Cleaning
From regular housekeeping to end of tenancy cleaning, different homes and jobs need different approaches. Explore what each cleaning service involves, how to prepare your space and which tasks call for specialist equipment.
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Cleaning guides
Costs, emergencies, how to choose a trade, seasonal timing and what landlords and tenants are each responsible for.
Cleaning · London
How much does a cleaner cost in London? A plain cost guide
Hourly rates for regular cleaners, per-job ranges for deep, end of tenancy and after builders cleaning in London, and the factors that move a…
Cleaning · Croydon
Urgent cleaners in Croydon: what to do in the first hour
A burst pipe, a backed-up drain or an inspection tomorrow: how to make a Croydon home safe in the first hour, which kind of…
Cleaning · Bromley
How to find a cleaner in Bromley you can actually trust
Where to look for a cleaner in Bromley, what to check before handing over a key, the questions that separate professionals from chancers, and…
Cleaning · Richmond
End of tenancy cleaning in Richmond: check these before you book
Before booking an end of tenancy clean in Richmond, read the agreement and the check-in inventory, do the jobs you can, and have the…
Cleaning · Surrey
Deep cleaning services in Surrey: what each season calls for
What a deep clean includes and what to ask for in each season in Surrey's family homes: spring windows and radiators, summer mud and…
Cleaning · Kent
Cleaning services in Kent: why limescale wins and how to beat it
Kent's chalk-filtered water leaves limescale on every tap, screen and kettle. Why it forms, where it builds, what dissolves it without wrecking surfaces, and…
All cleaning reading, every area ↗
Cleaning explained
Cleaning covers three jobs that overlap but are priced differently. Regular cleaning is a recurring visit of two to four hours covering kitchens, bathrooms, floors and dusting. A deep clean is a one off reset that reaches skirting boards, inside cupboards, limescale and extractor fans. End of tenancy cleaning is a deep clean measured against the landlord's inventory, usually in an empty property. Oven cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning and after builders cleaning are separate specialist jobs.
Most routine cleaning is within reach of anyone with time and a few decent products. Hire in when the job needs equipment you do not own, such as a hot water carpet extractor. Hire in too when a landlord or incoming buyer will judge the result against a written standard. Good practice is a written scope listing every room and task, proof of public liability insurance, and a walk round before you pay.
Older British housing stock adds work. Victorian and Edwardian homes bring sash windows, original tiles, fireplace soot and paintwork that will not take strong chemicals. Hard water across much of the south and east of England leaves limescale that needs repeated treatment rather than scrubbing. New builds hold fine construction dust in vents and sockets for weeks after a fit out. Shared houses and holiday lets need shorter, more frequent visits than a family home.
What moves the price
- Size and number of rooms
- An end of tenancy clean runs about £150 to £220 for a one bed flat and £300 to £450 for a three or four bed house.
- Type of clean you book
- Regular visits are typically £16 to £25 an hour outside London, while a deep clean is nearer £20 to £30 an hour for the same team.
- Condition and time since last clean
- A property left dirty for months can double the hours quoted, and most firms price a first visit higher than the ones that follow.
- Extras priced outside the main job
- A single oven deep clean is roughly £55 to £85, and carpet cleaning about £30 to £50 a room with a minimum call out charge.
- Location, access and travel time
- London and the commuter belt usually sit 20 to 30 percent above regional rates, and awkward parking or stairs adds time to any quote.
Figures are indicative typical ranges for the UK, not quotes. Always get written quotes before work starts.
Before you enquire
- Agree in writing what is included, especially inside appliances, windows and carpets.
- Clear surfaces and put valuables, documents and pets somewhere safe.
- Confirm who supplies products and equipment, and whether that is charged extra.
- For end of tenancy, photograph every room and compare it with your check in inventory.
Common questions
How much does end of tenancy cleaning cost in the UK?
Expect roughly £150 to £220 for a one bed flat, £200 to £320 for two beds and £300 to £450 for a three or four bed house. London quotes sit at the top of those ranges or above. Carpets, ovens and outside windows are often charged separately, so ask for one fixed price covering everything the inventory lists. These are indicative typical ranges rather than quotes.
Can I clean the property myself and still get my deposit back?
Yes. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 a landlord in England cannot require you to pay for professional cleaning as a condition of the tenancy. You do have to return the property as clean as it was at check in, allowing for fair wear and tear. If there is a dispute, the adjudicator at your government approved tenancy deposit scheme decides on the evidence, so dated photographs matter more than a receipt.
What is the difference between a deep clean and a regular clean?
A regular clean maintains what is already reasonably clean, working through kitchens, bathrooms, floors and surfaces in two to four hours. A deep clean goes behind and inside things: oven interiors, extractor filters, limescale on tiles and taps, skirting boards, door frames and inside kitchen cupboards. It takes two to three times as long as a regular visit. Many households book a deep clean once or twice a year with regular visits in between.
Is professional oven cleaning worth paying for?
It usually is if the oven has not been stripped for over a year. A specialist dips the shelves, door glass and side panels in a heated tank, which lifts baked on carbon that supermarket sprays will not shift. Expect about £55 to £85 for a single oven and £80 to £150 for a double oven or range. Adding a hob, extractor or microwave to the same visit costs less than booking those jobs separately.
Local cleaning guides
The same service, written for where you live: typical local prices, the housing stock and the trades that cover it.