Last updated on 9 September 2026
Most end of tenancy cleans take 3 to 6 hours. Where you land in that range depends on three things: how many cleaners are on the job, how big the property is, and whether carpet and upholstery cleaning are included. Most flats and small houses finish inside 3 to 6 hours. A big house with 5 or 6 bedrooms over 4 or 5 floors can take a full day. The biggest job we have ever arranged took 12 cleaners a full day's graft: a huge mansion with a swimming pool, sauna, gym and a big garden.
The exact time depends on your property size, its current condition, and whether you need additional services like carpet cleaning. Below you'll find time estimates based on what we see on the jobs booked through us, and the rules we use to decide how many cleaners a property needs.
End of tenancy cleaning time by property size
The professional times are for a team of 2 cleaners on a property in average condition, empty of furniture and belongings. With 1 cleaner, expect roughly double.
| Property size | Professional team | DIY (1 person) | Usual team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio flat | 2 - 3 hrs | 4 - 5 hrs | 1 cleaner |
| 1 bed flat | 3 - 3.5 hrs | 5 - 7 hrs | 1 cleaner |
| 2 bed flat | 3.5 - 4.5 hrs | 6 - 8 hrs | 1 cleaner (1 bathroom) or 2 (2 bathrooms) |
| 3 bed flat | 4.5 - 5.5 hrs | 8 - 10 hrs | 2 cleaners, sometimes 1 |
| 4 bed flat / house | 5.5 - 7 hrs | 10 - 12 hrs | 2 - 3 cleaners |
| 5+ bed house | 7 - 9 hrs | 12+ hrs | 3 - 4 cleaners, more on multiple levels |
Add 1-2 hours if the property hasn't been deep cleaned in over 6 months, or if there's heavy grease buildup in the kitchen or limescale in bathrooms.
How many cleaners does the job get?
A standard rule: a studio, a 1 bed 1 bath or a 2 bed 1 bath flat can easily be cleaned by 1 person. Two people in a studio actually gets in the way. Some cleaners prefer working alone, others prefer a team. From 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upwards the job usually gets a team of 2. A 3 bed 2 bath flat can still be done by one person. The standard does not drop and there is no time limit. One cleaner might take 6 to 8 hours where two would take 3. Bigger properties on multiple levels get bigger teams. If carpet or upholstery cleaning is booked, a carpet technician is usually sent separately.
Time breakdown by room
Not all rooms take the same amount of time. The kitchen is by far the longest, then the bathrooms, because of appliances, grease and limescale.
Central London, after an end of tenancy clean. Limescale on the fittings is what eats the time.
These times assume each room needs standard end of tenancy level cleaning. For a full breakdown of what needs cleaning in each room, see our end of tenancy cleaning checklist.
Twelve cleaners, a full day. What made it big was the sheer size of every room. Most bedrooms had an ensuite, and not a normal bathroom: a bathtub, a separate shower, two sinks, some with two toilets, so one bathroom was the work of two or three normal ones. Huge wardrobes, big windows, big rooms. Staircases with wood carvings that all had to be cleaned by hand. Reception rooms and dining rooms with carved wood on the walls and floor to ceiling windows. More than one kitchen, with all the appliances and cupboards that come with that. A swimming pool, a sauna, a gym, and a big terrace and garden that needed sweeping and making presentable. That is why the table above is a guide, not a promise.
A houseboat in West London, after its end of tenancy clean. Portholes count as windows.
What affects cleaning time?
The estimates above are averages. Your actual cleaning time depends on several factors:
A well-maintained property that's been regularly cleaned takes less time than one with months of built-up grease, limescale, or dust.
If the oven hasn't been cleaned in years or there's black mould in the bathroom, expect the job to take 1-2 hours longer.
Two cleaners working simultaneously in different rooms finish faster than one person doing everything sequentially.
Professional-grade degreasers and limescale removers work faster than standard household products.
A property in a much worse state than booked is the number one reason a team runs late to its next job. Nayden explains how that plays out in what goes wrong with end of tenancy cleans, from both sides.
The thing customers find hardest to hear: size
The biggest factor is the actual size of the property, and it is sometimes very hard to explain to a customer that their property is bigger than the average one. This happens all the time. Say a normal 2 bed 2 bath flat is around 100 square metres, just as an example. A customer books a 2 bed 2 bath flat, and when the cleaners turn up it is 200 square metres. The rooms are huge, there are floor to ceiling windows, the bedroom is three times the size of a normal room, the kitchen has 20 cupboards. A booking form cannot see any of that. Property sizes are rough guides. For most properties they are fine. Some properties are simply in a different league.
