How much does a cleaner cost in Brighton? An honest guide
What drives the cost of domestic, deep and end of tenancy cleaning in Brighton, why hourly rates mislead, and the questions to ask before you book.
A cleaner in Brighton costs whatever the job takes, so the honest answer is a range that depends on five things: bathrooms, floors, kitchen, condition and how often you book. We do not publish a price list here because two properties with the same number of bedrooms can need very different amounts of time. What follows explains what moves the price, so you can judge any quote you are given.
What does a cleaner cost in Brighton?
There is no single figure, and be wary of anyone who gives one without asking about the property. Most local firms quote either an hourly rate or a fixed price per job. The table shows which way each factor pushes the price.
| Factor | Effect on the price |
|---|---|
| Number of bathrooms | Large. Bathrooms are the slowest rooms to clean. |
| Number of floors | Moderate. Stairs and carrying equipment take time. |
| Kitchen size and condition | Large. Baked-on grease is slow to remove. |
| Overall condition | Very large for one-off cleans, small for regular ones. |
| Frequency | Regular visits cost less per visit than one-offs. |
| Extras (oven, fridge, interior windows) | Added on, unless the quote says they are included. |
Why hourly rates mislead
An hourly rate tells you what one hour costs, not how many hours the job will take, and the second number sets your bill. Two companies quoting the same hourly rate can produce very different invoices, depending on how fast they work and what they count as in scope.
It also creates a conflict of interest. If the meter runs by the hour, working slowly is rewarded.
We price per job for that reason. A per-job quote is a good sign whoever you use, because it means the company has committed to a figure and therefore thought about the scope.
What drives the price?
Size, but not the way people think
Bedroom count is the usual shorthand, and it is a poor one. What actually drives time is:
- Bathrooms. A two-bed flat with two bathrooms can take longer than a three-bed house with one.
- Floors. A three-storey Brighton terrace is a different job from a bungalow with the same floor area.
- The kitchen. Grease is slow to remove and there is no shortcut.
Condition matters more than size
For one-off cleans, condition dominates. A neglected one-bedroom flat can take longer than a well-kept four-bedroom house. Any company quoting a deep clean without asking for photos or a visit is guessing, and a guess tends to be revised upwards on the day.
Frequency
A home cleaned fortnightly never gets dirty enough to need the slow work, so regular visits cost less per visit than one-offs. The first visit of a new regular arrangement often takes longer than later ones, and a good company says so upfront.
What is in scope
Check whether these are quoted separately:
- Inside the oven
- Inside the fridge and freezer
- Interior windows
- Ironing and laundry
- Carpet cleaning
- Balconies and outside space
None of these is unreasonable to charge for. Finding out on the day is.
What questions should you ask before you book?
- Is this a fixed price or an estimate? If it is an estimate, what makes it change?
- Is the oven included? It is a common hidden extra. See oven cleaning if you would rather book it on its own.
- Do I get the same cleaner each visit? For regular work this matters more than any other single factor.
- Are you insured, and are your cleaners employed or subcontracted? That determines who is liable if something is damaged. There are more questions like this in our guide to hiring a cleaner.
- What happens if I am not happy?
- What notice do I need to give to cancel or skip a visit?
Why is a very cheap quote a warning sign?
If a quote is far below everything else you have been given, the difference is being paid for somewhere. Common places are pay below the legal minimum (see the current National Minimum Wage rates), no insurance, or a scope so narrow that the real cost arrives later.
That is not an argument for paying the most. It is an argument for comparing what is included rather than the headline number, and asking what happens when something goes wrong.
What can a cleaner do in a set number of hours?
If you are comparing hourly quotes, it helps to know what fits into two or three hours. Our guide to what a cleaner can do in 2 or 3 hours sets it out.
How do you get a real figure?
We quote per job after a short conversation. For regular house cleaning that is usually over the phone, for deep cleans after seeing a few photos, and for office contracts after a site visit. There is no obligation.
Tell us about your property and you will have a fixed number to compare against.