On average, you can expect end of tenancy clean prices in the UK to start from around £180 for a studio flat and go up to £415 or more for a large six-bedroom house. The final number on your bill, however, will hinge on the size and condition of your property, as well as where you live.
Your Guide to End of Tenancy Cleaning Prices
Let's be honest, moving out is a headache. The last thing you need is a surprise cleaning bill eating into your deposit. Getting a handle on what you should expect to pay is the first step towards a smooth, stress-free handover.
Think of it like ordering a meal. The size of your property is the main course, setting the base price. But the final cost really depends on any extras you add on top. This section will give you a clear rundown of typical prices across the UK, so you can set a realistic budget. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of what drives these costs later, putting you in a much stronger position when it comes time to get quotes.
The Rising Cost of Professional Cleaning
If you feel like professional cleaning has gotten more expensive, you're not wrong. The demand for cleaners who can meet the exacting standards of landlord inventories has steadily pushed prices up over the last decade.
Back in 2015, a deep clean for a two-bedroom property would have set you back about £120. Fast forward to 2025, and that same job now costs closer to £260. That's a massive 117% increase in just ten years. To get a better sense of why, looking at an ultimate apartment turnover cleaning checklist shows just how much meticulous work is involved. This isn't just a quick once-over.
A professional end-of-tenancy clean is a top-to-bottom service designed to return a property to its original move-in condition. It is far more intensive than a standard domestic clean, covering areas often overlooked in weekly tidying.
Average UK Price Ranges
So, what should you actually budget for? To give you a clearer picture, here’s a table of the typical price brackets you’re likely to see for properties outside of London.
Estimated End of Tenancy Cleaning Prices by Property Size
| Property Type / Size | Average Price Range (UK excluding London) |
|---|---|
| Studio Flat | £180 – £200 |
| 1-Bedroom Flat | £200 – £240 |
| 2-Bedroom House/Flat | £240 – £280 |
| 3-Bedroom House | £280 – £330 |
| 4+ Bedroom House | £350+ |
Just keep in mind, these are ballpark figures. Your final quote will always depend on the unique aspects of your property.
These prices typically cover a full deep clean of every room, including scrubbing kitchens and bathrooms until they shine. However, they often don't include specialist services like steam cleaning carpets or washing the outside of your windows. We'll dive into those extra costs a bit later on.
So, What Really Determines Your Final Cleaning Bill?
While the size of your property gives a rough idea of the cost, it’s rarely the full story. A number of other factors can have a big impact on your final invoice, sometimes turning what seems like a simple job into something much bigger. Getting your head around these variables is the key to getting a quote that doesn't give you a nasty surprise later on.
The biggest factor, hands down, is the overall condition of the property. A one-bedroom flat that's been left to its own devices for a few years, with tough limescale in the bathroom and a cooker caked in grease, will almost always cost more to clean than a three-bedroom house that's been kept in good nick. It’s all about the time and elbow grease required, not just the square footage.
Think of it this way: cleaning a car that’s just been through a muddy field is a totally different beast to washing one that's just a bit dusty. Same car, but the level of dirt changes the job completely.
Key Cost Drivers Beyond Just the Size
Aside from the general state it's in, there are a few specific things that will always move the price needle. Any professional cleaning company worth its salt will ask about these when putting together your quote.
- Location: No surprises here—where you live matters. The cost of labour and just running a business is way higher in big cities. A clean in central London, for example, can easily cost 15-20% more than the exact same job in a smaller town up North.
- Parking and Access: This is a practical one. If the cleaning team has to shell out for parking all day or lug heavy equipment up to a top-floor flat with no lift, those logistical headaches can add a bit to the final bill.
- Specific Tenancy Clause Requirements: Dig out your tenancy agreement. Some landlords insist on specific professional services, like having all the carpets steam cleaned or the curtains professionally treated. These are almost always treated as add-ons and will bump up the standard price.
Why Your Quote Might Be Higher Than You Thought
When you're asking for a quote, honesty is the best policy. Be upfront about the state of the property. A price you get over the phone based on just the number of bedrooms is nothing more than a ballpark figure.
