A contractor has a groundworks job starting in two weeks. The digger's booked and the materials are ordered, but the crew still needs somewhere to eat, wash and warm up. Mobile welfare unit hire can solve that, as long as you know exactly what you're getting.
Choosing a unit takes more than agreeing a delivery date. You need clear answers about the facilities, your site, servicing, hire terms and the total cost. This guide covers nine questions to put to your hire provider before you book, and what a good answer looks like.
1. What Facilities Are Included in Your Mobile Welfare Units?
A good provider will tell you exactly what's inside the specific unit they're offering. Facilities vary between models, so you shouldn't have to assume.
Ask for a plain list covering:
- Toilet and washing facilities
- A kitchen or canteen area with seating
- A sink, microwave and kettle, where fitted
- A warm room or heating, with somewhere to hang wet clothes
Space Mobiles' towable welfare units have a toilet area with hot and cold water, a kitchen area with a table that seats six, a sink, microwave, kettle and heating, and a warm room with clothing hooks. You can see the details on the mobile welfare units page.
Mobile units still have to meet HSE's minimum welfare standards. Our guide to what welfare facilities a construction site needs explains the basics, and HSE's own welfare guidance is the official source.
2. How Many Workers Can the Unit Accommodate?
It depends on the unit and how your team works, so a good provider will ask you questions before suggesting one. Expect to be asked how many people are on site at once, whether you run shifts and when breaks happen.
A crew that staggers lunch needs less seating than one that stops together. Be honest about peak numbers, including subcontractors and visitors. If your team is larger than one unit suits, a good provider will say so and talk through options rather than squeezing everyone in.
3. What Power and Water Arrangements Does the Unit Require?
Ask whether the unit needs mains connections or carries its own. The answer depends on the model, and you need it before delivery.
A good provider will explain:
- How the unit is powered, and who keeps it fuelled
- How water is supplied and how waste is handled
- Whether you need to prepare anything on site
This matters most on plots with no electricity or water. Space Mobiles' welfare units run from an onboard diesel generator, so they don't need a mains connection. Whichever provider you choose, confirm the arrangements for the exact unit you're offered.
4. Can You Deliver the Unit to Our Site?
A professional provider will want to check the unit can reach your chosen spot before confirming a date. That means asking about access, and you should expect the questions.
They may need to know:
- How wide your gates and entrances are
- Whether the roads are narrow or have tight turns
- Whether there are low branches, cables or other overhead restrictions
- Whether there's room for the vehicle to turn
- What the ground is like, especially after rain
Share photos and a postcode early. It's far easier to solve an access problem on the phone than at the gate. For a look at the process, read how we get our welfare units to your site.
5. What Site Preparation Is Needed Before Delivery?
You should be told where the unit can go and what needs to be ready when it arrives. Requirements vary from site to site, so a good provider won't give you a one-size-fits-all answer.
Ask about the position itself. Is it firm and level enough? Is there clear space around it? Will it block plant routes or deliveries? Ask too about the route in, and whether anyone needs to be on site to direct the delivery.
Think about the crew as well. A unit that's hard to reach, or tucked beside an excavation edge, causes problems later.
6. What Security Features Are Included?
Ask which security features come with the unit you've been offered. A good provider will describe the locks, doors and windows, and won't leave you guessing.
This matters because sites are often empty overnight and at weekends. Check how the doors lock, how the windows are secured and whether anything extra is fitted. Space Mobiles' welfare units have double-locking, high-security doors and windows. Where you put the unit also helps, so ask about positioning it inside your fencing and in view of any lighting or cameras.
7. What Servicing and Support Do You Provide During the Hire?
You should get clear answers before you confirm the booking, because arrangements differ between providers. Don't assume anything is included.
Ask:
- What servicing or routine maintenance is covered
- How often it takes place, where applicable
- How to report a fault, and who to call
- What to do while you wait for help
Get the answers in writing, and share the contact details with your site team so nobody has to hunt for them.
8. What Are the Hire Period and Extension Terms?
A good provider will set out the agreed hire period, when the unit arrives and when it's collected. They'll also explain how you extend if the job runs over.
Short jobs and longer projects can be arranged differently, so tell your provider your likely dates and how much they might move. Programmes slip. Knowing the extension process, and what extra weeks cost, lets you plan without surprises. Clear communication at this stage saves awkward calls later.
9. What Is Included in the Total Hire Cost?
Ask for a quotation that shows the whole arrangement. The weekly rate is only part of the picture, and a clear provider will explain the rest before you commit.
Check whether the price covers:
- Delivery
- Positioning or set-up, where applicable
- Collection
- Servicing
- Any additional charges
- The cost of extending the hire
If you're comparing suppliers, put the quotes side by side and make sure they include the same things. A lower headline price can hide extras.
How Space Mobiles Can Help with Your Welfare Unit Requirements
Space Mobiles is a family-run business based in Bridgnorth, supplying portable toilets and welfare units since 1991. If you're arranging welfare for a construction site or temporary work location, we're happy to talk it through.
You can explore our mobile welfare units and then tell us about your team size, the facilities you need, how vehicles will reach your site and how long you expect to need the unit. Our service page says hire terms can be arranged around your project, so it's worth sharing your dates.
Ask the Right Questions, Then Book with Confidence
Asking these questions helps you understand what the unit offers, whether it suits your site, how it's looked after and what you'll pay in total. A good provider will welcome them.
If you'd like to talk through your site, find out more about mobile welfare unit hire with Space Mobiles or call the team on 01743 630123.