Since 1941, four generations of the Strank family have been moving homes and businesses from Kent and across the UK. Today, from our Ashford depot close to the Channel ports, we move homes and offices to France as a core part of what we do. Independently verified professional removals, handled by our own team from collection at your UK address to delivery at your French property.
We handle of all sizes from the UK to France, from one-bedroom flats to large family homes and listed buildings. Our team loads your belongings at your UK address, secures everything properly for the Channel crossing and delivers to your French property. We work across France, from Normandy and Brittany to Provence and beyond.
We handle and commercial moves alongside residential work. If your business is relocating to France or opening a French office, our team can plan and execute the move around your operational requirements, including out-of-hours and weekend scheduling.
Proper packing matters more on a European move than a local one. We offer full packing, partial packing and fragile-only , using materials and methods that protect furniture, glassware, artwork and fragile items over a longer road journey. If you prefer to pack yourself, we can supply materials and check your work before loading.
If completion dates do not align, if you are renting temporarily in France, or if your French property needs work before you move in, better value safe and secure is available at our 13,000 sq ft Ashford warehouse. Up to 250 individual containers, all secured with CCTV and intruder alarms. We collect from your UK address, store your belongings in Ashford and deliver to France when your property is ready.
Large items that cannot be moved whole are dismantled by our team before loading and reassembled at your French destination. Included as standard where needed, not charged as an extra.
Since Brexit, UK residents moving personal belongings to France permanently are subject to French customs procedures. You will typically need a detailed inventory of goods (in French where possible), proof of prior UK residence and evidence that the move is a permanent relocation rather than a commercial import. Our team advises on the paperwork requirements for your specific move and works with customers regularly enough to know what French customs expect at the point of entry.
One practical reality of buying property in France is that completion through the notaire rarely aligns neatly with your UK move date. Contracts can exchange months before completion, and completion can be delayed by title checks, co-ownership issues or the notaire’s schedule. Our Ashford warehouse with 250 secure containers is used regularly by customers in exactly this situation. Your belongings leave the UK when your UK property completes, sit safely in Ashford for weeks or months, and are delivered to France once your French property is confirmed ready.
We deliver throughout France. Customers moving from Kent and the South East most commonly settle in the Dordogne, Charente and Charente-Maritime, Normandy and Brittany, the Loire Valley and Burgundy, Languedoc-Roussillon and the broader South of France, and the Paris commuter belt. If your destination is not listed here, and we will confirm routing and timing.
Many French properties, particularly in the Dordogne, Charente and rural Normandy, are accessed via narrow lanes or tracks that a full lorry cannot reach. Our mixed fleet of trucks and vans means we can split loads or send a smaller vehicle for the final leg where access is restricted. Tell us your French address and any access concerns when you request a quote and we will plan around them.
Our Ashford depot gives us a direct route to the Channel ports, making collection from Kent and East Sussex particularly straightforward. We collect from , , , , , Dover, and , as well as London and the wider South East. For larger moves, we can arrange collections from anywhere in the UK.
or call 0800 0195 525. Tell us your UK collection address, your French destination and approximate volume and we will come back with clear written pricing. For more answers before you book, visit our .
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Yes. UK to France removals are a core service for Stranks Removals & Storage, not a specialist add-on. We operate from Ashford, Kent, close to the Channel ports, and our team handles the full move from collection at your UK address to delivery at your French property. View our European removals service
We deliver throughout France. Common destinations include Normandy, Brittany, the Loire Valley, Burgundy, the Dordogne, Charente, Provence and the Paris commuter belt. If you have a specific French address, get in touch and we will confirm routing and availability.
Yes. Our Ashford warehouse holds up to 250 secure containers across 13,000 sq ft. This is useful if your French property is not available on moving day, if you are renting temporarily in France, or if your property needs renovation before you move in. Storage can be arranged for a few days or several months, from £13.80 per week including VAT.
Yes. We offer full packing, partial packing and fragile-only packing services. For a cross-Channel move, we recommend at least having our team pack your most fragile items, as the longer journey increases the risk of damage if items are not properly secured for road transport.
Yes. Stranks is a full British Association of Removers (BAR) member operating under the BAR Advanced Payment scheme, which gives customers formal financial protection. We are also certified to BS EN 12522, the British Standard for furniture removal services, and are members of the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman scheme. These accreditations cover our European work. See full accreditation details
Since Brexit, UK residents permanently relocating to France need to declare their household goods to French customs. This typically requires a full inventory of items being moved (ideally in French), proof of UK residence for the prior 12 months, and confirmation that the move is a permanent relocation. VAT and import duties are generally waived for genuine household moves, but the paperwork must be in order at the port. Our team can walk you through the requirements before your move date. Get in touch to discuss your specific situation.
This is one of the most common situations we manage for France-bound customers. The notaire completion process does not always align with the UK completion timeline. Our Ashford warehouse holds your belongings in a secure individual container for as long as you need. You vacate your UK property on time, we collect and store everything in Kent, and we deliver to France once your French property is confirmed ready.
Cost depends on the volume of your move, your UK collection point, your French destination and any additional services such as packing or storage. We do not publish fixed prices for European moves because every job is different. Get a quote online or call 0800 0195 525 and we will come back with clear, itemised pricing.