Usually family or friends will coordinate a good time for a house clearance – time to get together to sift through a home and organise distributing what’s left behind.

Make sure you’re aware of any Will stipulations before doing this.

Local furniture projects, Women’s Refuges, Homestart projects and charity shops may be glad of donations if you are organising a house clearance. Some will charge for collection, others will do it for nothing if they are able to sell items to cover their labour and transport costs.

If you’re dealing with Council property, talk to the Council urgently to be clear on deadlines for returning keys. If there’s no family to take on the house clearance, the Council will organise it.