Difficult clearances in Munich

What does clearing a hoarded flat cost?

Depending on condition, a hoarded flat costs two to three times an ordinary clearance of the same size — usually €2,000 to €4,000 including VAT for a two-room flat. The reason is time and weight: every object is checked individually, and the floor is often covered to a depth of a metre or more.

The hourly rate does not change. What rises is the number of hours and the disposal weight: where an ordinary flat produces 800 kilograms, these produce three to five tonnes. Add protective equipment, occasionally disinfection, and consistently more trips.

We search as we go. In these flats cash, savings books, jewellery and documents routinely lie among what is to be thrown away — not infrequently in significant amounts. All of it is set aside and handed over.

How does a clearance after fire or water damage run?

The insurer first, the clearance second. Report the damage, have it documented, and get the insurer's release before anything is removed. Clearing first can destroy the evidence of the loss — and with it part of the settlement.

Once released, we clear as usual with two differences. Fire debris is heavily contaminated and must be disposed of separately, which raises both the weight and the disposal cost. With water damage it is about speed: soaked furniture, carpet and insulation must come out quickly, or a water loss becomes a mould loss.

We photograph and list everything we remove. That makes settling with the insurer considerably easier — and in a dispute it is what secures the reimbursement.

• Report and document the damage before clearing
• Wait for the insurer's release
• Fire debris and contaminated material are disposed of separately
• We photograph and list everything that leaves the property

What applies to a court-ordered eviction?

An eviction is a judicial enforcement procedure carried out by the court bailiff, not by a clearance company. Here we are the creditor's contractor, not a party to the proceedings. This page describes the process; it is not a service you can simply book.

Under a limited enforcement instruction per § 885a ZPO — often called the "Berlin eviction" — the bailiff only puts the landlord in possession of the property. The landlord then becomes responsible for the items left behind: they must be kept in safekeeping, though liability is limited to intent and gross negligence, and obviously worthless items may be disposed of immediately.

For everything else a deadline applies: if the debtor does not collect the items within one month of the eviction, the landlord may dispose of them. Only then is a full clearance legally unproblematic. Disposing of things earlier risks claims for damages — including for items that look worthless at first glance.

In practice, that means we photograph every item as we clear, pack items for safekeeping separately and supply a list. What happens to that material afterwards is the landlord's decision within those deadlines, not ours.