How much does end of tenancy cleaning cost in South Africa?
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Key takeaways
- Most end of tenancy cleaning jobs in South Africa land between ZAR 700–ZAR 3,200 — known locally as move-out / end of lease cleaning.
- The Rental Housing Act requires deposits to be held in an interest-bearing account and joint incoming/outgoing inspections; a landlord who fails to inspect generally forfeits the right to deduct for damage or cleaning. Provincial Rental Housing Tribunals resolve disputes free of charge.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
End of Tenancy Cleaning prices by job size in South Africa
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat Empty flat deep clean with oven and bathroom descale | ZAR 700 | ZAR 1,100 | ZAR 1,600 |
| 2-bed flat Full move-out clean including inside windows and cupboards | ZAR 1,000 | ZAR 1,500 | ZAR 2,200 |
| 3-bed house Whole-house move-out clean; carpets quoted separately | ZAR 1,400 | ZAR 2,100 | ZAR 3,200 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour (per cleaner) | ZAR 60 | ZAR 90 | ZAR 140 |
What affects the price
- Job size and scope — bigger or more complex jobs move you up the ranges above.
- Access and condition — hard-to-reach areas, older properties or neglected maintenance add labour time.
- Materials and quality level — where materials are involved, the grade you choose often matters more than labour.
- Urgency — same-day or out-of-hours work usually carries a premium.
- Where you live — large metros in South Africa typically run above the national range; smaller towns below it.
How to save
- Get at least three quotes and compare like-for-like scopes, not just totals.
- Be flexible on timing — off-peak slots are often cheaper.
- Bundle related tasks into one visit to spread call-out costs.
- Agree the scope in writing up front to avoid change-order surprises.
How to hire a end of tenancy cleaning pro in South Africa
- Know the Rental Housing Act rules: joint incoming and outgoing inspections are mandatory, and the landlord loses the right to deduct if they skip the inspection
- Get a fixed quote by bedrooms with oven and bathroom descaling included
- Confirm the company vets and supervises its staff and carries insurance
- Schedule the clean before the joint outgoing inspection and attend with your invoice
- Check whether walls need washing or touch-up — a common deduction item in SA
- Deposit must be held in an interest-bearing account and refunded within 7-14 days depending on deductions
Red flags
- Landlords who skipped the joint incoming inspection but still claim deductions — generally not permitted under the Rental Housing Act
- Unsupervised, uninsured day labour in an empty property
- No written scope or receipt
- Quotes that exclude the oven or windows
How Handld researches prices
These are researched estimates, not quotes and not our transaction data. We compile ranges from published sources — national statistics, trade bodies and incumbent cost guides — normalise them to ZAR, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: Kandua and SweepSouth price data; Rental Housing Act inspection requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is end of tenancy cleaning guaranteed?
Reputable companies offer a re-clean guarantee, usually 48-72 hours, meaning they return free of charge if the landlord or agent flags missed areas at checkout. Always confirm the guarantee window in writing before booking.
Do cleaners bring their own equipment for a move-out clean?
Yes. End of tenancy crews arrive with professional products, oven-cleaning chemicals, and often steam or hot-water extraction machines. You only need to provide access, power, and running water.
What is included in an end of tenancy clean?
A full top-to-bottom clean of the empty property: inside the oven and appliances, inside cupboards, limescale removal, skirting boards, windows inside, and a deep clean of the bathroom and kitchen. Carpet steam cleaning is usually a paid extra.
Do I need professional cleaning to get my deposit back?
You need to return the property in the same state of cleanliness as when you moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Cleaning disputes are the single most common reason deposits get docked, so a professional clean with an invoice is cheap insurance on larger deposits.
What is the difference between a deep clean and an end of tenancy clean?
An end of tenancy clean follows an agency-style checklist designed to pass a checkout inspection, covering inside appliances and cupboards in an empty property. A deep clean is done in a furnished, lived-in home and is scoped room by room rather than to an inventory standard.
Can my South African landlord deduct cleaning from my deposit?
Only if a joint outgoing inspection documented the issue and there was a joint incoming inspection to compare against. Deductions must be actual costs with receipts; disputes go free of charge to your provincial Rental Housing Tribunal.
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