An accurate quote can only come from a clear understanding of the work involved. If you're vague, you'll get a vague price, and that's how unexpected charges pop up on cleaning day.
Forgetting to mention the heavy mould in the shower or the fact the oven hasn't seen a sponge in two years means the initial quote won't account for the extra hours and specialised cleaning products needed to sort it out. This is exactly why many good companies now use detailed forms or even video surveys to see the property for themselves before giving you a fixed price. By giving them the full picture, you ensure the end of tenancy clean prices you're quoted are the prices you'll actually pay.
Comparing Cleaning Prices Across Different UK Cities
It probably won’t surprise you to hear that, just like a pint costs more in London than it does in Liverpool, the price of an end-of-tenancy clean is heavily tied to your postcode. This isn’t just a minor detail; it’s one of the biggest factors influencing your final bill, so it pays to understand how your location fits into the picture.
At its core, this all comes down to the local economy. Higher wages, rent for business premises, and general living costs in big cities – especially London – mean cleaning companies simply have higher overheads to cover. That cost, naturally, gets passed on to the customer.
This infographic gives you a great visual breakdown of what goes into the final price. You can see how the property's condition, its size, and any extra services you need all stack up.
As the graphic shows, while the state of your flat is a massive variable, your location sets the starting line for the entire calculation.
A Tale of Two Cities: London vs The Regions
The price difference between London and pretty much everywhere else in the UK can be stark. A typical two-bedroom flat in the capital, for instance, could set you back anywhere from £220 to £300. For the exact same job in Manchester or Birmingham, you’d be looking at a much more palatable £190 to £240.
This gap is often even more noticeable for smaller properties. A studio flat clean that might cost you £120 in a regional town will almost certainly be over £170 in London.
This is precisely why those generic "get an instant quote" online calculators can be so misleading. Without knowing your postcode, they can only spit out a vague national average, which might be miles off the mark for your area. For tenants in the South West, for example, it’s much more useful to look at local figures. We actually have a detailed guide covering what to expect from an end of tenancy cleaning in Bristol if that’s your neck of the woods.
Regional Price Comparison for a 2-Bedroom Flat
To give you a clearer idea of how much costs can vary, we've put together a quick comparison of average prices for a standard two-bedroom flat across several major UK cities. It really highlights why getting local quotes is so important.
| City | Average Price Range |
|---|---|
| London | £220 – £300 |
| Manchester | £190 – £240 |
| Birmingham | £190 – £240 |
| Bristol | £195 – £250 |
| Edinburgh | £200 – £260 |
| Liverpool | £180 – £230 |
As you can see, where you live plays a massive role. The difference between a clean in Liverpool and one in London could easily be over £70 for the same size property.
Why Local Quotes Matter Most
When all is said and done, the only way to get a figure you can actually rely on is to ask for quotes from local companies. Their pricing is built around local labour costs, travel times, and what the market in your town or city will bear. A national average is a decent starting point for a rough idea, but a local quote is a number you can budget with.
By taking the time to source a few local quotes, you avoid the nasty shock of being quoted a London price when you live in Leeds. It’s a simple step that protects your moving budget and ensures the end of tenancy clean prices you agree to are fair and right for your area.
What's Actually Included in Your Cleaning Quote? (And What’s Not)
When you get a quote for an end-of-tenancy clean, it's easy to assume the price covers every single thing. The base cost typically includes a thorough, top-to-bottom clean of the property itself, but it rarely covers everything your landlord might expect. Certain jobs are almost always classed as optional "add-ons".
Think of it like buying a car. The price on the windscreen gets you the standard model, but you'll pay extra for the metallic paint or heated seats. Understanding these potential extras is the key to budgeting properly and making sure you meet the landlord's requirements to get your full deposit back.
Common Add-Ons and What They Cost
So, what are these extras? They're usually specialised jobs that need specific equipment, products, and a good chunk of extra time, which is why they aren't bundled into a standard quote.
