size, from a single sofa to a full house. We wrap and protect each piece, and we take apart beds, wardrobes, and large items that travel more safely in pieces, then rebuild them at your new home. We also move pianos, safes, and other heavy items with the right equipment.

Packing and boxes

We offer a full packing service, or just the boxes and materials if you would rather pack yourself. We wrap fragile items with proper care, from glassware to pictures, using bubble wrap, furniture blankets, and sturdy cartons. We can unpack at the other end too.

Removals and storage

If your sale and purchase do not line up on the same day, we can store your belongings in the gap. This is common when a chain slips. We offer short and long term storage, priced by the space you use, and we deliver your items when you are ready.

Long distance and overseas moves

Southampton sits on the south coast, which makes it a natural starting point for longer journeys, whether up to London or across the country. We drive your belongings with our own crew, safely and on time, and we can help plan overseas moves too.

How much do removals in Southampton cost?

Your price depends on the size of your home, how far you are going, the access and stairs at both ends, and how much packing you need. Your moving date matters too, because busy dates cost more. We do not use an hourly meter. We give you one fixed price after a free video survey, and that is the price you pay.

What is the cheapest day to move house?

Midweek is the cheapest. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest days, so they cost less and give you a better choice of slot. Fridays, weekends, and the last few days of the month are the busiest and most expensive. If your dates are flexible, book midweek and mid month.

How far in advance should I book my move?

Book around four to six weeks ahead where you can, and earlier for summer or end of month dates. Term time in a university city gets busy fast, so early booking helps. We also take short notice and same day jobs when we have a crew free, so it is always worth asking.

Areas we cover across Southampton

We move homes and offices across the city and the SO postcodes. Below is how we think about the main areas. Local knowledge shapes how we plan each job.

City centre and the waterfront (SO14 and SO15). Waterside apartments at Ocean Village, city centre flats, and homes near WestQuay. Many blocks have lifts and loading bays, and parking is controlled. We plan the loading point and book the service lift where there is one.

Portswood, Highfield, and Swaythling (SO17). The university heartland, full of Victorian terraces and shared student houses. Streets are narrow and parking is tight, and Portswood has an Active Travel Zone that affects the route. We plan access and timing carefully here.

Shirley, Freemantle, and Redbridge (SO15 and SO16). Busy residential areas with a mix of terraces and family homes. Permit parking is common near the centre, so we sort that ahead of the day.

Bitterne, Woolston, and Sholing (SO18 and SO19). Suburbs east of the River Itchen. Woolston also has an Active Travel Zone, so we plan the route around it. Generally better parking than the centre.

Bassett and Lordswood (SO16). Leafy north Southampton with larger family homes and some longer driveways. Straightforward for most moves.

Nearby Hampshire towns. We also cover Eastleigh, Hedge End, Totton, Chandler’s Ford, and Romsey. Note that parking suspensions in these towns go through Hampshire County Council, not the city council, which we explain below.

If your area is not listed, ask us. We very likely still cover it.

What you need to know about moving in Southampton

Getting the local details right is the difference between a smooth day and a day of delays. Here is what matters, in plain terms.

Does the Clean Air Zone affect my move?

For most moves, no. Southampton has a Clean Air Zone that covers the city centre and parts of the A33 and A3024. It is a non charging zone for cars and vans. Only older, non compliant taxis, buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles pay to enter. A standard removal van is not charged. So unlike moving in London or Oxford, you will not see a daily emissions charge added to a Southampton move with us.

Should I arrange parking for the removal van?

We handle this for you. Many Southampton streets are permitted only for pay and display, so we arranged a bay suspension with Southampton City Council to reserve legal space outside your door. If your move is in one of the nearby towns like Eastleigh or Hedge End, the suspension goes through Hampshire County Council instead, which we sort for you. Either way, tell us the postcode and date early, because a suspension needs notice.

University area and student moves

Around Highfield, Portswood, and the city centre, the streets fill with student houses and shared lets. Parking is tight, access is often narrow, and term time is busy. For these moves a man and van or a single van often works better than a full lorry. We plan the timing to avoid the worst of the traffic.

Waterfront flats and older conversions

Ocean Village and the waterfront have modern blocks with lifts and loading bays, which we book ahead. The city’s many Victorian conversions are the opposite, with steep, narrow stairwells and no lift. Tell us the floor and whether there is a lift, and we bring enough crew to carry safely.

Narrow terraced streets

Many of Southampton’s older terraces were built long before removal lorries. If your road is narrow, a large lorry often cannot get close. In that case we use several smaller vans instead. Just flag the access when you request your quote.

What happens on moving day

Here is how a typical move with us runs.

Before the day. We agree your fixed price after a video survey, confirm the date, and sort any parking suspension and access.

We arrive and protect. The crew arrives on time. We lay floor and door protection and wrap furniture with blankets before it moves.

We load. We load in a planned order, sturdy items first, fragile items packed and marked. Nothing goes in loose.

We drive. Your belongings travel in our own vans with our own crew. No agency labour and no last minute subcontractors.

We unload and place. At the new home we carry each item to the right room, so you are not shifting things later. We rebuilt any furniture we took apart.

We check. Before we leave, we walk through with you to make sure everything is where you want it.

How long does a house move take?

Most local moves are done in a day. A two or three bedroom home is usually loaded in the morning and unloaded by the afternoon. Larger homes, longer distances, or tricky access add time. We plan the timing around your property when we quote, so you know what to expect.

Can you take apart and rebuild my furniture?

Yes. We dismantle beds, wardrobes, and other large items that travel more safely in pieces, then rebuild them at your new home. For specialist or flat pack items, the instructions help us reassemble them correctly. Point out anything that needs it when we survey.

What we can and cannot move

We move almost everything in a home or office, including furniture, appliances, antiques, pianos, and office equipment. For safety and legal reasons, there are a few things we cannot take in the van. These include petrol, gas bottles, paint, fireworks, and other flammable liquids. Please drain fuel from mowers and garden tools before the day. Plants and pets are best travelling with you. If you are not sure about an item, just ask us when you book.

A recent Southampton move

We moved a tenant from a shared house in Portswood to a flat near Ocean Village. Portswood street was narrow and permitted only, so we booked a bay suspension with the city council and used a smaller van to get close. At the other end we booked the block’s service lift for our time slot. The move was done in an afternoon with nothing damaged.