HOUNSLOW based Britannia Leatherbarrows Removals and Storage Ltd has launched a new hold over' removals service that it believes will ease much of the stress created by moving home.

The company has invested over £500,000 in new removals vehicles in May last year which have special demountable vehicle bodies that are designed to allow them to become temporary storage units for household possessions and furniture, so that the loading and unloading can be planned on convenient dates.

Using the service means that the move does not have to revolve immediately around the day of completion of the property transaction.

David Trenchard, Managing Director of Britannia Leatherbarrows and a past President of the British Association of Removal Companies, has led the industry to provide the new service and coined the Hold Over' name for this practical idea.

"Anyone who has moved house and experienced the traumatic rush of packing up, emptying and cleaning their old home by midday on completion day and then waited for the legal process to allow the release of the keys to access their new home will realise the advantages.

"Arriving at the new home with limited hours left in the day but wanting to wipe down shelves and clean through the home before the removal men start delivering the household paraphernalia can be something of a nightmare, particularly if the weather is bad or there are frustrating delays with the solicitors, bank or building society processes."

This creates pressure for all concerned and can turn the experience for the householder into a very stressful and exhausting one.

The Hold Over service was used successfully last year by customers moving to Spain, Portugal and other mainland European countries.

It allows the outgoing removal operation to be done on any day before the completion day so giving time for cleaning the old home, a relaxing lunch and then time to spend checking the new home over and cleaning up ready for the removal team arriving the following day.

Many home movers already plan to spend a night or two with relatives, friends or in a hotel whilst their home is being moved.

The first two hold over' nights are free of charge. Additional hold over' days cost £50 each, which can allow additional time for carpet cleaning, some redecoration or other essential work that is usually best done when the house is empty.

The demountable bodies are kept locked and secure in Britannia Leatherbarrows operating centre until the day of delivery.

For further information on the Hold Over service, contact Britannia Leatherbarrows on 01202 578581 or alternatively, interested parties can visit the website on www.leatherbarrows.co.uk