Hero image

Compare removal quotes

Get connected to top-rated movers

Free - No obligation

End of Tenancy Cleaning

Article reviewed by Henry Paterson, Senior Operations Executive at Housekeep, the UK’s leading home cleaning service.

There’s so much to think about when it comes to the end of your tenancy. Using a professional end-of-tenancy cleaning service can really help to take some of the stress out of moving house. If you book professionals, you can be confident that you’ll get your deposit back in full once you’ve moved out – meaning you’ve got one less thing to worry about.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Why Do I Need an End-of-Tenancy Clean?

At the end of a rental lease, you’ll need to clean the property and return it to the state it was when you moved in – good-as-new for the next tenants. Moving house is hard enough work as it is. No matter how good a cleaner you are, you’re unlikely to have the equipment, technique or time to complete an end-of-tenancy clean yourself.


End-of-tenancy cleaning is a specialist service, so it does cost a little more than regular cleaning. The exact cost will depend on the size of your home, and whether or not you need any extra services, like carpet or upholstery cleaning.


To give you an idea of what you might expect to pay for cleaning services, we’ve drawn up a table of approximate prices for end-of-tenancy cleaning. The exact cost will depend on several factors, including the size & location of your home, and whether or not you require extra tasks like carpet cleaning:

Cleaning ServicesDetails
Average price
Regular cleaning– Weekly cleaning & tidying of your home. This can include washing up, vacuuming, mopping, dusting and laundry.
£15 per hour
Deep cleaning– Thorough cleaning of your home, including removing deep dirt and limescale
– Focus on kitchen and bathrooms
– Can include cleaning of white goods (fridge/freezer) & oven, but these may need to be booked as extra tasks
– Price depends on the size of your home, where you’re based & whether you need any extra services
£150 – £500
End of tenancy cleaning– Cleaning your home after you’ve packed up and moved out
– Designed to make your home as good as new
– Includes hard to reach areas, like inside cupboards
– Includes fridge/freezer cleaning & oven cleaning
– Price depends on the size of your home, where you’re based & whether you need any extra services
£150 – £500
Carpet cleaning– Price depends on the number and size of the rooms that need carpet cleaning
£45 – £200

Find Affordable Moving Solutions in the UK

Many house removal companies offer end-of-tenancy cleaning, letting you manage both packing and cleaning seamlessly with one provider. Alternatively, specialist cleaning services focus solely on end-of-tenancy cleans. To guarantee you’re getting the best deal for either option:

Find Your Ideal Removal & Cleaning Team!

Snag offers from up to 6 top-notch services here

end of tenancy cleaning services

End-of-Tenancy Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning

When it comes to booking a cleaning service, there are several different options that you can choose from. Some are designed to help with day-to-day housework, like washing up and dusting sides, while others are booked for heavy-duty cleaning that requires specialist products & equipment.

Let’s check out some differences between 3 very popular cleaning services:

#1. Regular Cleaning

If you find yourself falling behind with the chores – or you just fancy freeing up some extra time – then this is the service for you. Getting someone in every week or two will take the stress of housework away. And most importantly, it gets you hours of valuable time back every week.
When booking regular cleaning it’s really up to you which cleaning tasks you’d like done. Most cleaners can iron, dust, wash up, do the laundry, mop, vacuum and tidy. But don’t expect a regular cleaner to help with heavy-duty cleaning tasks – if you need mould removal, carpet cleaning, furniture moving or anything like that, you’ll need to book a specialist.
You should regularly communicate with your cleaner – you must let them know how you like things done, and which tasks or rooms are most important to you.

#2. Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning is much more thorough and time-consuming than regular cleaning. This kind of cleaning should be booked a few times a year, rather than every week or two. Your kitchen and bathrooms are the rooms that will accumulate the most dirt, grease, and dust, so deep cleaning usually focuses on removing ingrained dirt and limescale from these rooms.
Depending on which cleaning service you book with, their deep cleaning may also include the cleaning of white goods & appliances. Even if they’re not included as standard, you can usually request these as extra services.
There’s no one-size-fits-all definition of deep cleaning – so always check what’s included as standard to make sure the areas you care most about will get cleaned. If they’re not included, you can always ask if they can be booked as extra services and added to your quote.

#3. End-of-Tenancy Cleaning

End-of-tenancy cleaning is designed to clean your home from top to bottom before you move out. This service covers hard-to-reach areas, like on top of cabinets, beneath furniture and inside cupboards. End-of-tenancy cleaning is usually completed against an agency-approved checklist, and the cleaners should guarantee the service – meaning they’ll re-clean if the job doesn’t pass your inspection.

