Hiring a portable toilet sounds like a five-minute job. Pick a company, get a quote, done.
But there's more to it than that. The number of units you need, how often they're serviced, what's actually included in the price - these details shape how smoothly your event or project runs. Get them sorted upfront, and you won't think about your toilets again until collection day. That's exactly how it should be.
So before you book, here are the questions worth asking any portable toilet company - whether you're comparing local providers or searching more broadly for portaloo hire UK.
Cost & What's Actually Included
1. What's the full price - not just the headline rate?
This is where most quotes fall apart. Delivery, setup, servicing, waste disposal, collection - some companies bundle it all in. Others add each one separately, after you've already agreed to book.
Ask for a single written figure covering everything except VAT. If the answer comes with "it depends" and no follow-up number, that's your warning sign.
2. Is servicing included, or charged on top?
For a long-term portable toilet hire, weekly servicing should be baked into the price - it's not optional. For a one-day event, the unit should simply arrive clean and fully stocked. Ask directly which applies to your booking.
Servicing & Hygiene
3. How often are units actually cleaned?
Everyone says "regularly serviced." Fewer companies will give you a real schedule - waste removal, disinfecting, restocking loo roll and hand sanitiser.
4. What do they use to control odour and bacteria?
This sounds like a small question. It isn't. Cheap chemicals mean stronger smells and worse hygiene, especially on multi-day hires. A company that can explain what they use - and why - knows their product.
5. Do they keep service records?
For construction sites, this one matters more than people realise. If HSE ever asks for proof that welfare facilities were properly maintained, a dated service log settles it instantly. No log means you're relying on someone's memory.
Getting the Numbers Right
6. How many units do you actually need?
A rough industry standard: one unit per 50 guests for a 4-hour event, or one unit per 10 workers on a construction site. But it's not fixed - alcohol at a wedding pushes usage up fast, and a good company will ask about your event type before quoting, not just take a headcount.
7. Do they provide accessible units?
Under UK accessibility law, public events generally need at least one accessible unit - wider door, ramp access, room to manoeuvre. Ask whether it's included as standard or charged as an extra.
Reliability & Logistics
8. What's the delivery and collection window - specifically?
"Sometime that day" doesn't work when you've got a marquee going up at 8am. Ask for an actual time window, not just a date, and check it's confirmed in writing.
9. Where and how will the units be placed?
Ground stability matters. Units need level, stable surfaces so they don't tip, and service vehicles need clear access - if a tanker can't reach the unit, servicing gets delayed or costs more. A company that asks about your site layout before delivery day is one that's actually thought this through.
10. What happens if a unit is damaged?
Normal wear from a busy weekend shouldn't cost you anything extra. Vandalism or genuine damage is a different story. Get the line between the two in writing before you sign anything.
Trust & Track Record
11. Do they carry public liability insurance?
Non-negotiable. If a company hesitates on this one, walk away.
12. Do they own their own fleet, or subcontract the job out?
Some "portable toilet companies" are just booking agents - they take your money, then pass the job to someone else. That usually means less control over quality and a slower fix if something goes wrong. Ask outright.
13. Are they local - and can they show you proof of similar work?
A local company can usually respond faster if there's an issue, and they know the area's access roads and site conditions better than a national call centre working three counties away. Ask if they can point you to similar jobs they've handled - weddings, festivals, construction sites like yours.
Final Thoughts
Hiring portable toilets isn't complicated. Hiring the wrong company is an easy mistake to make if you don't ask the right questions first.
If you'd rather skip the guesswork, ACE Loos has been supplying portable toilet hire across Staffordshire and the Midlands with our own fleet, transparent pricing, and a team that actually answers the phone. Get in touch today for a straightforward quote