Why are end of tenancy cleaning services so expensive?

Why Are End of Tenancy Cleans So Expensive?

This is a question that most often tenants ask themselves, when they start doing research on what cleaning company to use for the job. Leaving a flat in a poor state is definitely not recommended as it more often than not results in a deduction from your security deposit and we have actually covered the topic in our article about security deposit deductions by landlords.

Landlords rarely ask themselves why this service is expensive as they easily understand the value of it. Even a short conversation with one of our sales representatives will easily help make the mind of a landlord and the reasoning is very simple. A clean apartment in pristine condition is easily going to get picked on the market for a higher price. It's the same reason you'd wash a car before selling it, it just looks better and will sell much easier.

Tenants on the other hand do not really appreciate paying for something, especially if they aren't the one benefitting from the service. After all, you're leaving the flat, why should you pay for it being cleaned, when you're not gonna be able to enjoy the benefits of the service you're paying for.
If we rewind a little bit, to the beginning of the tenancy period though, even though most tenants are probably unaware or have forgotten about the initial state of their flat when they just moved it, it was clean or at least should have been. Landlords do try their best to prepare their properties for the market and in London, this has been a norm for years.

Anyway, below, you'll find our perspective on the topic - the perspective of a cleaning company that offers this service and has been doing it for years and years.

When tenants move out of a property, one of the most critical tasks is ensuring the space is left in pristine condition, ready for the next occupant. This is where end of tenancy cleaning comes in, a service that’s often more costly than regular or deep cleaning. Many tenants wonder why this service carries a higher price tag. As a professional cleaning specialist turned business owner, I’ve seen firsthand the complexity and effort required to deliver a top-notch end of tenancy cleaning. Here's a breakdown of why these cleans are more expensive and what justifies the cost at least in my own opinion. This is my own personal opinion and although I'm obviously biased and you can take my opinion with a pinch of salt, it's a reasoning that has been able to justify a higher cost to hundreds, if not thousands of customers throughout the years.

1. Thoroughness and Attention to Detail

End of tenancy cleaning goes beyond the surface. It’s about detailed, deep cleaning that meets the stringent requirements set by landlords and letting agents and we have a tried and tested checklist that all our cleaners follow to ensure that all these nooks and crannies are cleaned to perfection to avoid any possible disputes about the quality of our work. These standards are often much higher than what’s expected for regular cleaning. Every inch of the property, from skirting boards and light fixtures to appliances and carpets, needs to be spotless, something which isn't really expected from your regular fortnightly clean done for 30 pounds.

Unlike routine cleaning sessions, where we might spend an hour or two maintaining cleanliness, end of tenancy cleaning can take anywhere from 3 to 10 hours depending on the size of the property. That's also 3-10 hours for a team of two, not just one cleaning technician. This extended duration and focus on thoroughness naturally drive up costs, as professional cleaners dedicate more time, effort, cleaning detergents, etc. to ensuring the property is immaculate.

2. Specialized Equipment and Products are Required

An end of tenancy clean often requires specialized equipment and cleaning products that aren’t typically used during a standard or deep cleaning session. For instance:

• Steam cleaners for carpets and upholstery. This isn't something you'll find in your own closet and isn't something you can bring yourself using the tube or the public transport. Professional machines for cleaning carpets often weight up to 80 pounds (~40kgs), requiring a lot of effort to move and carry around as well as a vehicle to transport them with.

• Professional-grade descalers for bathroom fixtures. In order to achieve the results the landlords would expect from a tenancy cleaning in most cases professional grade cleaning detergents, which are often harmful to the skin, eyes, etc. might be required. In such cases, additional protection is required for the cleaning crew, masks, gloves, etc.

• Oven cleaning solutions that are more powerful than those available to the average consumer, or in specific instances a full tank for submerging parts of the oven. This is specialized equipment that should justify the price additionally, especially considering most people wouldn't have such a machine. Oven cleaning tanks specifically are expensive and definitely not something all cleaning companies have.

These tools and products are necessary to achieve the level of cleanliness that landlords expect, but they come at a premium. Moreover, professional-grade equipment requires expertise to operate effectively, not to mention space to store, insurances and what not that adds on top of everything. This of course adds another layer of specialization and value that justifies the higher cost, or at least should.

3. The Scope of the Service is Just Huge

Unlike hourly cleaning sessions where clients choose specific areas to focus on, end of tenancy cleaning services cover the entire property. This includes:

• Kitchen: Deep cleaning appliances (fridge, oven, hob), degreasing cupboards, wiping down all surfaces, and descaling taps and sinks. Some of these appliances might be itemized and not be part of the regular sessions, but they are always offered as part of the cleaning process and it's at the discretion of the customer to choose if they need special love or not.

