Piano Removals
Piano Removals in Kennington by Kennington Movers
Moving a piano is a specialist job. At Kennington Movers, our dedicated piano removals team handles everything from compact uprights to full-size grand pianos across Kennington and the surrounding areas. We combine local knowledge, proper equipment and trained, professional crews to move your instrument safely, efficiently and with full protection.
Specialist Piano Removal Services in Kennington
A piano is not just heavy; it is delicate, finely balanced and often of great sentimental or financial value. Our piano removals service is designed specifically around these challenges. We use purpose-built piano skates, padded covers, ramps and securing systems to make sure your piano is protected at every stage, whether we are moving it within the same building or across Kennington and beyond.
Every move is planned in detail: access points assessed, floors and walls protected, and the route mapped out to avoid tight turns or hazards. Our crews handle pianos every week and understand how to balance weight, centre of gravity and safe lifting techniques.
Who Our Piano Removals Service Is For
Homeowners
Whether you are moving house, renovating, or simply relocating a piano to another room, we provide careful, discrete assistance. We protect flooring, banisters and doorways, and ensure your piano arrives exactly where you want it, ready to be tuned.
Renters
For tenants in flats and rented homes around Kennington, we routinely manage staircases, communal corridors and restricted access. We liaise with building managers where needed and make sure no damage is caused to shared spaces.
Landlords & Property Managers
We help landlords and agents remove or reposition pianos between lets or during refurbishments. Our teams work to tight schedules, with a focus on minimising disruption to neighbours and other contractors on site.
Businesses & Venues
From schools and colleges to churches, theatres, hotels and music venues, we carry out regular and one-off piano moves. Our team can work outside normal hours where required to avoid disruption to rehearsals, performances or business operations.
Students & Young Musicians
Students moving into or out of accommodation in and around Kennington rely on us for affordable, reliable piano and keyboard removals. We understand budgets can be tight and will always advise on the most cost-effective way to move your instrument safely.
What Our Piano Removals Service Includes
Our standard piano removals service typically covers:
- Upright pianos (all sizes and makes)
- Baby grand pianos
- Grand pianos (including dismantling of legs and lyre where required)
- Digital pianos and stage pianos
- Organs and similar large keyboard instruments (subject to survey)
- Internal moves within a property or building
- Collection, loading, transport and delivery to a new address
Items and Services Typically Excluded
To keep things clear, some items and services sit outside our standard piano removals offering:
- Tuning or technical repairs (we can recommend local tuners where needed)
- Highly specialist antique restoration handling (we may arrange a joint approach with a conservation expert)
- Moves involving cranes or external hoists without prior survey
- Removal of built-in fixtures or structural alterations
- Disposal of unwanted pianos (possible by arrangement and subject to condition and access)
If you are unsure whether your piano or situation is covered, we are happy to discuss it before you commit.
Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process
1. Enquiry & Initial Quote
When you contact Kennington Movers, we will ask a few key questions: piano type, approximate size, current and new address, floor levels, access details and any stairs or lifts. Based on this, we provide an initial estimate and outline the likely approach.
2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite
For many piano moves, we carry out a short video survey using a smartphone. For more complex jobs – tight stairwells, high-value instruments or unusual access – we may visit in person. This survey allows us to plan the exact route and confirm the final price before the move date.
3. Packing & Preparation
On the day, we protect floors and tight corners with blankets or boards. The piano is wrapped in thick, padded covers and secured with heavy-duty straps. For grand and baby grand pianos, we carefully remove legs and the lyre, wrap each part, and mount the body on a specialist piano shoe or skid.
4. Loading & Transport
The piano is moved using professional dollies, skates and ramps, then loaded into one of our purpose-equipped vehicles. Inside the van, we secure the instrument using ratchet straps and additional padding to stop any movement in transit. Our vehicles are maintained to high standards and are fitted with suitable tie points and protection.
5. Unloading & Placement
At the destination, we reverse the process with the same level of care. We place the piano exactly where you want it, reassemble any removed parts and remove all our protective materials. We will advise leaving the piano to settle and then arranging a tuning after it has acclimatised to its new environment.
Transparent, Fair Pricing for Piano Removals
Piano removal costs in Kennington depend mainly on the type of piano, access at both addresses and travel distance. Upright pianos with straightforward ground-floor access are typically the most economical, while larger grand pianos with stairs or complex access will cost more.
We price each job individually rather than offering one-size-fits-all rates. Your quote will clearly set out what is included: collection, labour, transport, delivery, and any additional services agreed in advance. There are no hidden extras; if circumstances change (for example, additional floors or obstacles), we will explain any price adjustment before work continues.
Why Use Professional Piano Movers Instead of DIY or Casual Man-and-Van?
