Check their insurance
Any reputable portable toilet hire company should hold public liability insurance — minimum £2 million, ideally £5 million or more. This protects you if something goes wrong — if a unit causes damage, an accident occurs during delivery, or waste is spilled. Always ask for proof of insurance before booking, especially for events or sites where liability matters.
Check their waste carrier licence
In England and Wales, any company that transports waste (including portable toilet waste) must hold a valid Environment Agency waste carrier licence. This is a legal requirement — not optional. You can verify a company's licence on the Environment Agency public register. A company operating without one is breaking the law, which reflects on you if you use them.
Ask about their servicing schedule
A clean, well-maintained portable toilet is a world away from one that hasn't been properly serviced. Before booking, ask specifically: how often is servicing included, what does servicing consist of, and what happens if a service is missed? A good supplier will have clear, consistent answers. Vague or evasive answers are a warning sign.
Check their equipment
If possible, ask how old their units are and when they were last replaced. Modern, well-maintained units are significantly better than older worn ones. For luxury trailers, ask to see photos of the specific unit you'd be hiring — not just stock images.
Look at their reviews
Google reviews and Trustpilot are your friends. Look for patterns — consistent praise for reliability and cleanliness is a good sign; repeated complaints about late deliveries or poor servicing are red flags. A company with no online reviews at all is also a concern for anything other than the smallest hire.
Ask about their emergency cover
What happens if something goes wrong? If a unit breaks down during your event or a service is missed, what is their response time? A good supplier will have clear emergency protocols. If they can't answer this question confidently, look elsewhere.
The Loo Managed advantage
One of the main reasons customers use Loo Managed rather than going direct to a supplier is that we've already done all of this checking for you. Every supplier in our network has been vetted for insurance, licensing, equipment quality and service reliability. You don't have to spend time verifying each supplier yourself — we've done it, and we stand behind our recommendations. If a supplier in our network lets you down, you call us and we sort it.