House cleaning in London costs £15-£30 per hour on average, with regular domestic cleaning from £15-£22/hour, deep cleaning £20-£30/hour, and end of tenancy cleaning £180-£500+ total. Central London and Canary Wharf charge £22-£35/hour, inner areas charge £18-£28/hour, and outer London charges £15-£25/hour. Property size significantly affects total cost: studios £40-£80 for regular cleaning, 2-bed flats £60-£120, and 3-bed houses £80-£150.
The type of cleaning service, property size, location, and whether you hire agency cleaners or independent cleaners determine your final cost. Agency cleaners charge more (£18-£30/hour) but provide vetted staff, insurance coverage, and replacement cleaners. Independent cleaners charge less (£13-£20/hour) but offer no guarantees or backup support.
London House Cleaning Costs
Regular domestic cleaning costs £15 to £22 per hour. This covers routine maintenance including vacuuming, mopping, dusting, bathroom cleaning, and kitchen cleaning. Prices vary based on property size, location zone, and whether you hire independent cleaners or agencies.
One-off cleaning costs £18 to £28 per hour. One-off bookings cost more because cleaners lack property familiarity and companies prioritize regular clients. First-time cleans take longer as cleaners learn layouts and discover problem areas.
Deep cleaning costs £20 to £30 per hour. Deep cleaning includes intensive tasks like inside appliances, behind furniture, and bathroom descaling not covered in regular service. Higher rates reflect specialized work and extended time requirements.
Same-day booking costs £25 to £35 per hour. Urgent bookings add £5-£10/hour because companies must rearrange schedules, cancel cleaner breaks, or pay overtime to accommodate requests.
End of tenancy cleaning for studios costs £99 to £180. This covers comprehensive cleaning meeting landlord standards including inside all cabinets, appliances, and professional-standard finish for deposit release.
End of tenancy cleaning for 1-bed flats costs £140 to £250. The additional bedroom and larger kitchen/bathroom areas increase cleaning time by approximately 2 hours compared to studios.
End of tenancy cleaning for 2-bed flats costs £180 to £350. Two bedrooms plus typically two bathrooms and larger living spaces require 4-6 hours of intensive cleaning work.
End of tenancy cleaning for 3-bed houses costs £250 to £500. Three-bedroom properties often span multiple floors with 2-3 bathrooms, requiring 6-8 hours and sometimes two cleaners working together.
Hourly Cleaning Rates by London Location
Central London and Canary Wharf cost £22 to £35 per hour. Zone 1-2 charges premium rates due to congestion charges (£15 daily), expensive parking (£4-£8/hour), and longer travel times reducing daily client capacity. Canary Wharf adds £2-£3/hour extra for building access complexity and corporate expectations.
Inner London Zone 3 costs £18 to £28 per hour. Zone 3 provides middle-ground pricing, costing £3-£5/hour less than Central London while maintaining access to professional cleaning companies. Areas include parts of Hackney, Islington, Wandsworth, Lambeth, and Greenwich.
Outer London Zones 4-6 cost £15 to £25 per hour. Outer zones offer the most competitive rates with minimal parking costs and no congestion charges. The £8/hour savings compared to Zone 1 adds up to £24 per 3-hour clean (£1,248 annually for weekly service).
Better Maid serves Central London, Canary Wharf, Tower Hamlets, Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea, Hackney, Camden, Southwark, and Lambeth with professional cleaning services.
Regular Domestic Cleaning Costs
Studio regular cleaning costs £30 to £70. Two hours covers bedroom/living area, kitchen, and bathroom in most studios. Lower end reflects outer London with independent cleaners while higher end represents Central London agency rates.
1-bed flat regular cleaning costs £38 to £88. The separate bedroom adds 30 minutes to standard studio cleaning time. Total 2.5 hours includes bedroom, living area, kitchen, and bathroom thoroughly cleaned.
2-bed flat regular cleaning costs £45 to £120. Three hours covers two bedrooms, living area, kitchen, and typically one bathroom. This represents the most common London rental property type and standard weekly cleaning duration.
3-bed house regular cleaning costs £60 to £150. Four hours accommodates three bedrooms, living areas, kitchen, and 1-2 bathrooms. Houses often span multiple floors requiring stair cleaning and additional travel time between rooms.
