Welfare unit hire means renting a self-contained site cabin, usually a towable trailer, that gives workers a toilet, hand washing with warm water, a heated canteen for breaks and somewhere to dry wet clothes. It's the simplest way to meet the legal welfare requirements on a site without mains connections, and the supplier delivers, services and collects it.
What the law says a site must provide
Schedule 2 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 sets the minimum welfare facilities for every construction site. The HSE says they must be in place from the start of the project until it finishes.
The HSE says rest areas must give shelter from wind and rain and can't be used for storing materials or equipment. It also advises drying clothes without putting them directly on heaters, because of the fire risk.
What's inside a towable welfare unit
Canteen
Tables and bench seating, worktop, microwave, kettle or hot water, and a heater.
Toilet
Usually a recirculating chemical toilet with its own hand-wash sink.
Hot-wash sink
A basin big enough to wash hands and forearms, with warm water, soap and towels.
Drying room
Coat hooks and space to dry wet gear.
Generator Check the fuel
Most towable units have a built-in diesel generator for heating, hot water and lighting.
Water tanks
Fresh and waste water tanks, emptied and refilled when the unit is serviced.
Sizes and costs
Examples from UK hire firms' published price lists. Most include a weekly toilet service; fuel, delivery and VAT may be extra.
| Unit | Typical capacity | Example weekly hire |
|---|---|---|
| 12–13 ft towable | about 6–7 people | about £180–£250 |
| 16 ft towable | about 10–12 people | about £280 |
| 20 ft towable | up to about 16 people, some with a small office | about £300 (often with a minimum hire) |
| Static cabins | larger teams and long projects | quoted per job; delivered by crane lorry |
- Hire lengthWeekly rates, sometimes with a minimum of four weeks. Longer hires usually cost less per week.
- Delivery and collectionSome suppliers include it, others charge by distance.
- ServicingToilet emptying, water refill and cleaning, usually weekly. Busy sites may need more.
- FuelSome hires include it; with others you supply it yourself.
Choosing the right unit
Towable unit
Delivered by a van or 4x4 and moved easily. Everything in one trailer.
Ideal for extensions, refurbishments, groundworks and roadside work.
Static cabins
Canteens, drying rooms, toilet blocks and offices, craned into place and often stacked.
Add portable toilets
A welfare unit usually has one toilet. Bigger teams need more; see our portable toilet guide for the numbers.
Since 1 April 2022, red diesel can't be used for construction work. Ask what fuel the generator uses, and whether fuel is included in the price.
Where to put it
- As close to the work as possible, so people actually use it.
- On firm, level ground with room for the delivery vehicle.
- Somewhere the service vehicle can reach the toilet and water tanks.
- On the road or pavement: you need a licence from the council's highways team under section 171 of the Highways Act 1980. Councils such as Cardiff, Kirklees and Suffolk issue specific licences for containers and welfare units.
Short jobs and moving work
For work lasting up to about a week, or work that keeps moving such as some roadworks, the HSE says you can arrange to use existing facilities instead: the client's premises, local public toilets or local businesses, as long as it's agreed in advance, the facilities meet the standard, and workers know where they are. For anything longer, bring your own.
Questions to ask a welfare unit hire company
- How many people is the unit designed for?
- Does the price include delivery, collection, servicing, fuel and VAT?
- Is there a minimum hire period?
- How often will you service it, and who empties the toilet and waste water?
- What fuel does the generator use, and roughly how much will we need?
- Does the sink have warm running water?
- Can you deliver onto the road, and do you arrange the highway licence?
Prices in this guide are typical ranges from suppliers' published price lists and cost guides. They change and vary by area, so always confirm the price with the supplier before you book. Rules, fees and tax rates are checked against official sources.