A SOUTHAMPTON man is taking charge of people’s clutter.

Tom Harvey, 32, took a leap of faith by setting up his own house clearance business in Romsey – TDH Rubbish Solutions – a year ago.

A cleaning and recycling aficionado, Tom has made the daunting task of clearance simple and anxiety-free for many homeowners who have let years’ worth of forgotten belongings pile up beyond measure.

Tom’s passion for cleaning has seen him make the best use of hoarded possessions himself or donate what he can’t use to charity.

He told the Echo: “I’d like to think my business is slightly different.

“It’s very true that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

“If I can find a use for something I will – it might be some furniture or garden equipment that’s in perfectly good order that people no longer use – but I’d much rather take it to a charity shop rather than having to transport it to a landfill site.”

Daily Echo:

Tom felt compelled to start-up the business after wanting to combine his love for cleaning and people.

He added: “I just love that face-to-face interaction, particularly after the pandemic which made things difficult for everyone.

“I’ve worked for other companies and always thought they could treat their customers better, so I’m striving to do that.

“I know money is tight at the moment, so I want to help people where I can.

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“I have a few regular customers, some of which are elderly, and their mobility might be restricted, so even if I can go round and help tidy somebody’s garden and make it more accessible for them to be in that space, you can’t help but take some pride in that.”

Tom’s work has seen him encounter everything from dilapidated office spaces, mismanaged gardens, and even hoarders’ homes.

Daily Echo:

He said: “There’s always a story behind something and I’d like to think I can help with that.

“Everyone’s different and that’s why I enjoy this job.

“You’d be surprised at how this work really does make a difference to people’s lives.

“I just try and accommodate everyone.”