End of tenancy cleaning in London costs between £120 and £380, depending on the size and condition of the property. A studio typically starts at around £120, a one-bedroom flat at £150, a two-bedroom flat at £190, and a three-bedroom house at £250. Add-ons such as carpet steam cleaning or upholstery are charged separately. Below is a full breakdown of what you should expect to pay in London and Croydon in 2026 — and how to make sure that spend actually protects your deposit.
Average End of Tenancy Cleaning Prices in London and Croydon
Most reputable London cleaning companies quote a fixed price per property rather than an hourly rate, which protects you if the clean takes longer than expected. These are typical 2026 rates for a standard, unfurnished property in reasonable condition:
Property size | Typical price range | Time on site | Cleaners |
|---|---|---|---|
Studio | £120 – £160 | 3 – 4 hours | 1 – 2 |
1-bedroom flat | £150 – £200 | 4 – 5 hours | 2 |
2-bedroom flat or house | £190 – £260 | 5 – 6 hours | 2 |
3-bedroom house | £250 – £330 | 6 – 8 hours | 2 – 3 |
4-bedroom house | £310 – £420 | 8 – 10 hours | 3 |
5-bedroom+ | £380 – £500+ | Full day | 3 – 4 |
Prices in Croydon and the wider South London area tend to sit at the lower end of these ranges, while central London postcodes (Zone 1–2) run 15–25% higher for the same property size.
Beware of quotes that look dramatically cheaper than the table above. A £90 “end of tenancy clean” for a two-bedroom flat almost always means a light domestic tidy rather than the deep, agency-standard clean an inventory clerk is checking against — and you will pay twice when the check-out report comes back.
What Affects the Price?
Property size
Bedrooms are the headline figure in every quote, but bathrooms drive the cost more than most people realise. Bathrooms and kitchens are the two most labour-intensive rooms in any property, so a two-bedroom flat with two bathrooms will be priced closer to a three-bedroom property with one.
Condition and level of dirt
A property that has been cleaned regularly throughout the tenancy sits at the bottom of the range. Heavy limescale, a badly neglected oven, grease build-up behind appliances, mould in bathroom sealant, or nicotine staining will all add to the quote — usually 15–30%. Honest companies will ask for photographs before confirming a price on a property in poor condition, and you should be suspicious of one that does not ask any questions at all.
Add-ons
Carpet steam cleaning, upholstery, external windows and rubbish removal are almost never included in a standard end of tenancy price. If your tenancy agreement or check-in inventory mentions professionally cleaned carpets, budget for these separately (see the table below).
Furnished vs unfurnished
A furnished property costs 10–20% more to clean. Every wardrobe, drawer, sofa and mattress adds surface area, and furniture has to be moved to reach skirting boards and flooring behind it.
Timing
Same-day and next-day bookings, Sunday slots and bank holidays typically carry a premium. Booking five to seven days ahead of your check-out date gives you the best rate and the best choice of time slot.
What’s Included in a Standard End of Tenancy Clean
A professional clean should follow an agency-approved checklist and cover every room from top to bottom:
Kitchen — oven cleaned inside, including racks, trays and glass door; hob, extractor and filters degreased; fridge and freezer cleaned inside and out (and defrosted where possible); washing machine drawer, seal and filter; microwave; all cupboards and drawers cleaned inside; worktops, tiles and splashbacks descaled; sink and taps descaled and polished; bins washed.
Bathrooms — toilet descaled and disinfected inside and out; bath, shower, screen and tiles descaled; limescale removed from taps, shower heads and glass; mould treated in sealant and grout; mirrors and cabinets polished; extractor fan grille cleaned; floors washed.
Bedrooms and living areas — wardrobes and drawers cleaned inside; skirting boards, door frames, doors and handles wiped; light switches and sockets cleaned; light fittings and lampshades dusted; radiators cleaned including behind; picture rails and cornices dusted; internal windows, sills and frames cleaned; carpets vacuumed and hard floors mopped.
Throughout — cobwebs removed, vents and extractors cleaned, mirrors polished, hallways and stairs cleaned, and all internal glass done.
Add-On Services and Typical Costs
Add-on service | Typical London price |
|---|---|
Carpet steam cleaning (per room) | £35 – £50 |
Carpet steam cleaning (stairs and landing) | £45 – £85 |
Rug cleaning (per rug) | £25 – £40 |
Upholstery cleaning (per seat) | £25 – £50 |
Mattress cleaning (double) | £35 – £50 |
Deep oven clean (if not included) | £45 – £75 |
External window cleaning | £40 – £80 |
Balcony or patio clean | £30 – £60 |
Rubbish and bulky waste removal | From £50 |
Many companies discount carpet cleaning substantially when it is booked alongside the main end of tenancy clean, simply because the team is already on site — it is nearly always cheaper to bundle than to book separately.
