Guide: the short version
- Busiest weekend
- The middle or third weekend of September
- Second busiest
- The last two weeks of June
- Cheapest term
- Spring, January to March
- Typical hall contract
- 38 to 40 weeks
- Saturday premium
- Ten to fifteen per cent over midweek
What it costs
Everything below includes VAT, the crew, the van, the wrapping, the fuel and the Congestion Charge where it applies.
| Job | Price |
|---|---|
| One room, midweekThe standard band | £150 to £340 |
| One room, Saturday or peak weekendTen to fifteen per cent more, everywhere in London | £180 to £390 |
| Room into storage and backBoth legs, which is the classic June and September pair | £280 to £620 |
The two weekends that matter
Arrivals cluster into the middle or third weekend of September, when almost every hall in London takes its intake at once. Departures cluster into the last two weeks of June, when 38 and 40 week contracts end within days of each other.
Those are the two windows where the constraint is availability rather than price. Book them a month out and you get the slot you want. Book them a week out and you take what is left, which in September is a Sunday evening.
What the quiet months are worth
The spring term, January to March, is the cheapest and easiest time to move anything in London, student or not. Demand across the whole city is at its lowest, crews are available, and a bay suspension application is not competing with anybody.
If you are moving out of a house share that has not worked, or between halls, doing it in February rather than June is worth real money and a much better choice of slot.
The day of the week is the cheapest thing to change
A Saturday costs ten to fifteen per cent more than a Tuesday, everywhere in London, all year. That is not a student premium: it is the same on every job we quote. The last Friday of any month is worse again, because every tenancy in the city ends on it.
For a student with reading week or a gap between exams, a midweek move is usually possible and always cheaper. It is the single easiest saving on this site.
Worth knowing
- Book September arrivals a month out, not a week out
- Book the June move before exams start rather than after they finish
- Move midweek if you possibly can: a Saturday costs ten to fifteen per cent more
- Avoid the last Friday of any month, when every tenancy in London ends at once
- The spring term is the cheapest window in the year for any London move
Term date logistics: common questions
When is the busiest time to move a student in London?
The middle or third weekend of September for arrivals, and the last two weeks of June for departures. Almost every hall in the city turns over inside those two windows, which is why both book out well in advance.
How much cheaper is moving midweek?
Ten to fifteen per cent against a Saturday, which is the same premium we apply on any job rather than something specific to students. The last Friday of a month is the worst slot of all, because every tenancy in London ends on it.
How far ahead should I book?
A month for either of the two peak windows. A week is usually enough at any other time of year, and in the spring term we can often do a small job within a couple of days.
How long is a hall contract?
Typically 38 to 40 weeks, which is why departures bunch so tightly: everyone signed a contract of roughly the same length starting on roughly the same day.
When is the cheapest time of year to move?
The spring term, January to March. Demand across the whole of London is at its lowest, so crews are available, slots are flexible and council suspension applications are not competing with anyone.