What is more, your property needs to be emptied before you can have an end-of-tenancy clean, so make sure you’ve packed and loaded all of your items onto the removal van before the cleaners arrive. You’ll also need to make sure that any repair or replacement work has happened before the cleaning starts.

Why Hire a Professional End-of-Tenancy Service?

A tenant is responsible for leaving the property in a clean and hygienic condition when they check out. Cleanliness will play a pivotal role in the inspection process when you move out. Here are a few of the things your landlord will be looking for:


● No rubbish, food waste or debris
● No pet hairs on carpets, upholstery etc.
● No stains, dirt, fingermarks or dust
● No limescale
● No mould or mildew

Unfortunately, end-of-tenancy cleaning often sparks disputes between landlords and tenants, risking deposit deductions. In many cases, while attempting DIY cleaning is an option, achieving the required level of cleanliness for a full refund can be daunting. Professionals possess the expertise, equipment, and patience needed for impeccable results.

– Secure Your Rental Deposit Return!

End-of-tenancy cleaners meticulously prepare the property for the next tenant. You can think of their service as a thorough deep clean, addressing a range of tasks to restore the property to a pristine condition.

So, if you’re thinking about whether to include a professional end-of-tenancy clean in your moving services, it’s one of the easiest ways to safeguard your deposit. Making it a smart choice to make your relocation smoother and less stressful overall.

What Does End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Include?

While you might be accustomed to doing your regular domestic cleaning, an end-of-tenancy clean is far more demanding and isn’t something that most people can complete themselves. For peace of mind, it’s well worth hiring the services of expert end-of-tenancy cleaners.
Here are some of the specialist cleaning tasks included in end-of-tenancy cleaning:

– Removing All Limescale from Taps, Sinks, Showers and Baths

It’s easy to miss limescale on shower tiles, in toilets or in any number of other places – especially if you’re not too sure where to look. Plus, limescale can build up over time and become pretty stubborn. Professional cleaners will bring specialist limescale removers that will have your taps, sinks, and shower screens sparkling again.

– Cleaning the Inside of the Windows

This is something that’s often forgotten about, but all windows need to be dusted and completely streak-free. You’ll need to make sure that your window sills get thoroughly cleaned too. Professional cleaners will bring the products and knowledge to ensure this job gets done properly.

– Washing the Kitchen Cupboards

This isn’t just a quick spray and wipe job – to get your deposit back you’ll need the cupboards to have had a thorough deep clean. You’ll also need the top and bottom of the cupboards to be cleaned, as this is where grease and grime from your cooking accumulate. Professional end-of-tenancy cleaners will give a thorough clean of these hard-to-reach areas, so you don’t have to.

– Dusting All Blinds and Curtains

All curtains and blinds must be completely clean and dust-free, as a lot of dust and dirt can build up on blinds and curtains. End-of-tenancy cleaners will make sure that all curtains & blinds are completely dusted ahead of your check-out inspection.

– Cleaning Appliances & Whites

Ensuring that carpets & upholstery are clean and stain-free requires the use of specialist equipment that you probably don’t have lying around. Expert end-of-tenancy cleaners have everything required for the job, so you won’t lose your rental deposit because of dirt and stains on your flooring or furniture. You may need to book this as an extra task though – so do make sure that you let the cleaning company know when you make the booking.

– Cleaning Carpets & Upholstery

Ensuring that carpets are clean and stain-free requires the use of specialist equipment that you would probably need to hire: your expert end-of-tenancy cleaners have everything required so you won’t face losing your rental deposit because of dirt and stains on your flooring.

Can a Removal Firm Do End-of-Tenancy Cleaning?

In addition to handling packing, transporting and unpacking of your belongings, certain removal firms also offer cost-effective and efficient end-of-tenancy cleaning services. This ensures a smooth transition for your move, with the added benefit of aiding your full deposit refund.


End-of-tenancy cleaning by removal firms typically includes:


● Carpet cleaning
● Oven cleaning
● Deep cleaning of kitchen cupboards and bathrooms
● Cleaning of interior windows
● Upholstery cleaning

If you opt to go with a removal firm rather than a cleaning company, just ensure that the service is guaranteed and adheres to an agency-approved checklist – just like a specialist cleaning company does.

Secure the Best Moving Service Quotes

If you’re preparing to move house and are looking for end-of-tenancy cleaners, We can help you compare prices from removal firms offering this service.

Connect with Trusted Removal Services Today!

Cut your moving costs by up to 40%

Alternatively, you can look at booking end-of-tenancy cleaning from a cleaning service like Housekeep, the UK’s leading home cleaning service.

4.4/5 - (9 votes)

Receive quotes for your move

Discover which companies match your requirements in a matter of minutes.

Related articles

Compare quotes from removal companies and save