Ask three cleaning companies for a post-construction quote and you may get three very different numbers, which makes it hard to know what is fair. The honest answer is that after builders cleaning is priced on how much dust, debris and protective covering has been left behind, not just on floor area. Here is how London pricing tends to work, and what actually moves the figure.
Most London firms price either by the hour or by the job. Hourly rates for post-construction work usually sit between £20 and £30 per cleaner, higher than domestic cleaning because the work is heavier, needs more equipment and carries more risk of damaging new finishes. Job pricing is more common once a company has seen the site.
As a rough guide for a single-phase clean in Greater London, expect something in these bands. Treat them as starting points, not quotes, because two kitchens of the same size can differ by hours depending on how much plaster dust and adhesive residue is present.
Dust volume is the biggest factor. Plasterboard sanding creates a fine dust that settles three or four times over, which is why a proper clean involves repeat passes rather than one sweep. If the builders left the site sealed and swept, you will pay less than if every surface is coated.
Protective materials matter too. Removing taped floor protection, window film, plastic sheeting and stickers from new glazing and appliances is slow, manual work. So is scraping paint spots, silicone smears, grout haze and adhesive from tiles, glass and hardwood, all of which need care to avoid scratching new surfaces.
Access has a real cost in London. Terraced houses with no parking, permit zones, narrow stairwells in mansion blocks and flats above the third floor with no lift all add time. Some companies add a congestion charge or ULEZ surcharge, so ask whether that is included.
Larger projects are often cleaned in stages. A rough clean during the build clears debris and makes the site workable. The builders clean happens once trades are finished. The final sparkle clean is done just before handover or move-in, once snagging is complete.
If your project is still live, paying for one clean now and a lighter sparkle clean later usually works out better than paying for a full deep clean twice. A sparkle clean on a property already cleaned once is typically a third to a half of the original cost.
Be wary of a firm price given over the phone with no photos or visit. A reputable company will ask about the scope of works, the number of windows, whether floors are new timber or tile, and when the builders are finishing.
Check what the quote includes. Internal window cleaning is usually standard, external and above ground floor often is not. Carpet cleaning, oven cleaning, high level dusting and rubbish removal are commonly separate lines.
If the company is VAT registered, yes, and 20 per cent on a £900 job is a meaningful difference. Always ask whether a quoted figure includes VAT before comparing prices.
It is rarely a good idea. Construction dust clogs domestic vacuums, and standard cleaning products will not shift grout haze, silicone or paint spots, so most domestic cleaners will decline or charge extra once they arrive.
Check your contract. Many building contracts include only a basic clear-and-sweep, so the detailed clean is usually a separate cost to the homeowner unless a full handover clean was specifically agreed.
Tell us about the project and Chris will reply same day with a written quote and scope.