If your renovation or new build is nearly finished, the last hurdle is the clean-up, and prices in London vary more than most people expect. This guide explains what a builders clean typically costs in the capital, what drives the price up or down, and what you should get for your money.
For a straightforward builders clean of a two or three bedroom home in London, most companies quote somewhere between £300 and £600. A one bedroom flat after light refurbishment might come in at £180 to £300, while a large house following a full renovation or extension can run from £600 to well over £1,000. These figures cover a proper post-construction clean, not a standard domestic clean, which is a different and cheaper service.
Some firms price per square metre instead, usually between £3 and £6 per square metre depending on how heavy the dust and debris are. Others charge hourly, typically £18 to £30 per cleaner per hour, with a two person team for a full day being a common arrangement. Always ask which model a quote is based on so you can compare like for like.
The single biggest factor is the state the trades leave the property in. Fine plaster and silica dust settle everywhere, including inside cupboards, extractor fans and window tracks, and getting it out takes time and proper equipment. A property where the builders have already removed rubble and packaging will cost noticeably less to clean than one where paint splatter, filler dust and protective film are still everywhere.
London-specific costs matter too. Congestion Charge and ULEZ fees, parking permits in boroughs like Camden or Kensington and Chelsea, and access issues in flats without lifts all add to a quote. A fourth floor flat with no parking nearby genuinely costs more to service than a driveway-fronted house in Zone 5, and honest companies will say so upfront.
A genuine builders clean, sometimes called a sparkle clean when it is the final stage, should leave the property ready to live in or hand over. That means all surfaces damp-wiped rather than just dusted, because construction dust simply resettles if it is only brushed about. Floors should be vacuumed with industrial machines fitted with fine filters, then mopped, and skirting boards, sockets, switches and door frames wiped down individually.
It should also cover the fiddly work that standard cleaners skip: removing labels and film from new windows, sanitaryware and appliances, cleaning inside kitchen units and wardrobes, descaling any water marks left by plumbers testing the system, and carefully scraping paint or filler spots off glass and tiles without scratching them. If a quote seems cheap, check whether these items are included, because they are where most of the labour actually goes.
On larger projects it is common to book two visits: a rough clean once the main trades finish, to clear the worst of the dust before snagging and final decoration, then a sparkle clean just before handover. Booking both with the same company is usually cheaper than two separate jobs, but for a typical home renovation a single thorough clean at the very end is often enough.
To keep the price sensible, ask your builder to remove all rubble, offcuts and packaging as part of their contract, since waste removal is charged separately by cleaning companies and skips are expensive in London. Book the clean only after every trade has genuinely finished, because a clean done before the electrician returns to drill one more hole is money wasted. Finally, get two or three itemised quotes and be wary of any company that prices a whole house sight unseen without asking about its condition.
A two bedroom flat typically takes a two person team most of a day, while a large renovated house can take two to three days. The level of dust matters more than floor area, so heavily plastered properties sit at the top of those ranges.
No. An end of tenancy clean deals with everyday household dirt, whereas a builders clean tackles construction dust, paint, adhesive and protective film using industrial vacuums and specialist products, which is why it costs more.
It is rarely a good idea. Domestic vacuums clog quickly on fine plaster dust and can be damaged, and removing paint or sticker residue from new glass and fittings without scratching them takes the right tools and experience.
Tell us about the project and Chris will reply same day with a written quote and scope.