Upstairs in a converted house? Every flight and turn counts
Every flight between your door and the street is part of the job, so show the surveyor the way in and the way down as well as the rooms.
A converted house is its own kind of flat move. There is a shared front door, the house's old staircase and its turns, and the carry out to the kerb. In Boscombe West about one household in four lives in one. Say "converted house" when you ring.
- The shared front door, and whether anything stands in the hall.
- Every flight and every turn between your door and the street.
- Your own floor, and the biggest piece that has to come down.
- The loft, or any store elsewhere in the building, such as a cellar.
- The walk to the kerb, and where a van can stand.
Will the van need a council application?
Rarely. If the road has yellow lines, the removals team handles the application, and you are told before booking if anything is needed from you. When the other end is in Poole, the few Poole parking rules are set out on their own page.
How it works
Three steps to a written price for a Bournemouth flat
The floor number goes in at the first step.
- Floor and postcodes
- Survey, stairs included
- Written price
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Floor number first
Both postcodes, the floor at each end, a phone number and how many rooms are moving.
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Show every flight down to the kerb
In person or on a video call, show every room, then the stairs, the front door and the walk out to the kerb.
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Match the floor on the written price
Read the written price against what you described. If the floor or the stairs at the new flat turn out different, say so first.
Why do so many Bournemouth moves start with a staircase?
Because near the centre, most homes are flats. In Bournemouth Central ward, three households in four live in a purpose-built block of flats (Census 2021). Westbourne & West Cliff, Boscombe West, and East Cliff & Springbourne are each over half. Littledown & Iford is the other way round: nearly two homes in three there are detached houses.
- Dark teal. A purpose-built block of flats.
- Amber. A flat in a converted or shared house, bedsits included.
- Light teal. A detached, semi-detached or terraced house.
- Grey. Everything else, such as a flat over a shop.
Piano on an upper floor? Grands are moved too
Piano moves are offered, grand pianos included. Show the surveyor the piano and every turn of the stairs, and it is quoted with the rest of the move.
Questions
What if the furniture won't fit, or there's a lift?
Rather ring?
What if a piece of furniture won't go down the stairs?
It can be taken apart for the stairs and put back together at the new home, if required. Point it out at the survey.
What if the building has a lift?
Say so when you ring. The lift, the stairs and the floor are all part of the access, and the access helps set the price.
How far ahead should I ring?
As soon as you have a date or a window, so the survey can be arranged in time, and any council parking the van needs.
Sources for this page, read in November 2026:
- Office for National Statistics: Census 2021, accommodation type by ward (TS044), via the Nomis bulk download
A Bournemouth flat move starts with the floor number
Send the form with both postcodes and the floor at each end, or ring.