4-bed house regular cleaning costs £75 to £180. Five hours covers four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, larger living spaces, and often multiple floors. Some companies send two cleaners to complete efficiently within acceptable timeframe.
Regular cleaning includes:
- Vacuuming all floors
- Mopping hard floors
- Dusting surfaces and furniture
- Bathroom cleaning (toilet, sink, bath/shower)
- Kitchen cleaning (surfaces, appliances, sink)
- Emptying bins
- Basic tidying
Regular cleaning does NOT include:
- Inside ovens or refrigerators
- Inside windows
- Carpet deep cleaning
- Inside cabinets or wardrobes
- Heavy scrubbing or deep cleaning tasks
Deep Cleaning Costs
Studio deep cleaning costs £60 to £105. Three hours provides intensive cleaning including inside appliances and behind furniture that regular cleaning doesn’t cover. Studios take 50% longer for deep cleaning compared to regular service.
1-bed flat deep cleaning costs £80 to £140. Four hours accommodates thorough cleaning of separate bedroom, living area, kitchen deep clean including inside oven and refrigerator, and intensive bathroom descaling.
2-bed flat deep cleaning costs £100 to £180. Five hours covers two bedrooms, living areas, full kitchen deep clean, and bathroom intensive descaling. This takes approximately 66% longer than regular 3-hour clean for same property.
3-bed house deep cleaning costs £140 to £240. Six to seven hours required for three bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, behind all appliances, inside all cabinets, and detailed cleaning of areas missed during regular service. Many companies send two cleaners for efficiency.
4-bed house deep cleaning costs £180 to £320. Eight to ten hours needed due to property size and thoroughness required. Deep cleaning takes twice as long as regular cleaning for same 4-bed property, with most companies assigning two-person teams.
Deep cleaning includes everything in regular cleaning PLUS:
- Inside oven cleaning
- Inside refrigerator and freezer cleaning
- Behind and under appliances
- Intensive bathroom descaling (removing limescale buildup)
- Tile grout cleaning
- Skirting board detailed cleaning
- Light fixture cleaning
- Door and door frame cleaning
- Window sill deep cleaning
- Radiator cleaning
When to book deep cleaning:
- Moving into new property
- Preparing property for sale or rental
- Spring cleaning annually
- After renovation or building work
- Property not professionally cleaned for 6+ months
- Before hosting major events
One-Off Cleaning Costs
Studio one-off cleaning costs £36 to £70. Two hours covers same scope as regular cleaning but at higher hourly rates (£18-£28/hour vs £15-£22/hour for regular service). Price premium reflects lack of cleaner familiarity with property.
1-bed flat one-off cleaning costs £45 to £88. The 2.5-hour clean costs £7-£14 more than equivalent weekly regular service due to one-off premium rates and longer duration for first-time cleans.
2-bed flat one-off cleaning costs £54 to £112. Three hours at one-off rates costs approximately £18-£30 more than same property with weekly service. First-time cleaners take longer learning layout and identifying problem areas.
3-bed house one-off cleaning costs £72 to £140. Four hours at premium rates reflects £12-£20/hour price difference compared to regular weekly bookings. Companies prioritize regular clients over one-off requests.
4-bed house one-off cleaning costs £90 to £175. Five-hour clean costs £15-£35 more than weekly regular service for same property size. Larger properties show bigger absolute cost differences due to extended duration.
One-off cleaning works best for:
- Spring cleaning or seasonal deep clean
- Pre-party or post-party cleanup
- Trial before committing to regular service
- Temporary coverage while regular cleaner unavailable
- Moving preparation or post-move cleanup
End of Tenancy Cleaning Costs
Studio end of tenancy cleaning costs £99 to £180. Fixed pricing covers comprehensive cleaning meeting inventory checkout standards including inside all cabinets, behind all appliances, and professional finish required for deposit release.
1-bed flat end of tenancy cleaning costs £140 to £250. Additional bedroom and larger spaces add approximately 2 hours work compared to studios. Includes all appliances internal cleaning and thorough wall spot-cleaning.