Is It Cheaper to Do It Yourself?
On paper, yes. In practice the maths is closer than it looks.
A DIY end of tenancy clean on a two-bedroom flat realistically takes one person 12–16 hours spread over two days. You will also need to buy or hire equipment: a carpet cleaner hire runs £25–£35 a day plus solution, a proper oven cleaning kit is £15–£20, and limescale removers, degreasers, mould treatments, microfibre cloths and a steam cleaner add another £40–£60. You are looking at £80–£120 of outlay and the better part of a weekend, at the exact moment you are also trying to move house.
The real risk is the check-out report. If the inventory clerk marks the property down for cleaning, your landlord or agent can arrange a professional clean themselves and deduct it from your deposit — usually at a higher rate than you would have paid, plus an administration charge in some cases. A £190 clean you booked yourself is cheaper than a £280 deduction you had no control over.
DIY makes sense if you have kept the property genuinely clean throughout, the oven is in decent condition, and there are no carpets. Otherwise, a professional clean with a re-clean guarantee is the cheaper option once you account for risk.
How to Avoid Deposit Deductions
- Read your check-in inventory first. The standard you have to meet is the condition the property was in when you moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear — not showroom perfect. Photographs in the check-in report are your baseline and your protection.
- Know the law on cleaning clauses. Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019, a landlord or agent in England cannot require you to pay for professional cleaning as a condition of the tenancy. What they can do is deduct from your deposit if the property is returned less clean than it was at check-in. In other words: you are free to clean it yourself, but you are responsible for the result.
- Book the clean for after you have moved out. Cleaning around boxes, furniture and last-minute packing guarantees a patchy result. Ideally the property should be empty, with utilities still connected.
- Don’t skip the oven and the limescale. These are the two single most common reasons for cleaning-related deductions in London. Hard water in Croydon and South London runs around 300 ppm — very hard — so limescale on taps, shower screens and toilets builds fast and is immediately visible to an inventory clerk.
- Keep your receipt and the checklist. A dated invoice from a professional company, along with the checklist used, is strong evidence if a deduction is disputed through the deposit protection scheme.
Get a Fixed Quote from Eco-Fresh
Eco-Fresh has been cleaning properties across Croydon, South London and Sussex since 2018. Every end of tenancy clean is quoted at a fixed price with no hourly surprises, follows an agency-approved checklist, and comes with our 100% satisfaction guarantee — if your landlord or letting agent flags an area, we come back and re-clean it free of charge.
Get your fixed quote or call us on +44 7490 854 937, seven days a week, 7am–8pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does end of tenancy cleaning cost for a 2-bedroom flat in London?
Expect to pay £190–£260 for a standard two-bedroom flat in London, with Croydon and outer South London at the lower end and central London postcodes at the higher end. The price assumes an empty property in reasonable condition; carpet steam cleaning is usually quoted separately at £35–£50 per room.
Is end of tenancy cleaning a legal requirement in the UK?
No. Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and letting agents in England cannot require tenants to pay for professional cleaning as a condition of the tenancy. However, you are still obliged to return the property in the same state of cleanliness as at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear — and your deposit can be lawfully reduced if you do not.
Does end of tenancy cleaning include carpets and the oven?
The oven is included in a standard end of tenancy clean with most reputable companies, including Eco-Fresh. Carpet steam cleaning is not — carpets are vacuumed as standard, and deep extraction cleaning is an add-on at £35–£50 per room. Check your check-in inventory: if it states the carpets were professionally cleaned, you will usually be expected to match that.
How long does an end of tenancy clean take?
Between three and four hours for a studio and up to a full day for a four- or five-bedroom house. A typical two-bedroom flat takes two cleaners around five to six hours. Properties in poor condition, or with heavy limescale and oven grease, take longer.
Will my landlord accept a professional cleaning receipt?
A receipt alone does not guarantee acceptance — what matters is the standard of the clean at check-out. That said, a dated invoice from an insured company, together with the checklist used and your own photographs, is persuasive evidence if a deduction is disputed through your deposit protection scheme. Choose a company that offers a re-clean guarantee so any flagged issues can be resolved before the dispute stage.
Can I get my deposit back without professional cleaning?
Yes. You are legally entitled to clean the property yourself. To succeed, work from your check-in inventory, allow a realistic two days for a one- or two-bedroom property, and pay particular attention to the oven, extractor, limescale, window interiors, inside cupboards and behind appliances — the areas inventory clerks check first.
