End of Tenancy Cleaning Cost UK 2026
End of tenancy cleaning is priced per property size, not by the hour, and most reputable firms include a re-clean guarantee if the inventory clerk objects. In Q3 2026 a one-bedroom flat costs about £110–£180, a two-bed £150–£240 and a three-bed house £190–£320.
Quick answer: what does it cost?
In Q3 2026, studio flat typically costs £90–£150 in the UK. Across every option on this page prices run from £25 to £450. Where you land depends mostly on access, the condition of what is already there, and your region — London and the South East typically add 10–25%.
End of Tenancy Cleaning Cost UK 2026 — Full Price Table
Typical UK prices for Q3 2026 for end-of-tenancy cleans, priced mainly by property size and whether extras like carpets and ovens are included. A studio is a few hours; a furnished four-bed with heavy limescale, a greasy oven and pet stains is a full day for a team. The goal is a clean that matches the inventory so the deposit comes back in full — a deeper job than a house clearance, which removes contents rather than cleaning them.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio flat | £90–£150 | |
| 1-bed | £110–£180 | |
| 2-bed | £150–£240 | The most commonly booked size |
| 3-bed | £190–£320 | |
| 4-bed+ | £250–£450 | |
| Carpet cleaning (per room) | £25–£45 | Often required by the tenancy |
| Oven deep clean | £45–£80 | Usually included in a full clean |
| External windows | £25–£60 |
Indicative Q3 2026 UK market ranges. Confirm the figure for your job with a written quote.
Regional Price Variation
Labour rates are the main regional driver, so the same job can differ by a third across the UK. The table below applies typical regional labour weighting to studio flat (£90–£150 at the UK average).
| Region | Typical range | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £110–£183 | +22% vs UK average |
| South East | £101–£168 | +12% vs UK average |
| East of England | £94–£158 | +5% vs UK average |
| South West | £92–£153 | +2% vs UK average |
| Midlands | £90–£150 | 0% vs UK average |
| North West | £86–£144 | -4% vs UK average |
| Yorkshire & North East | £85–£141 | -6% vs UK average |
| Wales | £85–£141 | -6% vs UK average |
| Scotland | £86–£144 | -4% vs UK average |
| Northern Ireland | £79–£132 | -12% vs UK average |
Regional weighting is indicative and reflects labour-rate differences, not material costs, which are broadly national.
What’s Included in a Cleaning Company Quote
A complete quote should cover all of the following. If any line is missing, it is not a cheaper quote — it is an incomplete one, and the gap usually reappears as a variation once work has started.
- All rooms cleaned top to bottom, including inside cupboards
- Oven, hob and extractor degreased
- Bathroom descaled and sanitised
- Internal windows, sills, skirtings, doors and frames
- Limescale, mould and appliance interiors
- A re-clean if the check-out report raises cleaning issues
What Moves the Price Up or Down
Access
Restricted access, upper floors, scaffolding, or no parking near the property all add labour hours before any work happens. This is the most under-estimated cost on almost every quote.
Region
Labour rates vary 20–30% across the UK. Materials are broadly national, so the more labour-heavy the job, the bigger the regional swing.
What is included
The headline price is usually a standard clean; carpet steam-cleaning, a full oven strip-down, external windows and upholstery are common add-ons. Check exactly what is on the list — a cheap quote that excludes the oven and carpets is not really cheaper.
Existing condition
Preparation and remedial work to what is already there is the most common reason a final bill exceeds the headline rate. A survey before quoting protects both sides.
Condition and size
Bedrooms and bathrooms set the base price, but the real driver is how dirty it is. Limescale, mould, nicotine staining and pet hair all add hours, and a property left in poor order can cost half as much again as a well-kept one of the same size.
Scale
Fixed costs — set-up, access equipment, waste disposal, travel — are spread across the job, so the per-unit rate falls as the job gets bigger.
Five Ways to Bring the Cost Down
- Get three like-for-like quotes. The spread between the highest and lowest quote on the same specified scope is routinely 25–40%. That is the single biggest saving available to you, and it costs nothing.
- Match the clean to your inventory. Compare the cleaner’s checklist against the check-in report. Paying for a full deep clean when the inventory only requires a standard one — or vice versa — is where money is wasted or deposits lost.
- Book the clean for an empty property. Cleaning around boxes and furniture takes longer and costs more, so schedule it to follow your move-out. An empty flat is quicker to clean and easier to inspect against the inventory.
- Do the easy wins yourself. Emptying cupboards, clearing rubbish and a first wipe-round lets the team spend their hours on the deep work the inventory is judged against, not on tidying you could do free.
- Get the re-clean promise in writing. Many end-of-tenancy cleaners offer a free re-clean if the inventory clerk fails a room within 48–72 hours. Confirm that before booking — it is what protects your deposit.
How to Choose the Right Cleaning Company
Price is the easiest thing to compare and the least useful on its own. Before you accept a quote, check:
- Public liability insurance — ask for the certificate, not just a claim that they have it, and check it is in date.
- Relevant registration or accreditation for the trade, where one exists, and that it covers the specific work you need.
- Recent, verifiable work — ask for two addresses from the last six months, and follow them up.
- A written, itemised quote with scope, materials, timescale, payment stages and what is excluded.
- A workmanship guarantee in writing, and clarity on who honours it if the firm ceases trading.
Getting Your Deposit Back
An end-of-tenancy clean is really about one thing: the deposit. A few points decide whether the spend pays for itself:
- The standard is the check-in inventory, not spotless. A tenant must return the property as clean as it was at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. Photos and the signed inventory are the evidence.
- Landlords cannot force a professional clean. Since the Tenant Fees Act a tenancy cannot require paid cleaning; the property simply has to meet the check-in standard, however you achieve it.
- Ovens, carpets and limescale are where most deductions land, so they are where a professional clean earns its fee.
- Keep the receipt and before-and-after photos. If a deduction is disputed, the deposit scheme adjudicator decides on evidence, and a dated invoice carries real weight.
If your deposit is protected in a government-approved scheme, you can challenge an unfair cleaning deduction through its free adjudication service rather than accepting it.
End of Tenancy Cleaning Cost UK 2026 — FAQs
Since 2019 a tenancy in England cannot demand a professional clean as a blanket condition — that is a prohibited payment. You must return the property in the same cleanliness as at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Many tenants still book a professional clean because it is the cheapest way to win the deposit argument.
It removes cleaning as a deduction ground, which is the single most common dispute. It cannot help with damage, missing items or rent arrears. Keep the receipt and the before/after photos — adjudicators look for evidence.
A one-bed flat takes 3–5 hours, a three-bed house 6–9 hours, usually with a team of two or three. The property should be empty of belongings first, or the price rises.
Yes — that is what the quote assumes. Cleaning around furniture and boxes takes longer, and areas that could not be reached are exactly where the check-out clerk will look.
Three is the sweet spot. One gives you no benchmark, two leaves you guessing when they disagree, and beyond three you are usually just delaying the job. Make sure all three are quoting the same scope — a cheap quote that excludes preparation, disposal or making good is not actually cheaper.
Ranges on this page are what a homeowner typically pays. Sole traders below the VAT registration threshold do not charge VAT; VAT-registered firms add 20%. Certain works — some energy-saving measures, and renovations of properties empty for over two years — can qualify for a reduced rate, so ask if you think you qualify.
Usually three reasons: different scope (what preparation and making good is included), different materials, and how busy the trade is — a firm with a full order book prices high because they do not need the work. Always compare the written scope line by line, not just the total.
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