If cleaning really isn’t your cup of tea or maybe you just don’t have the time, you’ve probably considered bringing in a professional cleaner to tackle the house clean instead. So how much does a cleaner in London actually cost? This can all vary depending on where you find your cleaner. The three most common ways to find and book a cleaner are:
- Going directly through an independent, self-employed cleaner
- Booking through a cleaning agency with employed cleaning staff
- Booking through a cleaning platform with self-employed cleaners
Here at Helpling, we have broken down the costs below in order to help you decide the best option for you and your budget.
Independent, self-employed cleaners
You can typically find an independent cleaner through word of mouth or by looking through newspaper classifieds and shop window ads. The rate in London for an independent cleaner is between £10-£15 an hour, with £12 being the average going rate. An independent cleaner will usually be your cheapest option as there are none of the overheads that come with running a large company. It’s also a great option to consider when you have a recommendation from a trusted friend or family member. However, it’s worth noting that a lot of independent cleaners don’t have liability insurance and won’t be background-checked. They often also only deal in cash in hand. As a result, you will have to spend time researching and background checking your potential cleaner if you don’t have the benefit of a recommendation. You may also find it difficult to find a replacement if your cleaner cancels at short notice, as typically the only customer support you will receive is a last-minute Whatsapp message!
Cleaning agencies with employed cleaning staff
Cleaning agencies with employed cleaning staff is definitely your most expensive option. This is due to the fact the agency has to cover the cost of recruiting, vetting, and insuring cleaners. As a result, the average cost of a cleaning agency cleaner in London is anywhere between £20-£30 per hour. Booking a cleaner through an agency will mean you don’t need to worry about insurance or background checks, as the agency will do this for you. Employed cleaning staff from an agency will usually provide their own cleaning materials too, so you don’t need to supply any products. However, it is expensive – almost double the cost of finding a self-employed cleaner.
Moreover, franchises and agencies often provide substantial per visit pricing which obscures the amount of time and effort relative to your clean. The capital cost of the initial franchise, franchise fees, a small amount of stock and staff costs, mean that their actual hourly rates are extremely high in comparison to hourly rate models.
In addition, many cleaning agencies and franchises offer to visit your home first and provide a quotation, which can be expensive, cumbersome, and adds precious time to your day!
Cleaning platforms with self-employed cleaners
A growing number of self-employed London cleaners work with platforms that allow them to market their services to customers. The average cost of a self-employed cleaner found through an online marketplace is around £12-£20 per hour. Here at Helpling, the UK’s leading marketplace that connects customers with cleaners, we give you the best of both worlds. You don’t need to worry about your cleaner not being insured, as all cleaners are carefully vetted and liability insured. Fair pricing is also super important to us, so we don’t hide to the cleaner what their earnings are through the app. All of the cleaners on our platform set their own hourly rates, hours, locations. You can decide your own price range so you can easily find a cleaner that fits your budget and also see a full review of the cleaners you select, from their experience to previous customer ratings! We’re on a mission to bring transparency to the market and ensure you receive the best possible clean!