How the online booking system works out your price
The online booking system is thorough. It covers every room a property might have, and extras like balconies, venetian blinds, bigger ovens and extra fridges. Professional carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning can be added to the same booking, with a wide selection of every item that could possibly be cleaned, so you can build your whole property in the form and see the price straight away. That price is for a standard size property in normal condition. For larger homes and mansions we give custom quotes, either from a viewing, or from floor plans, total square metres and the property listing. Even then it is hard to judge, because a property is always bigger in person.
Professional vs DIY: time comparison
A 2-bed flat that takes a professional team 3.5 to 4.5 hours typically takes one person 6 to 8 hours doing it themselves. Here's why:
| Factor | Professional | DIY |
|---|---|---|
| Team size | 2-3 cleaners working simultaneously | Usually 1 person |
| Equipment | Commercial-grade products & machines | Household products |
| Experience | Clean rental properties daily | Learning as you go |
| Know what's checked | Know exactly what inventory clerks look for | May miss hidden areas |
| Guarantee | 7-day re-clean guarantee if something is missed | No safety net |
Additional services: extra time required
If your tenancy agreement requires carpet or upholstery cleaning, or the oven is in a bad state, factor in additional time. The cleaners start first and the carpets are cleaned after. Some teams do both, but in most cases a carpet technician comes separately, because carpets and upholstery are their whole job.
| Service | Time required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning | 20 - 30 mins per room | + 8 hours or more drying time |
| Heavily soiled oven | 45 - 90 mins | The oven is always included; a bad one just takes longer |
| Upholstery cleaning | 20 - 40 mins per item | If furniture provided |
| Window cleaning (interior) | Included in standard clean | Frames, sills and rails too |
Not sure what additional services you need? Check your tenancy agreement or ask your landlord before booking. Our pricing guide breaks down costs for each service.
Book carpet cleaning the day before your checkout, not the same day. Carpets need 8 hours or more to dry completely, and damp carpets can fail an inventory check.
What time should you book?
Most end of tenancy customers book 8am or 9am for the morning slot, and 1pm or 2pm for the afternoon slot. That gives the cleaners enough time to do two jobs a day. If your inventory check-out is at 4pm, book the morning, not the afternoon. Carpet technicians are more flexible because their jobs are shorter, so they can come at most times of the day.
The end of the month
The end of the month is by far the busiest time, because that is when most people move out. From the 26th onwards we are always fully booked, and a lot of customers call last minute struggling to find anyone who can fit them in. Book at least two weeks in advance. The longer the better. Prices across the industry also tend to rise close to the end of the month, once companies are full and have fewer spaces left.
Do you need to be there?
No. Let the cleaners in and let them do their job, or arrange access without being there at all. A lockbox or keys left with a concierge are both completely normal.
Frequently asked questions
A 2 bedroom flat typically takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours with a professional cleaning team (usually 2 cleaners). If cleaning yourself, expect 6-8 hours. The time varies based on property condition and whether additional services like carpet or oven cleaning are included.
Professional cleaners work faster for three reasons: they typically send 2-3 cleaners who work simultaneously in different rooms, they use commercial-grade equipment and products that work faster, and they clean rental properties daily so know exactly what inventory clerks check. A job that takes one person 8 hours can be completed by two professionals in 3-4 hours.
Yes. Professional carpet cleaning adds 20 to 30 minutes per room depending on carpet size and condition. The carpets then need 8 hours or more to dry, so book carpet cleaning the day before your checkout inspection.
Yes. A studio, a 1 bed or a 2 bed 1 bath flat is routinely done by one cleaner, and even a 3 bed 2 bath can be. The standard is the same and there is no time limit. One cleaner simply takes longer, roughly 6 to 8 hours where a team of two would take 3.
Morning slots are 8am or 9am, afternoon slots 1pm or 2pm. If your check-out inspection is the same day, book the morning so there is room for the clean to run over. Better still, book the clean the day before the inspection.
For properties larger than 2 bedrooms, or if the property hasn't been deep cleaned recently, booking a full day is sensible. This allows time for the clean itself, any additional services, drying time for carpets, and a buffer for unexpected issues like stubborn oven grease or limescale buildup.
Need to book end of tenancy cleaning?
Get an instant price based on your property size. Every booking includes the 7-day re-clean guarantee.
End of tenancy cleaning LondonOr build your property in the online booking system and see the price straight away.
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