Piano Removals
Piano Removals Kennington – Man and a Van Kennington
Moving a piano safely is a specialist job. At Man and a Van Kennington we provide dedicated piano removals in Kennington and across London, combining years of local experience with the right equipment, training and insurance to move your piano without stress or damage.
Specialist Piano Removals in Kennington
Pianos are heavy, delicate and awkward to move. The weight is uneven, the casing marks easily and the internal mechanisms can be thrown out of alignment if handled incorrectly. Our team carries out piano moves every week in Kennington’s houses, mansion blocks and new-build developments, so we know the typical access challenges and how to work around them.
Whether you’re moving an upright within the same property, transporting a baby grand to a new home, or clearing a piano from a rental, we plan the move in detail to protect both the instrument and your property.
Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For
Our Kennington piano removals are suitable for:
- Homeowners buying, selling or relocating with a piano
- Renters moving flats where stairs, lifts and tight corridors need careful planning
- Landlords needing pianos moved in or out between tenancies
- Businesses such as bars, hotels, recording studios and event venues
- Students at music colleges or universities moving term-to-term
Whether it’s a cherished family piano, a teaching instrument or a performance grand, we treat every move with the same care and attention.
What Types of Pianos We Move
We handle most domestic and light commercial piano moves, including:
- Upright pianos (full size and compact)
- Baby grand pianos
- Digital pianos and stage pianos
- Console and studio pianos
We also move associated items such as:
- Piano stools and benches
- Music stands and sheet music boxes
- Small practice amps and monitors (where used with digital pianos)
Items We Do Not Move as Standard
For safety, specialist or regulatory reasons, our standard piano removals service does not include:
- Industrial or concert grand pianos requiring cranes or stages
- Organs fixed into buildings or with complex pipework
- Hazardous materials or liquids stored near or in piano benches
- Pianos with severe structural damage that may not withstand moving
If you are unsure whether your instrument is suitable, we can advise during the survey.
Our Step-by-Step Piano Removal Process
1. Enquiry & Quotation
Contact us with details of your piano (type, approximate age and make), current address, destination address and any access notes (stairs, lifts, parking restrictions). Based on this information we provide a clear, no-obligation quote outlining what is included, any access-related considerations and likely timings.
2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite
For many Kennington properties a virtual survey via video call and photos is enough to assess access routes, stairs and door widths. For more complex moves, such as larger baby grands or awkward basement and loft locations, we can arrange an onsite survey to plan the route, identify risks and confirm the equipment and team size required.
3. Packing & Preparation
On the day, our trained team protects your piano and property before anything is moved. Depending on the type of piano, we will:
- Cover the piano in thick moving blankets and secure with straps
- Protect corners and high-risk areas with additional padding
- Use floor protection in hallways and on stairs where needed
- For baby grands: carefully remove and wrap the legs and pedal lyre and secure the lid
4. Loading & Transport
The piano is then manoeuvred using piano trolleys and dollies, with controlled lifting by our professional crews. We plan the route out of the property in advance to minimise turns and strain. In the vehicle, the piano is positioned against a solid surface, fully wrapped, and securely strapped to prevent movement. Your instrument is covered by our goods in transit insurance throughout.
5. Unloading & Placement
At the destination, we reverse the process, carefully bringing the piano into the property and placing it in your chosen room and position. We can offer guidance on sensible positioning regarding radiators and direct sunlight. Once in place, we remove all our protective materials and carry out a brief visual check with you before we leave.
Local Kennington Knowledge
Working in Kennington day in, day out means we understand the area’s housing stock and access challenges. From period terraces off Kennington Road to modern flats near Kennington Park, we know about:
- Narrow communal hallways and staircases
- Basement and loft conversions with tight turns
- Local parking restrictions and loading bays
- Lift sizes and weight limits in local developments
Our local expertise helps us plan realistic timings, secure sensible parking and avoid avoidable delays, keeping your piano move efficient and safe.
Transparent Pricing for Piano Removals
We price piano moves fairly based on:
- Type and size of piano (upright, baby grand, digital)
- Distance between properties
- Access at both ends (number of floors, lifts, tight staircases)
- Parking and any special requirements (e.g. extra porters)
Before you book, you will receive a clear written quote. There are no surprise add-ons on the day as long as the information provided is accurate. If the scope changes (for example additional flights of stairs or extra items), we discuss any price change with you first.
