Cleaning Fee for Airbnb: How to Set the Right Fee in Your Property

In the UK, the cleaning fee for Airbnb is the one-off charge that covers preparing your property between stays, including cleaning products, professional cleaning services, laundering linens, and restocking essentials, and it typically falls between £40 and £70 depending on your property type and location. For UK Airbnb hosts, setting that fee correctly is a key part of managing costs and keeping your listing attractive to guests.

A cleaning fee should recover your real turnover expenses without making the total price look uncompetitive. Getting that balance right affects guest expectations around cleanliness, booking rates, and overall satisfaction, which is why this guide looks at what Airbnb cleaning fees include, how to set the right amount for your area and property, how to explain the fee clearly to guests, and how it can influence bookings.

1. What Do Airbnb Cleaning Fees and Professional Cleaning Services Cover in the UK?

Airbnb cleaning fees in the UK typically include costs associated with cleaning products, professional services, and the time invested in maintaining a clean and welcoming environment. This might involve tasks such as laundering bed linens, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, dusting, vacuuming, mopping floors, wiping countertops, cleaning other surfaces, and restocking essential items like toiletries and toilet paper. Some hosts also include laundry in the fee, while deep cleaning is usually separate from a standard cleaning fee. For properties in popular tourist destinations like London, Edinburgh, or the Lake District, higher cleaning standards are often expected, which can influence the fee you set​. By contrast, end of tenancy cleaning or tenancy cleaning is far more intensive than a normal Airbnb turnover clean.

2. How Much Should You Charge as a UK Host for a Cleaning Fee?

The appropriate cleaning fee can vary widely depending on the type of property, location, property size, and how many rooms it has, as well as the expectations of your guests. For UK hosts, the average cleaning charge often ranges between £40 to £70, and that can affect the overall price guests compare before booking. However, this can increase for larger properties or those in high-demand locations such as central London.

To set a competitive and fair cleaning fee:

• Assess Your Costs: Include the cost of cleaning materials, your time, or professional services. In the UK, professional cleaning services often charge between £12 to £20 per hour, depending on the region; in London, the average hourly rate is £17, with typical services ranging from £16 to £50 per hour, while some quotes still fall in the £8 to £20 per hour range. Wecasa's cleaning rates start at £17.90 per hour. A service booked each week often costs £48 to £92 for four hours, and regular bookings can sometimes secure a better deal or a fair price.
• Consider Regional Comparisons: Look at similar Airbnb listings in your area. For example, cleaning fees in tourist-heavy areas like York or Bath may be higher than in less frequented regions​
• Seasonal Adjustments: During peak travel seasons, particularly in summer or during major events, you might justify a higher fee due to increased demand and more intensive cleaning needs

Some hosts also absorb part of the cleaning cost into the nightly rate instead of relying on a higher standalone fee.

3. Communicating Cleaning Fees to Guests

In the UK, transparency is crucial when listing your property on Airbnb. Ensure that your cleaning fee is clearly outlined in your listing, and explain what it covers. For example, detailing that the fee includes professional cleaning services or additional sanitisation measures can help justify the cost to guests. It's always worth mentioning it includes linen and laundering which is an aspect that can be overlooked. UK guests, particularly post-pandemic, have heightened expectations for cleanliness, making it important to communicate these standards clearly.

4. The Impact on Booking and Guest Experience

In the UK, cleaning fees can significantly affect your Airbnb ranking and overall guest experience. Airbnb's algorithm considers the total cost of a stay, including cleaning fees, when ranking listings. A flat cleaning fee can make short stays look expensive, while a longer stay spreads that cost more effectively across the booking. A competitively priced fee can enhance your visibility on the platform, leading to more bookings. This is why some hosts lower the standalone fee or adjust pricing for a longer stay. Moreover, UK guests often prioritise cleanliness, and consistent positive reviews regarding the cleanliness of your property can lead to repeat bookings and a higher ranking​.

In summary, setting the right Airbnb cleaning fee in the UK involves understanding your costs, bench-marking against local competitors, and maintaining transparency with your guests. By balancing these factors, you can ensure that your fee covers your expenses while still attracting guests, ultimately contributing to the success of your hosting business, especially when you hire professional cleaners or trusted cleaners where service quality and consistency affect reviews.

Pass the Keys is very well positioned to support hosts with advice and guidance. Their membership in the STAA and other relevant industry bodies, along with practical experience of supporting hosts with cleaning fees in the UK and Spain, makes them an ideal partner to ensure hosts can set the right expectations with guests and secure quality turnover work between guests from expert cleaners and domestic cleaners.