Moving a Melbourne Apartment: Lifts, Loading Docks & Parking
By Move Near Me team ·
Short answer: Apartment moves need early planning. Book the building’s lift as early as your building allows (some need a week or more), and ask about lift padding and time windows. Book the loading dock or work out where the truck can legally park. Check the owners corporation rules for move times. Tell your removalist the floor, lift size, access arrangements and parking when you get a quote.
Apartment moves in Melbourne are different from house moves because buildings have shared spaces and their own rules.
Before you book removalists
- Contact the building manager or owners corporation: ask how to book the lift and loading dock, how far ahead, and whether there’s a form or fee
- Read the building rules: look for allowed move days and times, padding requirements and any bond or fee the building charges
- Measure the lift: door width, car width, depth and height. Compare with your biggest items (sofa, fridge, wardrobe, mattress)
- Work out parking: is there a loading dock? If not, where can a truck legally stop? Check signs for clearways, tram lanes and loading zones
- Check access: who will let the removalists in, and do they need a fob, key or code?
- Do the same for the other address if you’re moving into another apartment
Lift bookings: questions to ask
When you contact the building manager:
- How far ahead do I need to book? It varies. Book as early as your building allows; some need a week or more, and busy times fill up
- What time windows are available? Allow enough time for the whole load, plus a buffer
- Is padding needed, and who provides it? Some buildings put up lift curtains or pads themselves; others ask the removalist to
- Is there a fee or bond? Some buildings charge one; others don’t. The building will tell you
- How do the removalists get in? Fob, key, code, or someone meeting them
- Are trolleys allowed in the foyer and lift?
- Are there quiet hours or days when moves aren’t allowed?
Lift protection
Most buildings want the lift protected during a move.
- Who provides it: the building, or the removalist, depending on the building
- What it covers: lift walls and sometimes the floor and doors
- Damage: check the building rules on who pays if the lift or common areas are damaged. Report any damage straight away
When you get a quote, tell us whether the lift has to be booked or padded. Our lift booking fee is $20 per address. Any fee the building itself charges is separate and set by the building.
Loading docks and street parking
- Loading dock: ask whether it can be booked, the height clearance for trucks, and any time limit
- Cost: some buildings charge for the dock and some don’t; ask the building manager
- Timing: book the dock for the same window as the lift
- Street parking: if there’s no dock, check where a truck can legally stop. Some inner-city streets have clearways, tram lines or no-standing zones
- Permits: some councils issue temporary parking permits for moves. Check with your council (for example City of Melbourne or City of Port Phillip)
Apartment-related charges from us
On top of our hourly rate, these fixed charges can apply:
| Factor | Cost (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Lift booking (a lift that has to be booked, padded or keyed) | $20 per address |
| Long carry (more than 25 m from the truck to the door) | $30 per address |
| Difficult parking (no legal parking near the door) | $25 per address |
| Stairs | $30 per flight, at each address |
| Disassembly and reassembly (beds, desks, wardrobes) | $25 per item |
Floors reached by lift don’t cost extra in themselves, but a long trip from the truck to the door takes more time.
Worked example: 2-bed apartment in Southbank
Moving out of a 2-bed apartment in Southbank, weekday. The lift has to be booked, and the truck has to park more than 25 m from the lift. The new place is a house with no stairs. Our quote form estimates 4.5–6 billable hours including the 30-minute call-out. Say it takes 5 hours.
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Movers and truck (incl. call-out) | 5 hrs × $105 | $525.00 |
| Lift booking | 1 × $20 | $20.00 |
| Long carry | 1 × $30 | $30.00 |
| Subtotal (ex GST) | $575.00 | |
| GST (10%) | $57.50 | |
| Total | $632.50 |
The form’s range for this move is $522.50–$680 + GST. Time is billed from when the crew arrives at the first address until the last item is unloaded, plus the 30-minute call-out, all at the team rate. See our pricing page for every rate.
Tell your removalist about the apartment
When you book, tell us:
- Building type: high-rise, low-rise or townhouse complex
- Floor and whether there’s a lift
- Lift size (from your measurements)
- Parking: loading dock, street or car park, and its height clearance
- Access: fob, code or someone meeting the crew
- Building rules: allowed move times and padding requirements
- Large or heavy items: pianos, pool tables, safes, gym equipment
The more detail you give, the more accurate the estimate.
Moving day in an apartment
Before the crew arrives:
- Confirm the lift and dock booking with the building manager
- Clear your hallway and the path to the lift
- Have the fob, key or code ready, or be there to meet the crew
During the move:
- Stay available to open doors and answer questions
- Check the lift is protected as the building requires
- Point out fragile items
After the move:
- Walk through with the crew: balconies, cupboards, storage cage, car space
- Return any building keys, fobs or passes
- Report any damage to the building and to us straight away
Common apartment moving problems
| Problem | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Lift not available | Book early and reconfirm a few days before |
| Furniture doesn’t fit in the lift | Measure the lift and big items beforehand; we can take apart beds, desks and wardrobes ($25 per item) |
| Nowhere for the truck | Book the dock or check legal parking and permits beforehand |
| Move outside allowed hours | Check the building rules before you choose a time |
| Lift or common area damage | Make sure the lift is protected and the route is clear |
| Long carry from the truck | If the truck has to park far from the door, a $30 long carry fee applies |
Building rules: common questions
- “Can I move on a Saturday or Sunday?” It depends on your building’s rules. Some limit move days or times. Our weekend rates are $10/hour more on Saturdays and $20/hour more on Sundays
- “What if the lift is damaged?” Check the building rules on liability, report it straight away, and tell us if we were involved
- “Do I need to tell the building I’m moving?” Usually yes, to book the lift and dock. Ask the building manager
Moving out of an apartment
- Book the lift and dock for your move-out date
- Clean the apartment, or book a cleaner
- Clear balconies, storage cages and car spaces
- Return keys, fobs and parking passes
- Photograph the empty apartment
Renting? See our guide to moving out of a rental in Victoria.
FAQ
Q: How far ahead should I book the lift? As early as your building allows. Some buildings need a week or more, and popular times fill up quickly.
Q: Do removalists need a key or access code? Usually, yes. Arrange it when you book, or meet the crew at the entrance.
Q: What if my furniture is too big for the lift? We can take apart beds, desks and wardrobes for $25 per item. If something still won’t fit, tell us before moving day so we can plan another route, such as the stairs.
Q: Who pays for lift padding? It depends on the building. Some provide it, some charge a fee and some ask the removalist to bring it. Our $20 lift booking fee covers our time and setup when a lift has to be booked, padded or keyed.
Q: Can I move on a public holiday? Only if your building allows it. Our public holiday rate is $35/hour more than the weekday rate.
Q: What if the truck can’t park near the building? If the carry from the truck to the door is more than 25 m, a $30 long carry fee applies, and if there’s no legal parking near the door, a $25 difficult parking fee. Tell us about parking when you book.
Moving into or out of a Melbourne apartment? Get a free quote or see our apartment removals service.