Here are the most common ones you'll come across:
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Professional Carpet Cleaning: A good vacuum is always part of the standard service, but a deep steam clean isn't. If your contract demands it, or the carpets have seen better days, expect to pay around £50 per room. This service uses hot water extraction to pull out grime that's been trodden deep into the fibres.
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Deep Oven Cleaning: A standard clean involves wiping down the oven's interior and hob. A deep clean is a whole different beast. It means taking the oven apart – racks, trays, fan cover – for a full degreasing. It’s an intensive job, and a very common requirement, often adding £40 to £60 to your final bill.
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Upholstery and Curtain Cleaning: If you moved into a furnished property, the landlord will likely expect the sofas and armchairs to be professionally cleaned. This can cost about £60 for a standard sofa.
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Exterior Window Washing: The cleaners will always do the insides of the windows. The outsides, however, are another matter, especially on upper floors where different tools and safety gear are needed. This service typically starts from £30 for a small terraced house.
Check Your Tenancy Agreement First
Before you even think about booking, grab your tenancy agreement. This is your rulebook. It will spell out exactly what condition the property needs to be in when you hand back the keys.
You might find a clause that says something like, "The property must be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy, with carpets professionally steam cleaned and a receipt provided." If you see that, ignoring it is a surefire way to lose part of your deposit.
Also, dig out the inventory report from when you first moved in. If it noted that the carpets were "professionally cleaned," then you're on the hook to return them in the same state. By checking these documents, you'll know precisely which add-ons are non-negotiable, letting you build a cleaning package that satisfies your landlord without paying for things you don’t need.
How to Get an Accurate and Fair Cleaning Quote
Getting a solid, reliable quote is probably the most important part of booking a stress-free end-of-tenancy clean. Vague estimates based purely on the number of bedrooms are a classic recipe for surprise costs popping up on the day. To really lock in a fair price, you need to give the cleaning company a crystal-clear picture of what they’re walking into.
Think of it like getting a quote to fix your car. You wouldn't just tell the mechanic, "It's making a funny noise." You'd describe the sound, when it happens, and what kind of car it is. It’s exactly the same principle here. The more specific you can be about your property’s condition and what you need, the more accurate your quote will be.
Give Them the Right Details from the Start
To dodge any last-minute price hikes, make sure you have a few key details ready before you even start calling around. The more info you can provide upfront, the tighter and more reliable your quote will be.
Have this information handy when you make an enquiry:
- Property Layout: How many bedrooms, bathrooms, and other rooms like a study or a separate dining room?
- Current State: Be completely honest about how clean (or not so clean) it is. Make sure to point out any tricky spots like heavy limescale in the shower, serious grease build-up in the kitchen, or lots of scuff marks on the walls.
- Furnishings: Is the property furnished or unfurnished? It takes a lot longer to clean around furniture, so this makes a real difference.
- Extra Services: Be very clear if you need any add-ons, such as professional carpet steaming, a deep oven clean, or getting the outside of the windows washed.
An itemised quote is more than just a price – it’s your agreement. It should clearly list every single task the company will carry out, leaving no room for confusion. It’s your go-to document if any questions come up later.
Try Modern Quoting Methods
Phone calls and online forms are still the standard, but they have their limits. What one person considers a "messy kitchen" can be a world away from someone else's definition, and that gap in understanding can really throw off the end of tenancy clean prices you're quoted.
To get around this, many switched-on companies now offer much better ways to get a quote. One of the most effective is the self-video survey. This is a brilliant, modern approach where you simply walk through your home with your smartphone, showing the cleaners exactly what needs doing. It’s fast, incredibly convenient, and takes all the guesswork out of the equation.
You can learn more about how a simple video quote for your move-out clean can lock in a fixed, fair price. It guarantees the company sees exactly what you see, giving you a quote you can truly rely on.
Practical Tips to Lower Your Cleaning Costs
While bringing in the professionals is usually the surest way to get your full deposit back, you can still be smart about managing your end of tenancy clean prices. A little prep work from your side can genuinely shave a surprising amount off the final invoice without cutting corners on quality.
