End of tenancy cleaning in London typically costs between £189 and £400+, depending on property size, condition, and whether you go with a specialist or a general cleaner.
That’s roughly 20-30% more than the rest of the UK, which tracks with London’s higher operating costs across the board.
We clean end-of-tenancy properties across London every single day, working alongside agents from Savills, Knight Frank, and Chestertons.
Rather than give you vague national averages, here are the actual numbers you need to budget for in 2026.
How Much Does End of Tenancy Cleaning Cost in London?
Here’s what you’ll pay for a professional end of tenancy clean in London right now. These prices are for a full, agent-standard clean including oven deep cleaning, all appliances, and interior windows.
| Property Size | London Price Range | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / Bedsit | £189 - £230 | 3-4 hours |
| 1-Bedroom Flat | £199 - £270 | 3-5 hours |
| 2-Bedroom Flat | £239 - £370 | 4-6 hours |
| 3-Bedroom Property | £299 - £420 | 5-7 hours |
| 4+ Bedroom House | £380 - £600+ | 6-8+ hours |
The lower end of each range assumes a reasonably maintained property. If you’ve got heavy grease buildup in the kitchen or years of limescale in the bathroom, expect to pay toward the higher end.
These prices also assume the property is empty or nearly empty. Cleaners can’t work efficiently around stacked boxes.
London vs Rest of UK Pricing
London prices run 20-30% higher than the national average.
A 2-bed flat that costs £200 to clean in Manchester will set you back £239-£370 in London. That premium reflects higher labour costs, parking charges (which can add £10-20 to your bill), and congestion zone surcharges some companies pass on.
| Property Size | UK Average | London Average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | £150 - £180 | £189 - £230 |
| 1-Bedroom | £170 - £220 | £199 - £270 |
| 2-Bedroom | £200 - £260 | £239 - £370 |
| 3-Bedroom | £250 - £300 | £299 - £420 |
What’s Actually Included in the Price?
Not all end of tenancy cleans are equal. A company quoting £99 for a 2-bed flat probably isn’t doing what your inventory clerk expects.
Here’s what a proper, agent-standard clean covers:
Kitchen:
- Oven deep clean inside and out (including racks and trays)
- Hob, extractor fan, and hood degreased
- Fridge and freezer cleaned and sanitised
- All cupboards wiped inside and out
- Tiles and grout scrubbed
- Sink and taps descaled
- Floor mopped and disinfected
Bathroom:
- Toilet cleaned inside and out
- Shower, bath, and tiles descaled
- Grout cleaned, mould treated
- Mirrors polished
- Extractor fan cleaned
All Other Rooms:
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
- Skirting boards and door frames wiped
- Internal windows and sills cleaned
- Light switches and plug sockets wiped
- Radiators dusted
- Cobwebs removed
- Inside wardrobes cleaned
What Usually Costs Extra
Some services get quoted separately. Budget for these if your tenancy agreement requires them:
- Carpet deep clean: £40-80 per room
- Curtain or blind steam clean: £30-60
- Balcony or patio cleaning: £40-80
- External window cleaning: £30-50
- Wooden floor buff and polish: £50-100
Always ask upfront what’s included.
The cheapest quote often becomes the most expensive once you add on the things that should have been in the base price.
Why Is End of Tenancy Cleaning More Expensive Than Regular Cleaning?
A standard domestic cleaner charges £13-20 per hour in London. End of tenancy specialists charge £22-35 per hour. That gap exists for good reasons.
End of tenancy cleaning is a different job entirely. Your regular cleaner maintains a lived-in home. An end of tenancy team restores a property to move-in condition.
That means getting into areas that haven’t been touched in months or years: the inside of your oven, behind the fridge, limescale that’s been building since your first shower.
Professional teams also bring industrial equipment. Steam cleaners, dip tanks for oven parts, commercial-grade degreasers.
You can rent some of this yourself for £80-150 a day, but at that point you’ve spent the money anyway and still have to do the work.
The other factor is accountability. Specialist companies offer re-clean guarantees. If your inventory clerk flags something, they come back and fix it at no extra charge.
A regular cleaner typically doesn’t offer that.
Does Eco-Friendly Cleaning Cost More?
Here’s where people get surprised. No, it doesn’t.
There’s a persistent myth that eco-friendly cleaning is a premium service. In practice, our prices are competitive with (and often lower than) the big London cleaning agencies.
Our studio cleans start at £189 and our 1-beds at £199. Compare that to the £230-270 you’ll see quoted by larger agencies for the same property size.
Eco-friendly cleaning products have come a long way. Plant-based degreasers, biodegradable descalers, and non-toxic sanitisers work just as effectively as their chemical-heavy alternatives.
