This is a question we get asked by landlords and tenants alike. It’s usually a precursor to the question, “What’s the difference between a professional cleaning and a tenant cleaning the property themselves?” There are a few considerations you’ll need to keep in mind before deciding whether a professional end-of-tenancy cleaning is right for you.
First and foremost, the golden rule of end-of-tenancy cleaning, no matter how you get it done, is that tenants must return property to the landlord in the exact same state of cleanliness they received it in. So, if the tenancy began with a professional grade cleaning, it needs to end with one.
How much can a landlord charge?
This is entirely dependent on the cleaning company hired. For your average flat, Foxtons Property Management estimates the professional end of tenancy cleaning takes around 3–6 hours from a 2–3-person team, who have the right specialist equipment and the experience to clean get every nook and cranny, from the greasy oven grills to the limescale on the shower door, to the grimy washing machine seal.
For properties under 3,000 sq ft with no special circumstances, for a Professional Cleaning including steam cleaning carpets, we typically charge:
| Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £225 | £285 | £320 | £395 | £495 | £595 |
Can the tenant clean it themselves?
Say you’re a tidy tenant, you have a regular dusting routine and a little brush just for getting your shower grout to shine. If you want to do the cleaning yourself, it is technically possible to do a professional grade cleaning.
You will need to hire specialist equipment, spend roughly 7–8 hours (or more, depending on how handy you are with that rented steam cleaner!) and buy a range of heavy-duty cleaners to get the job done properly.
So, if you’d prefer to take the day after you moved out to give the property a thorough clean, that’s absolutely fine. However, there’s one more reason to consider hiring a professional. If anything isn’t cleaned to exacting standards in preparation for the next tenant, the landlord will need to hire in a cleaner. The cleaner’s bill will be deducted from the deposit, wasting the long day’s work you put into it.
Professional cleaning services typically come with re-clean guarantee, so even in the unlikely case they miss something, you have peace of mind that it’ll be taken care of without involving your deposit.
How should you clean at the end of a tenancy to avoid a cleaning charge when you leave? See our Tenant guide to moving out: fair wear-and-tear and getting a deposit back.
Best practice: check in and check out
The best way for Landlords to ensure they receive the property in the same condition they let it is to get a check-in and check-out report. For this report, an expert is hired to review and document all conditions within the property.
The best way for a Tenant to protect their deposit is to maintain a clean home throughout their tenancy, review the check-in report and ensure the property is cleaned to the same standard prior to the check-out report.
This report ensures the Landlord and Tenant are on the same page about the property and helps solve any disputes around the deposit at the end of the tenancy. Foxtons Landlords can request a check-in report on My Foxtons, or with their Property Manager.
Additional resources for Tenants:
- Spring clean: tips for a tidy flat to protect your deposit
- Plants, cushions and crafts: how to decorate a rented flat
- What are my responsibilities as a tenant
Additional resources for Landlords:
