Headline rate
For a 90-140 sqm interwar bungalow or 3-bed semi, expect £8,000 to £15,000 all-in. The rate compresses on softer builds (single skin, no basement, accessible site) and expands on tight inner-city plots with limited skip access. Larger 1930s detached at 180+ sqm regularly clears £18,000.[FMB 2026]
Mechanical vs hand soft-strip
Hand soft-strip first (£15-£25/sqm: cap services, remove fixtures and recoverable materials, separate waste streams), then mechanical demolition with a tracked excavator (£40-£70/sqm). Hand-only demolition is rare; mechanical-without-soft-strip is unsafe and uncompliant. Most contractors price one combined £/sqm rate.
Section 80 notice
Building Act 1984 section 80 requires written notice to the local authority before demolition starts[Building Act 1984]. The authority has 6 weeks to serve a Section 81 counter-notice with conditions (party-wall protection, dust control, hours of work). No fee for the notice itself; failure to serve is a criminal offence.
Realistic recycling rebates
Reclaimed brick £0.25-£0.80 each (only viable in volume on heritage stock). Copper from rewire £4-£6/kg. Steel rebar at scrap rate. Slate roof tiles by the pallet to architectural salvage. Realistic total rebate on a typical 3-bed: £200 to £1,500. Useful but not material.