Move In Move Out Cleaning Services Cape Town is handover cleaning: an empty property cleaned to a standard that satisfies a landlord's exit inspection, or an incoming tenant's first day.
Empty premises clean faster and clean better, which is why this work is almost always cheaper and more thorough than the same clean with furniture in place.
Send the property size, whether it is empty, and the handover date.
Get Move Out Cleaning QuotesWhat a Handover Clean Covers
| Area | Included |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | Inside all cupboards, oven, extractor, fridge space, behind appliances |
| Bathrooms | Descaling, grout, shower screens, extract vents, cistern |
| Floors | Full clean, carpet extraction or hard floor machine clean |
| Walls and doors | Marks, switch plates, door frames, skirtings |
| Windows | Inside glass, frames, tracks and sills |
| Built-ins | Inside cupboards, shelves, drawers, wardrobe rails |
| Outside | Garage, patio, braai area, bin store where applicable |
Move In Move Out Cleaning Services Cape Town Prices
| Property | Indicative range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or bachelor flat | R1,200 – R2,600 | Empty |
| Two-bedroom flat or house | R1,800 – R3,800 | |
| Three-bedroom house | R2,800 – R6,000 | |
| Four-bedroom plus | R4,500 – R10,000 | |
| Commercial unit, per m² | R25 – R55 /m² | Office or retail vacate |
| Add: carpet extraction | R22 – R45 /m² | Often required by the lease |
| Add: interior and exterior windows | R650 – R2,800 | Property size dependent |
| Add: oven deep clean | R450 – R1,200 | Where heavily soiled |
| Occupied property surcharge | +20% – 40% | Furniture and belongings still in place |
Indicative Cape Town ranges, not a quotation. Check the lease before booking: many commercial and residential leases specifically require professional carpet cleaning with a receipt, and a general clean will not satisfy the exit inspection.
Compare handover cleaning quotes against what your lease actually requires.
Compare QuotesTiming the Clean
- Book for after the move, not before. Removals leave marks, dust and scuffs that a pre-move clean will not cover.
- Allow a buffer day before the inspection so anything missed can be corrected.
- Confirm water and power are still connected. Accounts closed early are a common reason a crew cannot work.
- Keep the invoice. Landlords and agents frequently ask for proof of professional cleaning as a deposit condition.
End of Lease and Office Handover Cleaning
A handover clean is measured against the lease rather than against a cleaning standard, which is what makes it different from a deep clean. The obligation is usually to return the premises in the condition it was received, fair wear and tear excepted, and the person deciding whether you have is the landlord or the managing agent rather than you.
- Read the reinstatement clause first. It often requires more than cleaning: removing signage, making good fixings, and sometimes restoring partitions or floor coverings.
- Clean after the furniture leaves. Cleaning around desks that are still in place means paying twice, because the marks underneath are exactly what gets inspected.
- Book the inspection after the clean. Obvious, and frequently the reverse of what happens when a move runs late.
- Photograph the result. Dated photographs on handover day are the cheapest protection available in a deposit dispute.
- Moving in as well as out. A move-in clean before your furniture arrives is far cheaper and more thorough than the same work afterwards.
Office Relocation: Sequencing the Cleans
| Stage | What is cleaned | When |
|---|---|---|
| New premises, before move-in | Full clean of an empty floor | Before furniture is delivered |
| New premises, after fit-out | Builders clean and final sparkle clean | After trades finish, before occupation |
| Old premises, after furniture leaves | Handover clean to lease condition | Before the exit inspection |
| Old premises, reinstatement | Signage removal and making good | Usually a separate trade |
Where the outgoing premises had a fit-out or building work, post construction cleaning covers the builders and sparkle clean stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does move out cleaning cost in Cape Town?
An empty two-bedroom flat commonly runs R1,800 to R3,800 and a three-bedroom house R2,800 to R6,000. Commercial units are usually priced at R25 to R55 per square metre.
Does the property need to be empty?
It does not have to be, but it should be. Cleaning around furniture and belongings adds 20 to 40 percent and produces a worse result at an exit inspection.
Is carpet cleaning included?
Usually quoted separately at R22 to R45 per square metre. Many leases specifically require professional carpet cleaning with a receipt, so check the clause before deciding to skip it.
Will this get my deposit back?
A thorough handover clean removes the cleaning grounds for a deduction. It does not cover damage, repairs or fair wear and tear, which are assessed separately.
How long does it take?
A two-bedroom flat is usually half a day to a day for a team of two. Larger houses and commercial units run to a full day or more.
When should I book it?
After the removal truck has left and at least a day before the exit inspection, so there is room to correct anything the agent flags.
What does an end of lease office clean cost?
Commercial units are commonly priced at R25 to R55 per square metre, with carpet extraction and windows usually quoted as additions. Condition on the day moves it more than area does, which is why most companies want to see the premises first.
When should a handover clean happen?
After the furniture has gone and before the exit inspection. Cleaning around furniture that is still in place means paying for the same floor twice, since the marks underneath are exactly what the inspection looks at.
Is a handover clean the same as a deep clean?
The work overlaps but the standard is different. A handover clean is measured against the lease and judged by the landlord or managing agent; a deep clean is measured against a cleaning standard and judged by you. Read the reinstatement clause before briefing anyone.
Should the new premises be cleaned before moving in?
Yes, and it is considerably cheaper before furniture arrives. An empty floor can be cleaned properly in a fraction of the time, and anything left until after the move costs more and is done less thoroughly.
Handover cleans are quoted through Commercial Cleaning Cape Town, for commercial units and residential properties alike.
Related Cleaning Services
Commercial Cleaning Cape Town is a free quote-matching service. The cleaning is carried out by the independent local cleaning companies that quote you, and your contract is with the company you appoint. Assess each quote on its own merits before appointing anyone.
Describe the job once and compare quotes from LEADERR APPROVED cleaning companies in your area.
Get 5 QuotesGet Move In Move Out Cleaning Services Cape Town Quotes
Send the floor area, the handover date and whether the premises will be empty, and compare handover cleaning quotes.
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