Think of it like getting a room ready for a painter. You'd move the furniture and clear the decks so they can get straight to the skilled work you’re paying for. It's the same principle here. The less time cleaners have to spend on basic tidying, the less you'll have to pay.
Your Pre-Clean Checklist
Before the cleaning team rings your doorbell, knocking a few simple tasks off the list can seriously cut down their working hours. Since most quotes are based on time, this directly translates into money back in your pocket.
Here are a few high-impact jobs you can easily tackle yourself:
- Declutter Completely: Make sure the property is 100% empty of your personal belongings. The cleaners need to get into every nook and cranny, and having to shift your boxes and bits just adds time and cost to the job.
- Remove All Rubbish: Empty every single bin, and clear out any leftover food from the fridge, freezer, and cupboards.
- Wipe Down Accessible Surfaces: A quick once-over on shelves, windowsills, and countertops lifts the surface-level dust. This lets the professional team focus their time on the deep-down sanitising that inventory clerks look for.
- Defrost the Fridge and Freezer: This is a big one. It needs doing at least 24 hours before the clean. An iced-up freezer is impossible to clean properly on the day and can be a real headache.
For a more granular guide on what to cover, this comprehensive end of tenancy cleaning checklist is a brilliant resource to make sure nothing gets missed.
The goal isn't to do the cleaners' job for them, but to remove obstacles. Every minute they don't spend clearing your clutter is a minute spent on the deep cleaning that actually gets your deposit back.
A bit of effort upfront really does streamline the whole process, making it faster and much more cost-effective. When you hand over a property that’s primed and ready for a deep clean, you're making sure you only pay for the expert service you actually need.
Your End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Questions Answered
Moving out can feel like a whirlwind of questions, especially when it comes to the final clean. Getting it right is crucial for getting your deposit back. Here are some straightforward answers to the questions we hear all the time.
Is Professional Cleaning Actually Required by Law?
In a word, no. There’s no law in the UK that says you must hire a professional cleaning company.
However, your tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract, and it almost certainly states you have to leave the property in the same state of cleanliness you found it in. Knowing exactly what landlords can deduct from a security deposit is your best defence against disputes.
This is where the professionals come in. Hiring a proper service and getting a receipt is the easiest, most reliable way to prove you’ve done your bit. It’s your best insurance policy for getting that deposit back in full.
How Long Does a Proper End of Tenancy Clean Take?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here; it really boils down to the size of your place and its current condition. As a rough guide, a team of two cleaners might spend about 3-5 hours on a studio or a one-bedroom flat.
For a larger, three-bedroom house, you could be looking at 5-8 hours of solid work. Of course, if the property needs a lot of attention or you've added services like professional carpet cleaning, the clock will keep ticking.
The thing to remember is that a professional clean is measured in labour-hours, not just square metres. A small but grimy flat can easily take longer to tackle than a larger house that’s been well looked after.
What’s Actually Included in a Standard Clean?
A standard end-of-tenancy clean isn't just a quick wipe-down. It's a comprehensive, top-to-bottom blitz designed to satisfy even the most eagle-eyed inventory clerk.
Think of it covering these key areas:
- The Kitchen: A deep clean of all cupboards (inside and out), scrubbing worktops and sinks, and getting every last bit of grease off the hob and extractor fan.
- The Bathrooms: Descaling tiles, toilets, shower screens, and baths to make them sparkle again.
- All Other Rooms: A thorough dusting, vacuuming, and mopping of all floors, plus cleaning the inside of windows, wiping down skirting boards, and even cleaning light fittings.
Before you book, always ask the company for their detailed checklist. It’s the only way to know exactly what’s included in their standard end of tenancy clean prices.
Ready to book a guaranteed professional clean that secures your deposit? The team at SimplyPro Removal & Storage Ltd offers meticulous end-of-tenancy cleaning services across Bristol and Bath. Get your fast, accurate quote today at https://www.simplyremovalsbristol.co.uk.