Your guide to end of tenancy cleaning prices

It’s no secret that moving home can be a stressful and difficult time. There is a huge amount of logistics to manage and keep on top of, plus you’ve got the added worry of moving all of your possessions. Because of this, many people turn to professionals to help them with the whole process, and this includes cleaning the property that they’re moving out of.

If you’ve been renting, or even if you’re selling a property, end of tenancy cleaning is a great option to make moving out significantly less stressful, and to give you the peace of mind that a professional cleaning can offer. In some cases, you may be required to have an end of tenancy clean carried out by your rental contract.

So, if you are thinking about getting an end of tenancy cleaning, how much would you expect to pay? And what’s included? Read this ultimate guide to find out.

How much does an end of tenancy cleaning cost?

The price you’ll pay for an end of tenancy cleaning will vary depending on the size of the home and the condition. The table below details the rough costs for different sizes of property.

So the range for end of tenancy cleaning prices, across all kinds of properties, is from around £150-£425+. Remember that for larger houses you can split the cost between everybody who lives there, so don’t be put off by a large quote.

End of tenancy cleaning can also be done on an hourly rate. Expect to pay around £20-£25 per hour, with an end of tenancy clean taking between 3 and 8 hours for 2 cleaners. It’s generally better to get a quote for the entire job, but some companies will prefer to quote an hourly rate.

What affects the price of an end of tenancy cleaning?

The main thing that will affect the price of an end of tenancy cleaning is the size of the property, as we’ve detailed in the table above. However, the condition of the property may also have an effect – although generally only if it’s extremely clean or in particularly poor condition. If it’s very clean, you can expect to pay slightly below the low end of the ranges above. If in very bad condition, you may need to pay up to double the prices above. In particular, if there has been building or construction work in the property that hasn’t been cleaned properly, this may add a substantial amount to the price.

You may also require some extra services – read on to find out what’s generally included in an end of tenancy clean and what’s usually considered an extra.

What does end of tenancy cleaning involve?

Unlike a regular house clean, end of tenancy cleaning involves deep cleaning all areas of your home, including tackling any mould and limescale that have built up. This means that the carpets, floors, tiles, walls, and the inside of windows will all get a deep clean, as well as areas like window sills, shelving, and the bathroom. Most companies will tailor what’s included in an end of tenancy clean to your specific needs – so if you have a limescale issue in a bathroom or mould on a wall, it’s worth mentioning so the problem can be given the special attention it needs.

As well as this, end of tenancy cleaning includes cleaning out appliances that you may well not have thought about otherwise, for example the oven, fridge/freezer and washing machine will all get a good deep clean. If you don’t have these appliances included in the property, expect to pay a bit less as these services won’t be required.

The companies that carry out end of tenancy cleaning have a good knowledge of the standard of cleaning that landlords and estate management companies will expect, so rest assured the professionals will do a good job and get the cleanliness of your property up to scratch.

Generally, deep carpet cleaning isn’t specifically included, just a good hoover. So, if you need carpet stain removal or carpet cleaning, expect to pay between £100 and £300 extra, depending on how much carpet needs cleaning and the level of the staining. An end of tenancy clean also only includes window cleaning from the inside, so if you need outdoor window cleaning, you’ll need to add this to the service or speak to a professional window cleaner.

What are the benefits of an end of tenancy clean?

Why would you get an end of tenancy clean? There are a number of benefits:

• Peace of mind – engaging the professionals to get everything cleaned will make sure it’s all been done properly
• Deposits – when you rent, you may be worried about getting your deposit back, particularly if your property is dirty or unclean. A professional end of tenancy clean may make it easier to get your deposit back
• One less thing to worry about – making the entire process of moving out much easier and smoother for you
• Saves you time – a professional cleaning team will complete the entire end of tenancy clean far quicker than you could do it yourself

End of tenancy cleaning tips

We have a few quick tips to help you make the end of tenancy cleaning process as easy as possible.

Move as much of your possessions out as possible before the clean

It’s far easier to clean if you’ve already moved out as much of your stuff as you can. This has the added benefit of potentially reducing the price, as companies may factor having to move your possessions and furniture around into the overall cost. Plus, moving everything out will give you a much better sense of what actually needs cleaning, as you’ll have already seen the state of all those hidden nooks and crannies. This means there’ll be no nasty surprises that may increase the cost!

Highlight any problem areas or things to focus on

If you have a specific problem in an area, don’t try and hide it. Just ask the cleaning company to put extra focus on it. It’ll work out cheaper in the long run, even if it does increase the cost, as any recurring issues like mould or limescale may end up being considered damage and taken out of your deposit. It’s much better to get it sorted and up to professional standards, so there’s no way it can come back to you later.

Defrost your fridge and freezer and ensure all appliances are ready to clean

If you’re getting appliances cleaned as part of an end of tenancy clean, make sure they’re ready to clean before the company arrives. This may mean defrosting your fridge-freezer, ensuring your washing machine or tumble dryer are dry and empty of clothes, and ensuring your oven is empty and ready to clean. You’d be surprised at the number of people that don’t do this! If the cleaning company needs to wait for things to defrost or dry out before they start cleaning, this may be reflected in the price, so it’s worth taking a minute to get it sorted out the day before.

Give everything a quick wipe down beforehand 

It might seem counterintuitive or like a waste of time, since you’re paying people to clean, but giving everything a quick wipe down is a great way to speed up the entire process and let the end of tenancy cleaners focus on deep cleaning everything.

Is an end of tenancy clean required?

End of tenancy cleans are sometimes required as part of the moving out process. Your rental contract will set out what’s needed. Sometimes landlords request to see receipts or proof of purchase of a professional clean, while sometimes the contract will simply say that the property should be cleaned to a professional standard, which means you may be able to do it yourself.

However, for peace of mind it’s generally recommended to engage a professional cleaning company to carry out an end of tenancy clean. Remember that, regardless of what your contract states, it’s your responsibility to leave your rental property in a similar standard of cleanliness to when you moved in.

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