Clean properties photograph better, show better, and lease faster. We analyse the real ROI of professional end of tenancy cleaning versus DIY for London landlords.
Every day your property sits empty, you're losing money. In London, where the average rent for a two-bedroom flat hovers around £2,000 per month, a single week of void costs you roughly £500. A two-week gap? That's £1,000 gone before a new tenant even moves in.
Yet many landlords make the mistake of thinking they can save money by doing the cleaning themselves, or relying on outgoing tenants to "leave it tidy." The truth? A professional end of tenancy clean isn't an expense – it's an investment that pays for itself.
We've crunched the numbers, spoken to letting agents across South London, and analysed hundreds of tenancy turnovers. Here's why professional cleaning is the smartest money you'll spend between tenancies.
The Hard Numbers: What Does a Void Cost You?
Before we talk about cleaning, let's talk about what you're really losing when a property sits empty. These aren't just theoretical figures – this is cash that could be in your pocket.
| Property Type | Average Monthly Rent | Cost Per Week Void | Cost Per Day Void |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed flat | £1,600 | £370 | £53 |
| 2-bed flat | £2,100 | £485 | £69 |
| 3-bed house | £2,800 | £646 | £92 |
| A professional end of tenancy clean typically costs between £230 and £350 – less than a week's void. | |||
Here's the kicker: properties that are professionally cleaned let faster. According to data from property portals, listings with professional-quality photos (which require a clean property) receive up to 60% more views. A cleaner property doesn't just attract more interest – it attracts better tenants who are willing to pay closer to asking price.
DIY vs. Professional: What's the Difference?
You might be thinking, "Can't I just do it myself? Or ask the outgoing tenants to give it a good clean?"
Let's be honest. Most tenants, no matter how well-intentioned, don't clean to the standard a letting agent expects. They'll wipe the surfaces and vacuum the floor, but they won't:
- Degrease the oven properly (the number one cause of deposit disputes)
- Remove limescale from shower heads and glass screens
- Pull out the fridge and clean behind it
- Wipe down skirting boards and door frames
- Clean the inside of kitchen cupboards
- Descale taps and shower fittings
Here's a comparison of what a DIY clean vs. a professional clean actually delivers:
| Area | DIY / Tenant Clean | Professional Clean |
|---|---|---|
| Oven | Surface wipe, visible grease left | Degreased inside, racks cleaned, glass streak-free |
| Bathroom | Toilet and sink wiped, limescale remains | Limescale removed, grout cleaned, glass polished |
| Kitchen cupboards | External wipe only | Inside and out, shelves removed and cleaned |
| Floors | Visible areas vacuumed | Moved furniture, edges detailed, skirting cleaned |
| Windows | Often forgotten | Internal sills and frames cleaned |
A letting agent isn't going to open a cupboard and say, "Well, at least they tried." They're going to note it down, and that note could cost you a deposit dispute or – worse – a delayed let.
The London Factor: Hard Water, High Standards
If you own property in South London, you know the struggle with limescale. Areas like Lambeth, Southwark, and Wandsworth have notoriously hard water. That chalky white build-up isn't just unsightly – over time, it can permanently damage chrome fittings and glass.
A professional cleaning team comes equipped with industrial descalers and the know-how to remove limescale without scratching surfaces. They'll leave taps shining, shower screens crystal clear, and toilets looking like new. A tenant with a bottle of vinegar and a scrubbing brush simply can't achieve the same result.
Photography: You Can't Photoshop Grime
Think about your Rightmove or Zoopla listing. The photos are the first thing a potential tenant sees. If those photos show a dull, tired-looking property with streaky mirrors and dusty skirting boards, what message does that send?
"This landlord doesn't care."
Tenants aren't just renting a space – they're buying into a standard of living. A property that shines in photos commands higher rent and attracts tenants who are more likely to look after it. We've seen professionally cleaned properties let within 48 hours of listing, while identical properties that were "cleaned enough" sat empty for weeks.
📸 Real example:
A two-bed flat in Clapham we cleaned last month went from listing to let agreed in 3 days. The agent specifically mentioned that the photos (taken immediately after our clean) made the property stand out from the competition.
The ROI Breakdown: Let's Do the Maths
Let's compare two scenarios for a typical two-bed flat in Croydon renting at £2,000 per month.
| Scenario A: DIY Clean | Scenario B: Professional Clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning cost | £50 (materials + your time) | £280 (professional clean) |
| Time to let | 3 weeks | 1 week |
| Void loss | £1,385 (based on £66/day) | £462 |
| Total cost of void + clean | £1,435 | £742 |
| Professional cleaning saves you nearly £700 – and you didn't spend your Saturday scrubbing an oven. | ||
The numbers don't lie. A professional clean pays for itself in reduced void time alone. That's before we even consider the higher quality of tenant, fewer disputes, and the fact that you're not wasting your weekend with a sponge and a bottle of bleach.
Beyond the Clean: The Inspection Guarantee
Here's something many landlords don't consider. When you book a professional end of tenancy clean with Dalyan Rose, you're not just paying for a clean property. You're paying for:
- Accountability – If something's missed, we come back within 48 hours to fix it. Good luck getting that from a tenant who's already moved to Manchester.
- Documentation – We provide completion reports and checklists that you can use as evidence in any deposit dispute.
- Consistency – Every property is cleaned to the same high standard, following a checklist that mirrors what letting agents look for.
- Insurance – Fully insured and DBS-checked staff, so you know your property is in safe hands.
We work with letting agents across Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham, and all of South London. They know our standard – and they trust it. When they see a property has been cleaned by Dalyan Rose, they know the inspection will pass first time.
When Should You Book?
The ideal time for an end of tenancy clean is immediately after the outgoing tenant has moved out, and before the property is photographed or listed. This gives you a clean slate – literally – for your marketing materials and viewings.
We recommend booking at least a week in advance, especially during peak seasons (May–September). If you have a back-to-back tenancy, we can often work around your schedule to ensure the property is ready for the new tenants within 24 hours.
The bottom line? Professional end of tenancy cleaning isn't a cost – it's a profit-generating investment. It reduces void periods, attracts better tenants, and gives you peace of mind that the property is truly ready for its next occupants.
We've been doing this for years. We know what works. And we'd love to help you turn your properties faster.