End of tenancy cleaning in London: full checklist, prices and deposit tips
By Safe Move Team
Get 100% of your deposit back. The London end-of-tenancy clean checklist, average prices and what landlords actually look for.
End of tenancy cleaning in London is the single biggest deposit dispute trigger in the UK. The Tenancy Deposit Scheme reports that cleaning accounts for more than half of all adjudicated claims every year. The good news: a professional end-of-tenancy clean costs far less than the deductions landlords typically take, and if you book the right company you get a free re-clean guarantee that practically eliminates the risk of losing money.
Average London end of tenancy cleaning prices in 2025: a studio is £110–£150, a one-bed flat £150–£200, a two-bed flat £200–£270, a three-bed property £270–£360, and a four-bed house £360–£480. Add £40–£70 for professional carpet cleaning per room and £25–£45 for inside-the-oven specialist treatment if it is in heavy condition. Prices are usually higher in Zone 1 and lower in outer boroughs.
What a proper London end-of-tenancy clean actually covers: every room dusted top to bottom including skirting boards, light switches, sockets, door frames and the tops of doors; all windows cleaned internally; carpets vacuumed (or steam-cleaned if booked); hard floors mopped; all kitchen cupboards emptied and wiped inside and out; oven, hob, extractor fan, microwave and fridge degreased and disinfected; bathroom limescale removed from tiles, screens, taps and shower heads; toilet descaled inside and out; and bins emptied and washed.
Landlords and inventory clerks check the same fifteen places every single time. Inside the oven and grill pan. The back of the fridge and the bottom of the freezer drawer. The washing machine drawer and rubber door seal. Under the kitchen sink. Tile grout in the bathroom. The shower screen runner. Limescale on shower heads and taps. Inside cupboards. Under beds and sofas. Skirting boards behind furniture. Light fittings. Extractor fans. Window tracks. The patio or balcony if there is one. Carpets in high-traffic areas. Miss any of these and the clerk will flag it.
Always book a company that offers a 48 or 72 hour re-clean guarantee in writing. London end-of-tenancy specialists know exactly what inventory clerks photograph; if anything is flagged after the report, the team returns within two working days and re-does it at no cost. This is the single most important clause in the booking.
Time the clean correctly. Book it for the day after you move out, once the property is empty. Cleaning around boxes, mattresses and a half-empty fridge means corners get missed and the price goes up. Confirm in advance whether the company brings its own products and equipment (they should) and whether parking or congestion charge is included in the quote.
Documents to keep: the original inventory and check-in report, the booking confirmation from the cleaning company, before-and-after photos taken on your phone the day of the clean, and the company's invoice. If your deposit is unfairly withheld, this paper trail wins disputes at the TDS, MyDeposits or DPS within a few weeks.
Safe Move's vetted London end-of-tenancy cleaning partners are fully insured, follow the agency-grade checklist above, and back every job with a 72-hour re-clean guarantee. Get a fixed-price quote in 60 seconds on our services page and protect your full deposit — wherever in London you are renting.