Barnet is bigger than people think
The London Borough of Barnet is one of the largest in the capital by population, and it is not one place. It runs from the Hertfordshire boundary at Monken Hadley down through Chipping Barnet, New Barnet and East Barnet, west across Totteridge, Whetstone and Finchley, and out to Mill Hill, Hendon and Golders Green. That is EN4 and EN5 at the top, most of the N postcodes in between, and NW4, NW7 and NW11 at the southern end.
Why it matters for a move: the housing stock changes completely across those few miles, and so does the job. Victorian and Edwardian terraces around New Barnet and Finchley, 1930s semis through Mill Hill and Hendon, large detached houses on the Totteridge and Hadley Wood side, and mansion blocks and conversions towards Golders Green. A crew that has only ever loaded from a driveway will struggle with a third-floor conversion, and vice versa.
The practical constraints are local too. Barnet Hill on the A1000 is genuinely steep and a poor place to be with a fully loaded lorry in traffic. The older streets around Chipping Barnet and Hadley are narrow, with permit parking and no off-street loading. Several areas are conservation areas, where the front of the house cannot simply be blocked with a van all morning without upsetting somebody.
What to look for in a Barnet removals company
The same tests apply here as anywhere, and skipping them is how people end up with a bad day.
A pre-move survey. Nobody can price a house move accurately from a web form. A surveyor, in person or by video, walks every room including the loft and garage, checks access at both ends, and confirms what needs dismantling. If a company will not survey before quoting, expect the price to change on the day.
Three quotes, compared properly. Not just the headline figure: crew size, hours allocated, whether packing materials are included, and VAT. The gap between quotes almost always reflects something real.
Insurance, in writing. Goods in Transit cover for items in the van, and warehouse-keeper liability if anything is going into storage. Ask about the limits and the exclusions, since items packed by the customer are commonly excluded.
Accreditation and trading history. Membership of a recognised trade body, and a company that has been operating long enough to have a track record. We are AIM-accredited and have been working across London for over fifteen years.
A written quotation itemising packing, loading, storage if needed, special handling, and any extras. A verbal price on the phone is not a quotation.
The five things you may actually need
Most people think they are booking "a removal" when what they need is some combination of these.
Barnet removals — the full job for a whole property, priced on volume and access after a survey, with dismantling, wrapping, loading, transport and reassembly.
Barnet man and van — a driver and vehicle charged by the hour, right for a studio flat, a single room, a few large items or a store collection, and wrong for a four-bedroom house. Our guide to how a man and van booking works explains the pricing.
Barnet packing services — full or partial packing, plus boxes, bubble wrap, wardrobe cartons and tape delivered to your door. Worth knowing that self-packed boxes are often excluded from transit insurance.
Barnet storage — containers delivered to your address, loaded by our crew, and held at our monitored facility until you want them back at whichever address you choose.
Barnet handyman — the jobs either side of a move: dismantling and reassembling furniture, shelves, blinds, TV mounting, and the small repairs that decide whether a deposit comes back in full.
Parking, access and the bits that cost money
Access problems are the single most common reason a move costs more than the quote.
- Check the parking situation at both ends. Much of Barnet operates controlled parking zones, and a removals lorry with nowhere legal to stop is an expensive morning. Where a bay suspension is needed, apply to the council in advance, since they rarely arrange these at short notice.
- Measure the awkward things. Doorways, stairwell turns, and lift dimensions if there is one. Sofas and wardrobes that will not fit are discovered at the worst possible moment.
- Flag the specialist items early. Pianos, safes, artwork and large mirrors need specific preparation, and occasionally winching. Mention them at survey stage, not on the day.
- Think about the hill and the traffic. Anything crossing Barnet Hill or the A1000 at rush hour takes longer than the map suggests, and hourly-rate work is charged accordingly.
Beyond Barnet itself
The same container and removals service runs across the neighbouring areas, so a move within or out of the borough is one job rather than two: East Barnet, New Barnet, Hadley Woods, Cockfosters, Totteridge, Whetstone, Finchley, Mill Hill, Hendon, Golders Green, Edgware, Potters Bar and Borehamwood.
If the move is a business rather than a home, our guide to whether your business should move premises covers leases, dilapidations, staff consultation and how to relocate without losing trading days.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book a removal company in Barnet? Four to six weeks before the move, and as soon as you exchange if the date is fixed. Fridays, month ends and the summer months book out first.
How much does a removal cost in Barnet? It depends on volume, access and distance rather than postcode. A whole-property move is priced after a survey; a man and van job is charged hourly. Access, parking and stairs are the factors that move the number most.
Do I need a parking permit for a removal van in Barnet? Often, yes. Much of the borough operates controlled parking zones, and a bay suspension usually has to be arranged with the council in advance. Check the requirement at both addresses as soon as you have a date.
Should I book a man and van or a full removal? Man and van suits a studio, a single room or a few items. A house needs a full removal, because hourly billing across multiple trips usually costs more and comes without packing, a survey or the same insurance.
Can you store my things if the dates do not line up? Yes. Containers are collected from your address, held at our monitored facility, and delivered to whichever address you choose when you are ready.
What areas around Barnet do you cover? All of them, including East Barnet, New Barnet, Hadley Wood, Cockfosters, Totteridge, Whetstone, Finchley, Mill Hill, Hendon, Golders Green, Edgware, Potters Bar and Borehamwood, along with every other London postcode.
Talk to us
RMV Storage & Removals has moved households and businesses across North London for over fifteen years, with house and office removals, man and van work, packing services and materials, handyman jobs and container storage delivered to your door, across every area we cover.
If a move is coming, the moving house checklist sets out the sequence from exchange to arrival. Otherwise get in touch with your dates and postcodes and we will tell you what the job actually needs.
Written by Riki Migliori, Director at RMV Storage & Removals. Originally published September 2015. Fully reviewed and updated summer 2026.