2-bed flat end of tenancy cleaning costs £180 to £350. Two bedrooms plus typically two bathrooms and larger living spaces require 5-6 hours intensive work. Higher end reflects Central London locations and properties requiring extra attention.
3-bed house end of tenancy cleaning costs £250 to £500. Three bedrooms across multiple floors with 2-3 bathrooms need 7-9 hours thorough cleaning. Many companies send two-person teams to complete efficiently within one day.
4-bed house end of tenancy cleaning costs £350 to £650. Large properties require 10-12 hours work covering four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, extensive living spaces, and often gardens or outdoor areas needing attention.
End of tenancy cleaning includes:
- Everything in deep cleaning
- Inside all kitchen cabinets and drawers
- Inside all appliances (oven, refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine)
- All windows internal cleaning
- All walls spot-cleaned
- All switches and sockets cleaned
- Behind all furniture and appliances
- Professional standard finish for deposit release
Additional services often required:
- Carpet cleaning: £40-£150 additional
- Professional oven cleaning: £40-£80 additional
- External window cleaning: £30-£100 additional
Professional House cleaning services require similar thoroughness for maintaining guest standards between bookings.
Specialist Cleaning Service Costs
Single room carpet cleaning costs £40 to £80. Professional equipment removes deep dirt and stains regular vacuuming can’t address. Price varies based on room size, carpet condition, and stain removal requirements.
Multi-room carpet cleaning (2-3 rooms) costs £80 to £150. Volume discount applies compared to per-room pricing. Most companies clean 2-3 average bedrooms for less than double single-room cost due to equipment setup efficiency.
Whole house carpet cleaning (3-bed) costs £160 to £300. Comprehensive service covering all carpeted areas in three-bedroom property. Higher costs reflect heavily soiled carpets or properties requiring stain protection treatment application.
Single oven cleaning costs £40 to £80. Specialist service removes baked-on grease and carbon buildup using professional-grade products. Standard single ovens take 1-2 hours depending on condition.
Double oven cleaning costs £60 to £120. Two ovens require 50-100% more time than single oven cleaning. Price reflects additional labor and cleaning product consumption.
External window cleaning costs £30 to £100. Price depends on number of windows, accessibility, and property height. Ground floor flats cost less than multi-story houses requiring ladder work or specialist equipment.
After builders cleaning costs £25 to £35 per hour. Construction dust, paint splatter, and debris removal requires 6-12 hours for standard renovation projects. Total costs typically range £150-£420 depending on property size and work scope.
What Affects London Cleaning Prices
| Cost Driver | Impact on Price | Example |
| Central vs outer London | +£8/hour | Zone 6 £19/hour → Zone 1 £27/hour |
| Same-day booking | +£7/hour | Standard £22/hour → Same-day £29/hour |
| Evening/weekend | +£5/hour | Weekday £22/hour → Weekend £27/hour |
| Agency vs independent | +£8/hour | Independent £16/hour → Agency £24/hour |
| Regular vs one-off | -£5/hour | One-off £25/hour → Weekly £20/hour |
Property condition impact:
- Well-maintained, regularly cleaned: Standard time and rate
- Moderately dirty (not cleaned 1-3 months): +15-25% time required
- Heavily soiled (not cleaned 6+ months): +30-50% time required
- Extreme neglect: Quote-based or declined
Booking timing impact:
- Standard booking (3+ days notice, weekday daytime): Standard rate
- Next-day booking: +£2-£5/hour
- Same-day booking: +£5-£10/hour
- Evening cleaning (6pm-9pm): +£3-£8/hour
- Weekend cleaning: +£3-£8/hour
- Bank holiday: +£8-£15/hour
Agency vs Independent Cleaner Costs
| Factor | Independent Cleaners | Agency Cleaners |
| Hourly rate | £13-£20 | £18-£30 |
| Background checks | No | Yes |
| Insurance coverage | No | Yes |
| Replacement if unavailable | No | Yes |
| Service guarantees | No | Yes |
| Quality consistency | Variable | Standardized |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do cleaners charge per hour in London?
Cleaners in London charge £15-£30 per hour on average. Independent cleaners charge £13-£20/hour while professional cleaning agencies charge £18-£30/hour. Central London and Canary Wharf charge £22-£35/hour, Zone 3 charges £18-£28/hour, and outer London charges £15-£25/hour. The exact rate depends on service type, property size, location, and cleaner type.
