How much does a cleaner cost in London? A plain cost guide

A regular cleaner is one of the most searched-for household services in London, and the first question is always the same: how much does a cleaner cost? The honest answer is a range, not a number. Rates depend on who you hire, how often they come, the state of the property and, in London, how hard it is to get to your door. This guide sets out the ranges people typically pay, what moves a quote, and how to get a written price you can compare.

How much does a cleaner cost in London by the hour

For regular domestic cleaning, most Londoners pay by the hour. As a rough guide, a self-employed cleaner working directly for you typically charges somewhere in the mid teens to low twenties per hour, and an agency-supplied cleaner usually sits a few pounds above that because the agency covers insurance, cover for sickness and holidays, and vetting of its own staff. Inner London tends to sit at the upper end; outer boroughs sit lower. Most cleaners set a minimum visit of two or three hours.

Ask what the hourly rate includes. Some cleaners in London bring their own products and equipment and price accordingly; others expect you to supply everything, which lowers the rate. If you want to know what is the going rate for a cleaner, or how much do cleaners charge per hour, this distinction explains most of the difference between two quotes for the same flat.

One-off jobs: deep cleaning, end of tenancy and after builders

One-off work is usually priced per job, not per hour, because the cleaning company sends a team and quotes for the whole property. As a rough guide:

• Deep cleaning London flats and houses: typically priced by number of bedrooms and bathrooms, with a one-bedroom flat at the lower end and a four-bedroom house several times that. A deep clean covers the inside of appliances, skirting, limescale and the grime behind furniture that a weekly clean never reaches.
• End of tenancy cleaning London tenants book: similar in scope to a deep clean but worked to a checklist that matches a check-out inventory. Prices typically start a little above a deep clean for the same size of property and rise if carpets, upholstery or the oven are added.
• After builders cleaning London firms quote for: usually the most expensive category per square metre because fine dust settles everywhere and needs several passes. It is often quoted per cleaner per hour with a minimum team size.

Oven and carpet cleaning are priced per appliance or per room and are cheaper as add-ons. Treat all of these as indicative; the only price that counts is a written quote for your actual property.

What moves the price up or down

1. Condition. A flat that has had a weekly clean needs far fewer hours than one untouched since the last tenancy. Be honest about this; a team that arrives to a bigger job than described will either charge more or cut corners.
2. Frequency. Weekly or fortnightly regulars get a better rate than one-off bookings.
3. Products and equipment. Supplying your own lowers the rate. Specialist kit such as hot water extraction machines adds to it.
4. Access and timing. Evenings, weekends, short notice and no parking all carry a premium.
5. Extras. Inside windows, ovens, fridges, balconies and laundry are usually add-ons. Ask for an itemised quote.

What is different in London

London’s housing stock shapes the price in ways that a national average hides. A large share of homes are Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many split into conversion flats with narrow stairs and no lift, and purpose-built blocks where the entry system, the concierge and the lift booking all eat into the paid hour. Cleaning companies that drive in from outer boroughs build the Congestion Charge, the Ultra Low Emission Zone and parking into their rates, and a controlled parking zone with no visitor permits adds a real cost to a four-hour job. Leaseholders and renters should check the building’s rules on contractors’ hours and communal bins. London boroughs collect bulky waste through booked collections rather than letting cleaners leave bags in the street, and a cleaning team is not a waste carrier.

When to call a professional, and which one

A domestic cleaner is the right trade for dirt and grime, not for everything that looks like it. Some jobs cross into territory with real legal and safety lines:

• Dust after building work in a pre-2000 home can contain asbestos fibres if old textured coatings, floor tiles or boards were disturbed. The Health and Safety Executive advises testing and licensed removal before anyone cleans up.
• Rubbish removal is a separate job. Anyone taking waste away must be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency, and you have a duty of care to check, because fly-tipped waste traced back to you is your problem.
• Gas appliances must not be disconnected or moved by a cleaner to get behind them. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should work on a gas cooker or hob connection.
• Mould and damp can be wiped, but a cleaner cannot fix the cause. Persistent mould points to a leak, condensation or a building defect that needs a different trade, and in rented homes it falls under the landlord’s repairing duties.

Getting a quote you can compare

Describe the property by bedrooms, bathrooms and floor, say what state it is in, list any extras, and ask for the quote in writing with the rate or fixed price, the number of cleaners and hours, what products are included, and whether VAT applies. Check for public liability insurance and ask how breakages and keys are handled. A clear written quote is the best protection against a surprise bill.

If you would rather not ring round, describe the job to The Household Daily’s help desk, including the size of the property, the type of clean and roughly when you need it, and the desk will help you take the next step.

Guidance is general and refers to the authority that sets each rule. Costs are indicative ranges; always get written quotes. Trade availability and credentials are confirmed when you enquire.