A piano can weigh anywhere from 150kg to well over 400kg. Attempting to move it yourself, or with a general man-and-van who lacks the correct equipment, often leads to injuries, damage to the instrument, and harm to floors, walls and staircases.
Kennington Movers provides:
- Trained crews experienced specifically in moving pianos
- Professional equipment designed for heavy, delicate items
- Goods in transit insurance to protect your instrument
- Public liability cover in case of accidental damage to property
- Proper planning and a safe system of work
In many cases, using a specialist service is far cheaper than repairing a damaged piano or property after a DIY attempt.
Insurance and Professional Standards
Your piano is fully protected while in our care. Kennington Movers carries comprehensive goods in transit insurance covering your instrument from the moment we start handling it until it is safely delivered. We also maintain robust public liability cover to give peace of mind to homeowners, landlords and venue managers.
Our team members receive ongoing training in manual handling, safe lifting techniques and piano-specific procedures. We follow established industry best practice and always work in appropriate team sizes for the piano and access involved.
Care, Protection and Sustainability
We treat every piano as if it were our own. Protective blankets, padded covers and careful strapping are standard on every job, not extras. We take the time to shield floors, doorframes and walls, particularly in period properties and communal areas.
Where possible, we use reusable protective materials and durable equipment to reduce waste. Our vehicles are maintained to run efficiently, and we plan routes intelligently to minimise unnecessary mileage. For pianos that must be disposed of, we explore recycling options where available, rather than automatic landfill.
Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios We Handle
Moving House
Many customers combine our piano removals with a full house move. We can either integrate the piano into your main moving plan or handle it as a separate specialist move, depending on access, dates and complexity. Care is taken to coordinate timings with your wider removals schedule.
Office, School and Venue Relocations
We regularly move pianos during school refurbishments, office relocations and venue fit-outs. This may involve transporting instruments between halls, rehearsal rooms and storage, often around other contractors and tight deadlines. We can work early mornings, evenings or weekends to fit around your timetable.
Urgent or Short-Notice Moves
Sometimes a piano needs to be moved quickly – for example, after a tenancy change, water leak, or last-minute event change. Where our schedule allows, we can offer same-day or next-day piano removals in Kennington. Even on short notice, we still carry out a basic survey and risk assessment to keep everything safe and properly covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a piano removal in Kennington cost?
The cost of a piano removal depends on the piano type (upright, baby grand, grand), access at each property, and the distance between addresses. As a guide, a straightforward local upright piano move with good ground-floor access is at the lower end of our pricing, while larger grand pianos with stairs or tight turns will cost more. We provide a clear, fixed quotation after asking a few questions and, if needed, completing a quick video survey. There are no hidden extras, and any potential additional costs are discussed upfront.
Can you do same-day or urgent piano removals?
Where our schedule allows, we can accommodate same-day or short-notice piano removals in Kennington. Availability depends on crew numbers, vehicle capacity and the complexity of your move. For safety and insurance reasons, we still carry out a brief assessment of the piano type and access before confirming a booking. If we cannot fit you in on the same day, we will always offer the earliest possible alternative and may suggest temporary internal moves or storage options if that helps your situation.
Is my piano insured while you move it?
Yes. Your piano is protected under our goods in transit insurance from the moment we begin handling it until it is delivered and positioned in its new location. In addition, our public liability cover protects against accidental damage to buildings or third-party property. We are happy to confirm cover levels and, for high-value instruments, can note specific details on your paperwork. While we take every possible precaution, this insurance provides an extra layer of reassurance for homeowners, landlords, schools and venues.
What is included in your piano removals service?
Our standard service includes a pre-move assessment, supply and use of protective covers and equipment, safe loading, secure transport in a purpose-equipped vehicle, unloading and careful placement at the new address. For grand and baby grand pianos, we also include dismantling and reassembly of legs and the lyre where necessary. We protect floors and vulnerable areas as part of our normal working methods. Tuning, repairs or restoration are not included, but we can recommend reputable local professionals if you need them after the move.
What is the difference between your service and a man-and-van?
General man-and-van services often lack the specialist training, equipment and insurance needed for piano removals. A piano is both heavy and delicate, and damage can be costly or impossible to fix. At Kennington Movers, our teams are trained in piano handling, use dedicated skids, dollies and padded covers, and work to a planned method. We also carry appropriate goods in transit insurance and public liability cover. This combination of expertise and protection makes our service safer and more reliable than a casual man-and-van approach.
How far in advance should I book a piano removal?
For the best choice of dates and times, we recommend booking your piano removal at least one to two weeks in advance, especially if you need a specific day or are coordinating with a house move or event. That said, we understand that plans can change quickly, so we always try to accommodate shorter notice where our schedule allows. Even for urgent moves, a short survey helps us send the right team and equipment, keeping your piano safe and the move as smooth as possible.