How much does a deep clean cost in London?
Deep cleaning costs £20-£30 per hour, with total costs from £60-£320+ depending on property size. Studios cost £60-£105, 1-bed flats £80-£140, 2-bed flats £100-£180, 3-bed houses £140-£240, and 4-bed houses £180-£320. Deep cleaning takes 50-100% longer than regular cleaning because it includes inside appliances, behind furniture, and intensive descaling.
Is cleaning more expensive in Central London?
Yes, Central London (Zones 1-2) cleaning costs £22-£35/hour compared to £15-£25/hour in outer London, representing a £7-£12/hour premium. Central London faces higher costs including congestion charges (£15 daily), expensive parking (£4-8/hour), longer travel times, and premium service expectations. A 3-hour weekly clean costs £21-£36 more weekly in Zone 1 compared to Zone 6.
How much does end of tenancy cleaning cost?
End of tenancy cleaning costs £180-£500+ depending on property size. Studios cost £99-£180, 1-bed flats £140-£250, 2-bed flats £180-£350, and 3-bed houses £250-£500. Additional services often required include carpet cleaning (£40-£150), oven cleaning (£40-£80), and external window cleaning (£30-£100), increasing total costs by £110-£330.
Can I get a discount for regular cleaning?
Yes, regular weekly cleaning offers 10-20% discounts compared to one-off cleaning. Weekly cleaning averages £15-£20/hour compared to £20-£28/hour for one-off cleaning, saving £5-£8/hour. For a 3-hour weekly clean, this saves £15-£24 weekly (£780-£1,248 annually). Many companies offer additional discounts for 6-12 month commitments.
Should I hire an agency or independent cleaner?
Agency cleaners cost £18-£30/hour with full vetting, insurance, backup cleaners, and service guarantees. Independent cleaners cost £13-£20/hour but offer no background checks, insurance, or backup. Choose agencies if you prioritize security, reliability, and guarantees. Choose independent cleaners if budget is your primary concern and you accept additional risk. The agency premium costs £8/hour more on average.
How long does it take to clean a 2-bed flat?
A 2-bed flat takes 3 hours for regular cleaning and 5 hours for deep cleaning. Regular cleaning includes vacuuming, mopping, bathroom cleaning, kitchen cleaning, and dusting. Deep cleaning adds inside appliances, behind furniture, intensive descaling, and detailed cleaning of areas missed during regular service. First-time cleans or very dirty properties may require 4-6 hours.
Final Thoughts
House cleaning in London costs £15-£30 per hour depending on location, service type, property size, and cleaner type. Central London and Canary Wharf command premium rates (£22-£35/hour) due to congestion charges, expensive parking, and higher operating costs. Inner and outer London offer more competitive rates (£15-£28/hour) while maintaining professional service quality.
Service type significantly affects costs. Regular domestic cleaning (£15-£22/hour) provides the best value for ongoing maintenance, particularly with weekly frequency discounts saving £5-£8/hour. Deep cleaning (£20-£30/hour) costs more but addresses built-up dirt and areas regular cleaning doesn’t cover. End of tenancy cleaning (£180-£500+) represents the most comprehensive service, meeting strict landlord standards for deposit return.
Property size determines total costs regardless of hourly rates. Studios require 2 hours for regular cleaning (£30-£70 total) while 3-bed houses need 4 hours (£60-£150 total). Deep cleaning takes 50-100% longer than regular cleaning, significantly increasing costs for the same property.
Choosing between independent cleaners and professional agencies balances cost against security and reliability. Independent cleaners save £8/hour (30-40% discount) but provide no background checks, insurance, or backup coverage. Professional agencies cost more but offer vetted staff, comprehensive insurance, replacement cleaners, and service guarantees protecting your home and investment.
Better Maid provides professional cleaning services across Greater London including Canary Wharf, Tower Hamlets, Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea, Hackney, Camden, Southwark, and Lambeth. Our fully vetted cleaners deliver reliable service with comprehensive insurance coverage and flexible scheduling meeting the demanding needs of Central London and business district residents.