Why Use Professional Piano Movers Instead of DIY?
Attempting to move a piano yourself or with a casual man-and-van can easily lead to:
- Injury from lifting 200–400kg without proper technique
- Damage to the piano’s frame, keys or pedals
- Scratches and dents to walls, bannisters and floors
- Voiding of instrument or home insurance in some cases
Our service provides:
- Trained staff experienced in awkward, heavy moves
- Specialist equipment designed for piano transport
- Goods in transit insurance for your peace of mind
- Efficient planning that saves time and reduces disruption
In short, using a professional piano removal service significantly lowers the risk compared with DIY or ad‑hoc help.
Insurance & Professional Standards
Man and a Van Kennington operates to clear, professional standards:
- Goods in transit insurance covering your piano while it is in our vehicle
- Public liability cover for work at your property and communal areas
- Trained moving teams with regular experience of piano moves
- Well-maintained vehicles and securing equipment
We are open and transparent about our cover and are happy to clarify what is and is not included before you book so you can make an informed decision.
Care, Protection and Sustainability
Looking after your piano and your home is central to how we work. We use high-quality padded covers, floor protectors and securing straps to minimise risk of damage at every stage. Where possible, we reuse protective materials responsibly and reduce unnecessary journeys through efficient route planning, helping to cut our environmental impact while still providing a reliable service.
Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios
Moving House with a Piano
If you are moving home in or around Kennington, we can integrate your piano move into your wider house removal, ensuring it is loaded, transported and unloaded securely alongside your other belongings.
Office, School or Studio Relocations
We regularly support schools, rehearsal spaces, churches and studios when they relocate or reorganise. This can include multiple pianos, digital keyboards and associated equipment, timed around class or rehearsal schedules to minimise disruption.
Urgent and Short-Notice Moves
Sometimes a piano needs to be moved quickly: end of tenancy, last-minute sales or urgent repairs. Subject to availability, we can offer same-day or next-day piano removals in Kennington and nearby areas. Let us know your deadline and we will advise realistically what can be done.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a piano removal in Kennington cost?
The cost depends mainly on the type of piano, access at both properties and the distance travelled. Upright pianos with straightforward ground-floor access are usually the most economical, while baby grands, multiple flights of stairs or complex access will cost more due to extra staff and time. Once we know your details, we provide a clear fixed-price quote so you know exactly what to budget. There are no hidden extras as long as the information given is accurate at the time of booking.
Can you do same-day or urgent piano removals?
Same-day or urgent piano removals are often possible in Kennington, depending on our schedule and the complexity of your move. Simple upright moves with reasonable access are easier to accommodate at short notice than larger grands or properties with challenging stairs. Contact us as soon as you know you need the piano moved, share photos or a quick video of the access, and we will confirm what we can offer and a realistic timescale. We always prioritise safety over speed, even on urgent jobs.
Is my piano insured during the move?
Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is being transported in our vehicle, and our public liability cover applies while we are working on your premises. Insurance is there for serious issues, but our first line of protection is careful planning, proper wrapping and professional handling to prevent problems arising in the first place. We are happy to explain our cover in detail before you book so you can check it sits alongside your own home or instrument insurance.
What’s included in your piano removal service?
Our standard service includes a pre-move assessment, protective wrapping of the piano, floor and property protection where needed, safe loading using appropriate equipment, secure transport, and careful unloading and placement in your chosen position. For baby grands, we also dismantle and wrap legs and pedal lyre as required. Basic placement is included; fine tuning or internal servicing is not part of the move and should be carried out by a qualified piano technician after the instrument has settled in its new location.
How is your service different from a basic man-and-van?
Many casual man-and-van operators are set up for general furniture, not heavy, fragile instruments. We provide trained staff, suitable equipment, goods in transit insurance and established methods specifically for pianos. We assess access in advance, plan safe routes and use proper padding and securing systems to protect both your instrument and your property. In contrast, a basic service may not have the right knowledge, tools or cover, increasing the risk of damage or injury during the move.
How far in advance should I book a piano removal?
Where possible, we recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance, especially if you need a specific date or time slot, such as aligning with a house move or venue booking. This gives us time to conduct any survey, arrange the right team and plan parking. However, we understand that short-notice situations arise, so if you need a piano moved sooner, contact us and we will do our best to fit you in based on our current schedule and the job’s complexity.