• Bathrooms: Removing limescale from shower heads, tiles, and taps, scrubbing grout lines, and disinfecting all fixtures. Almost everyone of us has cleaned a bathroom at one point or another in their live and if you have, you definitely know that this is one of the hardest .

• Living areas and bedrooms: Dusting skirting boards, light switches, and fixtures, cleaning windows (if included), vacuuming carpets, and mopping floors.

The sheer scope of this work means that an end of tenancy clean is far more comprehensive than standard cleaning, which typically covers only high-traffic or visible areas.

4. Guarantee and Accountability is Expected and Offered

A key factor in the pricing of end of tenancy cleaning is the guarantee that professional cleaning companies offer. Many landlords and letting agencies in London expect tenants to provide a receipt from a professional cleaning company, ensuring that the work meets their standards. If the clean is not satisfactory, the cleaning company may need to return and rectify any issues—this is often done at no additional charge to the tenant.

This level of accountability means that professional cleaners take on the responsibility of meeting strict criteria, which can include everything from hygiene standards to aesthetic expectations. Offering this guarantee means the company has to account for potential revisits, which is factored into the overall cost.

5. Staff Expertise and Training is Required

End of tenancy cleaning requires a team that is highly trained and experienced in dealing with a variety of surfaces, materials, and conditions. For example, cleaning professionals that we send for that type of job know how to:

• Treat different types of flooring without causing damage. Stains on carpets, pain or plaster on hard wood floors, etc. That's something they deal on a daily basis with.

• Properly clean ovens without leaving residue, using the forementioned oven clenaing tanks, etc.

• Remove stubborn stains from carpets and upholstery without discoloration. That's especially hard considering how many types of upholstery there are. We know how to clean anything from a leather sofa to suede curtains.

This expertise does not come without investment. We try to invest in our cleaning crew as much as possible and turn them into true professionals. Companies must continuously train their staff, invest in safety protocols, and ensure that every team member is well-versed in the latest cleaning techniques, or at least that's how we view it. A poorly trained or equipped staff is a recipe for disaster. The level of training and professionalism offered by our end of tenancy cleaning crews is significantly higher compared to what’s required for a regular hourly clean, which is often more straightforward and you can easily find someone to do regular cleaning for 10 pounds an hour. There are always people trying to compete on a low price basis there.

6. There are Multiple Logistical Challenges

End of tenancy cleans often involve complex logistics. For instance:

• Cleaners must bring all necessary equipment and products, sometimes transporting heavy machinery like steam cleaners and we already mentioned that it's important to note it as many times as possible. These carpet cleaning machines weight a ton and not every person can carry them, especially when it comes to houses with a couple of stories and flights of stairs that require cleaning as well.

• Jobs are often scheduled at short notice or during peak move-in/move-out periods, requiring flexibility from the cleaning team. Summer is especially busy so we recommend booking your move out cleaning enough time in advance or you'll have your hands twisted.

• Parking arrangements and access to the property can also present challenges, especially in London, where restrictions and fees are common. That's one of the most overlooked aspects, especially when it comes to the central parts of London and more posh areas like Chelsea, Wimbledon, etc. If there isn't a parking spot, we need to find the nearest paid parking, organize it, ensure there's place to park there. Unload our machines and crew at the address and then park the car there. It might sound easy, but it's more organization which takes time and effort and should justify the price even more.

These logistical factors add to the time and planning involved, which in turn affects the cost, increases administrative load and adds more to the cost overall.

7. Peace of Mind

Lastly, the cost of an end of tenancy clean reflects the peace of mind it offers. For many tenants, the cost is justified by the assurance that they are meeting the expectations set by landlords, reducing the risk of deposit deductions, which is why they are willing to pay for that service in the first place. It's actually their only justification for paying for that service.
It’s a professional solution designed to eliminate the stress associated with moving out, ensuring that every corner of the property meets the required standard and a checkout clerk won't try to stick it to them because he wouldn't have the chance to.

TLDR; If you don't want to read the whole thing

End of tenancy cleaning is a specialized, intensive service that requires a high level of expertise, time, and resources. The costs reflect the comprehensive nature of the clean, the accountability and guarantees provided, and the logistical considerations that come with delivering a top-quality service in a city like London. While it may seem expensive compared to other types of cleaning, the value it offers in terms of ensuring deposit return and meeting landlord expectations is well worth the investment.