We use them on every job, including properties managed by Savills and Knight Frank, and our 97% deposit return rate speaks for itself.
What you do get with eco-friendly cleaning is a property that’s safe for the next tenant from day one. No chemical residue on kitchen surfaces. No harsh fumes lingering in bathrooms.
If you’ve got children or pets moving in, that matters.
Is It Worth Paying for Professional End of Tenancy Cleaning?
Short answer: almost always yes. Here’s the maths.
The average deposit on a London rental is 5 weeks’ rent. For a 2-bed flat at £1,800 per month, that’s roughly £2,077.
A professional end of tenancy clean for the same property costs £239-370. You’re spending 12-18% of your deposit to protect the other 82-88%.
According to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, cleaning disputes are the single most common reason for deposit deductions. More than damage, more than rent arrears.
A receipt from a professional cleaning company is your strongest defence if a dispute goes to adjudication.
DIY vs Professional: The Real Cost Comparison
| Approach | Cost | Time | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY | £50-100 (products) | 10-15+ hours | High. No guarantee, no receipt |
| Independent cleaner | £100-200 | 4-6 hours | Medium. Usually no guarantee |
| Professional specialist | £189-420 | 3-8 hours | Low. Re-clean guarantee included |
The DIY route looks cheapest on paper, but factor in your time. If 12 hours of scrubbing is worth £15/hour to you, that’s £180 in time alone, before products.
And if your landlord isn’t satisfied, you’ll end up paying for a professional clean anyway, likely at short-notice rates.
How to Avoid Overpaying
Not every cleaning quote is created equal. Here’s what to look for:
Get at least three quotes. Prices vary significantly between companies. But don’t just compare the total. Compare what’s included.
Ask about oven cleaning. Some companies charge £40-60 extra for this. Others include it as standard. Oven cleaning is almost always required by letting agents, so a quote without it is incomplete.
Check the guarantee terms. A 24-hour re-clean guarantee is minimal. Look for 48-72 hours, which gives time for your inventory check to happen.
Book 1-2 weeks in advance. Same-day and next-day bookings often carry a 20-50% surcharge. If you know your move-out date, book early and pay standard rates.
Confirm parking arrangements. If your area has permit parking or meters, you’ll need to sort this. Some companies add £10-20 for parking. Others expect you to provide a visitor permit.
Can Your Landlord Force You to Pay for Professional Cleaning?
No. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 made it illegal for landlords to require tenants to pay for professional cleaning.
They can only require that the property is returned in the same condition as at the start of the tenancy (fair wear and tear excepted).
That said, many tenancy agreements include a clause about professional cleaning. While this isn’t legally enforceable as a mandatory charge, having a professional receipt does make deposit disputes much easier to resolve in your favour.
When Should You Book Your End of Tenancy Clean?
The ideal timeline:
- 2 weeks before move-out: Get quotes and book your preferred company
- 1-2 days before check-out: Schedule the clean after all furniture is removed
- Day of clean: Defrost the freezer 24 hours beforehand, empty all cupboards, remove personal items and rubbish
- After the clean: Do a walkthrough before the inventory clerk arrives
Don’t schedule the clean for the same day as your inventory check if you can avoid it. Give yourself a buffer day to inspect the results and flag anything with the cleaning company before the agent sees it.
Ready to get your deposit back? Get your free quote or call us on 07383 435 879. We cover all London postcodes with same-day availability where schedules allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does end of tenancy cleaning cost for a 1-bed flat in London?
A professional end of tenancy clean for a 1-bedroom flat in London typically costs £199-270. This includes a full clean of the kitchen (including oven), bathroom, bedroom, and living room. Carpet cleaning is usually charged separately at £40-80 per room.
Is carpet cleaning included in end of tenancy cleaning?
Usually not. Most companies include vacuuming as standard but charge separately for professional carpet deep cleaning using hot water extraction. Budget £40-80 per room. Check your tenancy agreement, as some require professional carpet cleaning specifically.
How long does end of tenancy cleaning take?
A studio or 1-bed flat takes 3-5 hours. A 2-bed flat takes 4-6 hours. A 3-bed house can take 5-7 hours or more. These times assume the property is empty and in reasonable condition. Heavily soiled properties take longer.
Can I do end of tenancy cleaning myself?
Yes, there’s no legal requirement to hire a professional. However, inventory clerks check to a very specific standard, and missing areas like inside the oven, behind radiators, or limescale on taps are common reasons for deposit deductions. If you do clean yourself, photograph everything as evidence.
What happens if the cleaning isn’t good enough?
If you hired a company with a re-clean guarantee, they’ll return and address any issues flagged by the inventory clerk at no extra charge. This is why guarantees matter. Without one, you’ll need to pay for a second clean or accept deposit deductions.
Last updated: 18 March 2026
