Removal firms put under strain as house sales soar

Guernsey’s housing market had a busy spring, with nearly 200 local market sales – the highest first quarter sales since 2007.

Property sales typically rise sharply from April onwards.

Multiple companies have reported they are having to turn down work due to being fully booked.

White & Company in Pitronnerie Road has a fleet of about eight vehicles, and employs about 13 members of staff.

It is are fully booked until mid–August.

Manager Steve Hammer has said that for the last two years, the number of removals has been exceptionally high.

‘Since lockdown, for the past two years, we have been manic on removals,’ he said.

‘We can’t take any more until mid-August. We’re having to turn down work.’

Mr Hammer said that in his time in business in the island, he had never known such a busy period to be sustained for such a long time.

‘Booking eight weeks in advance is unbelievable – it’s a really difficult situation,’ he said.

AJ Removals owner John Wakeham has found his company was in the same situation. The company has a fleet of four vehicles, and has an extremely heavy workload.

‘We have bookings throughout July, August, and even some in September,’ he said.

Mr Wakeham said business had been at current levels since March, and having been working in removals for 23 years, he has found 2022 to be an exceptionally busy year in removals and deliveries.

‘We are booked up already – I have no idea why but it has been like this since March.’

Relocations owner Anthony Austen has said that it in some cases it was a lack of resources, including shortages of staff, which possibly made companies appear busier than they were.

Guernsey’s unemployment rate was less that 300 in April – the lowest number of people since 2018, and a number of sectors have reported to be struggling to fill roles.

‘There aren’t many removal companies on the island, and due to being short-staffed, removals companies may appear to be busier than they actually are.’

Relocations has a workforce of three vehicles, and are fully booked.

But Mr Austen said it was also due to the time of the year.

‘From now until December is when it get busier - January to March is normally quieter.’

Mr Austen also said that it has been more hectic for removals companies since the first lockdown, where there was a backlog of people wanting to use their services.

‘During the first lockdown operations grinded to a halt, as we couldn’t continue to keep working - people could buy houses but they couldn’t use removals services.’

Last year there were 984 local market property transactions. The period April to September had 582 sale - 60% of the yearly total.