{"id":748,"date":"2025-08-04T10:34:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T10:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skiphirenetwork.tal-agency.com\/?p=748"},"modified":"2026-02-06T09:20:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T09:20:50","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-a-skip-the-essential-skip-hire-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skiphirenetwork.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-a-skip-the-essential-skip-hire-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need To Know Before Hiring A Skip \u2013 The Essential Skip Hire Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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It\u2019s a question we\u2019re asked a lot here at Skip Hire Network, and the answer can depend on a lot of things! Most skip hire companies will collect their skip within 1 or 2 weeks of delivery, but can do it sooner if you require \u2013 for example, if you only want to hire a skip for a day<\/a>. Here at Skip Hire Network, we\u2019ll provide your skip for 2 weeks as standard. If you need it for longer, make sure you let us know early, and be aware that each additional week is charged at a further \u00a310 + VAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear in mind, there are a couple of other factors that can affect the length of time you can hire a skip. Crucially, you\u2019ll need to be aware of whether you need a skip hire permit, and whether or not you\u2019re in a restricted area. If so, you\u2019ll also need to take that into account. If you\u2019re not sure of the answers to these questions, don\u2019t worry \u2013 below, we\u2019ve provided a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll be covering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Do I need a skip hire permit?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. How long is a skip hire permit valid for?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. How do I get a skip hire permit?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. How much does a skip hire permit cost?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. How long does it take to get a skip hire permit?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. How do I know if I\u2019m in a restricted area?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Right then \u2013 let\u2019s get to the answers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Do You Need A Permit To Hire A Skip?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re planning to place your skip on any public road or pavement with a public right of way \u2013 even if it\u2019s right outside your house \u2013 then yes, you\u2019ll need a skip permit, or skip licence. Failing to arrange this, whether or not it\u2019s an honest mistake, can mean that your skip gets taken away, and you\u2019re liable to be heavily fined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, you won\u2019t need a skip permit if you\u2019ve got a space available on your own private land \u2013 say, your driveway for example. In that case, you can keep the skip for the full maximum of two weeks (if you\u2019re hiring from us, that is). As we touched on above, this also can be even longer, provided you\u2019re happy to pay the extra costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Long Is A Skip Hire Permit Valid For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Skip permits are issued by local councils, and the time limits can vary between each one. Skip permits from Manchester City Council, for example, are valid for an a maximum of seven days. That means if, hypothetically, you\u2019re hiring a skip from us and planning to place it within the city limits, you\u2019ll need to make sure that you\u2019re done with it before this seven-day limit runs out. Alternatively, you can look at whether it\u2019s possible for you to extend or renew the permit past this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Do You Get A Skip Hire Permit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Local councils have different preferences on who they\u2019d prefer to arrange the skip hire permit. Most of them allow the skip hire operator (that\u2019s us) to apply for the permit on your behalf, and that is indeed a service we can provide at Skip Hire Network. Just make sure you let us know for certain whether you\u2019d like us to, one way or the other! In fact, to use Manchester as an example again, they actually prefer that only the operator organise it, rather than the end user. However, others prefer you to arrange it directly, so check with your local council beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Just in case, we\u2019d always recommend calling your local council and enquiring, giving as much detail as possible. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn\u2019t need to, but it\u2019s always best to be on the safe side, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Much Does A Skip Hire Permit Cost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You guessed it \u2013 it varies between councils. Major city centres obviously tend to cost more than more rural areas, and there can be some quite drastic differences in price. Some areas of London, for example, can charge as much as \u00a380 per day, which seems ludicrously high compared to Bristol\u2019s \u00a313 per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It also depends on how long you plan to have your skip on the road for. Like us, most councils tend to issue them for one to two weeks, with additional charges levied for any extensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now, on average the cost of a skip hire licence is about \u00a330. When a skip hire company arranges a permit on your behalf, they\u2019ll generally add a mark-up on the permit price, to cover administration costs. VAT isn\u2019t payable on skip permits, but operators like us are obliged to add VAT when we\u2019re passing on that cost to you. (If nothing else, it\u2019s evidence that we\u2019re VAT registered!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some skip permit prices in a sample of key areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Scotland<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n