Property services
Cleaning companies in Edinburgh and the Lothians
End-of-tenancy, pre-move and deep cleaning.
Cleaning splits into regular domestic cleaning, deep cleaning, end-of-tenancy cleaning and pre-sale or post-build cleans. For an owner about to market a property, the pre-sale clean is the cheapest presentation work available and the one photographers notice most.
End-of-tenancy is a specific product with a defined checklist, because it is measured against a deposit dispute rather than against taste.
When Edinburgh owners call cleaning companies
- The property is being photographed for marketing this week.
- A tenancy is ending and the deposit depends on the property's condition.
- Builders have finished and there is dust in every surface and track.
- A property has been empty or unoccupied for a long period.
Local context: Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's student and short-let cycles mean end-of-tenancy demand spikes hard in late June and late August. Booking three weeks ahead in those windows is normal, and last-minute bookings carry a premium.
Sash windows, deep cornices, tiled entrance halls and original fireplaces all take time that a per-room price rarely reflects. Ask specifically whether internal window glazing bars and cornice dusting are included.
What this work typically costs
Published ranges are market context gathered from local jobs, not a quotation. We do not price work, arrange it or take a cut of it — always get your own written quotes.
| Job | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Deep clean, two-bedroom flat | £150-£300 | Typically two cleaners for four to six hours. |
| End-of-tenancy clean, two-bedroom | £180-£350 | Oven, extractor and inside cupboards should be included — check. |
| Post-construction clean, per hour | £20-£35 | Dust removal takes several passes; hourly is usually fairer than fixed. |
| Carpet cleaning, per room | £35-£70 | Stairs and hallways priced separately. |
| Internal window cleaning add-on | £40-£120 | Sash and case windows with glazing bars take much longer. |
Tenements and common repairs
Common stair cleaning is usually a factored service paid by all the flats on a rota or contract. If the close is grubby before your viewings, raising the standard of the stair clean is a shared cost that improves every flat's saleability.
Where there is no factor, owners sometimes organise a rota informally. A written note of the arrangement helps when a buyer's solicitor asks what the common charges actually are.
What to check before you instruct
- Insurance
- What the price includes
- Whether the team is employed or subcontracted
- Insurance
- Public liability and, if they hold keys, cover for loss of keys and accidental damage.
- Written checklist
- Ask for the specific list of what is cleaned, especially oven, extractor, inside windows and inside cupboards.
- Employed or subcontracted
- Ask whether cleaners are employed, which affects insurance and consistency of the same team.
- Re-clean guarantee
- For end-of-tenancy work, a 48 to 72 hour re-clean guarantee is standard. Get it in writing.
We publish factual detail supplied by each business. We do not rate, rank, endorse or guarantee anyone listed, and no business pays for placement. Checking registration, insurance and references is always your decision.
Questions to ask before you instruct
- Exactly what is on the checklist for this price?
- Do you bring your own materials and equipment?
- Is there a re-clean guarantee if the landlord or agent objects?
- How many cleaners and how many hours are allowed?
- Are you insured for accidental damage while working unsupervised?
- Can you work around a photography appointment on the same day?
Businesses listed
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Lothian Property is a property information and professional-introduction service operated by Maybury Scotland Limited. Lothian Property is not an estate agency. Where requested, we may connect homeowners with independent estate agents and other property professionals. How we work.
Read our guide on cleaning companies
Cleaning companies: common questions
- What does a pre-sale or end-of-tenancy clean usually include?
- Oven, extractor, inside cupboards, windows internally, skirtings, bathroom descaling and floors. Carpets, external windows and curtains are frequently extra — ask for the inclusion list in writing.
- How soon before photographs should a home be cleaned?
- Immediately before. Photography and any pre-marketing visit tends to be the first impression a buyer forms, so cleaning after decluttering and before the camera arrives is the sequence that works.
- Is the cleaning team employed or subcontracted?
- It matters for insurance and for who is accountable if something is damaged. Ask directly, and ask whether the same team returns for repeat visits.