The busiest time for end of tenancy cleaning in the UK is July to September, and the last few days of any month. Across the 5,304 end of tenancy cleans we completed in 2024 and 2025, August alone accounted for 12.2% of the year’s move-out cleans and December just 5.8%. This guide uses our own job records, from March 2023 to September 2026, to show when demand peaks, how London and Scotland differ, and how to plan your clean so it fits your check-out.
Key takeaways
- July, August and September are the peak months: together they made up 34% of our end of tenancy cleans in 2024 and 2025.
- December, February and January are the quietest months for move-out cleaning.
- 22.6% of our end of tenancy cleans fall in the last five days of a month, far more than an even spread would give (about 16%).
- Friday and Monday are the busiest days; Sunday is the quietest.
- London peaks in August and September, while Scotland has a sharp spike in May, when many student lets end.
When do most people move out in the UK?
Our end of tenancy cleans follow the rental calendar closely. The table shows each month’s share of the 5,304 end of tenancy cleans we completed across 2024 and 2025 (two full years, so every month is counted twice).
| Month | Share of end of tenancy cleans |
|---|---|
| January | 6.6% |
| February | 6.3% |
| March | 8.4% |
| April | 8.4% |
| May | 7.0% |
| June | 8.4% |
| July | 11.9% |
| August | 12.2% |
| September | 9.8% |
| October | 8.2% |
| November | 7.0% |
| December | 5.8% |
Summer is busiest because that’s when many tenancies are set up to end: families move before the new school year, graduates and students leave term-time lets, and a lot of 12-month agreements that started the previous summer come to an end. Winter is quieter, with December the lowest month of the year.
The end of the month is the real pinch point
Most tenancies end on a fixed date, and many of those dates fall at the end of a month. In our records, 22.6% of end of tenancy cleans happen in the last five days of a month. If cleans were spread evenly, you’d expect about 16%. The first five days of a month, by contrast, take 16.5%, almost exactly an even share.
If your check-out date is on the 28th, 29th, 30th or 31st, you’re competing with far more people for the same few days. Booking as soon as you know your date gives you the widest choice of times, and leaves room for a re-clean before you hand back the keys if anything is flagged.
Which days of the week are busiest?
| Day | Share of end of tenancy cleans |
|---|---|
| Monday | 16.7% |
| Tuesday | 14.8% |
| Wednesday | 14.6% |
| Thursday | 15.4% |
| Friday | 17.1% |
| Saturday | 13.4% |
| Sunday | 8.1% |
Friday is the busiest single day, as people clean on their last working day before a weekend move, followed by Monday. About one in five end of tenancy cleans (21.5%) takes place at the weekend. Midweek days are the easiest to book, so if your tenancy allows a Tuesday or Wednesday clean, you’ll usually have more choice of time.
London and Scotland move on different calendars
The UK average hides some big regional differences.
- London peaks later and harder: August and September each took 14.3% of the capital’s end of tenancy cleans in 2024 and 2025, and October stayed busy at 10.4%. See our London cleaning pages for local prices by borough.
- Scotland has its biggest spike in May (15.4% of the year), when many student and academic-year lets end in cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Dundee. July is Scotland’s second-busiest month at 13.3%. See our Scotland pages.
If you rent in a university city, expect the end of the academic year to be as busy as the summer peak.
When do other cleaning services peak?
End of tenancy cleaning isn’t the only service with a season. From our records:
| Service | Busiest months |
|---|---|
| Deep cleaning | March and July |
| After builders cleaning | April and May |
| Carpet cleaning (booked on its own) | October and September |
| Oven cleaning (booked on its own) | February and November |
| Pressure washing | July and April |
Deep cleans rise in March, when people get ready for spring, and again in July. Building and renovation work tends to finish in spring, which is when after builders cleans peak. Stand-alone oven cleans pick up before Christmas and in February.
Why timing matters for your deposit
Cleaning is the most common reason for deposit deductions. The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) reported that cleaning was the main cause of deductions for a fifth year running, cited in 29.38% of claims in 2025. The Tenancy Deposit Scheme found cleaning in 54% of its disputes in the 12 months to March 2025.
A rushed clean on the last possible day leaves no time to fix anything before the check-out inspection. Leaving a day between the clean and your inspection means any missed spot can be sorted, and our 72-hour re-clean guarantee covers anything flagged after the clean. Our guide to getting your full deposit back covers the rest.
How to plan your end of tenancy clean
- Confirm your check-out date and inspection time with your landlord or agent as early as possible.
- Book as soon as the date is fixed, especially for July to September or the last week of a month.
- Clean after you’ve moved out, once the furniture and boxes have gone, so every surface can be reached.
- Leave a buffer of a day before the inspection if you can.
- Add the extras your agreement asks for, such as professional carpet cleaning or oven cleaning, when you book. Our room-by-room checklist shows what’s covered.
For the full move, see our moving out checklist and timeline, and for prices see how much end of tenancy cleaning costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the busiest month for moving out in the UK?
In our records, August is the busiest month for end of tenancy cleaning (12.2% of the year’s cleans in 2024 and 2025), followed by July (11.9%) and September (9.8%).
What is the quietest time to book an end of tenancy clean?
December is the quietest month, followed by February and January. Midweek days, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, are quieter than Fridays and Mondays.
How far in advance should I book?
Book as soon as your check-out date is confirmed. That matters most in July to September and in the last five days of any month, when demand is highest.
Can I book an end of tenancy clean at the weekend?
Yes. About one in five of our end of tenancy cleans (21.5%) takes place on a Saturday or Sunday. We work 7 days a week, 8am to 7pm.
Where does this data come from?
From our own job records: every end of tenancy clean we completed between March 2023 and September 2026. Monthly shares use the two full years, 2024 and 2025. Day-of-week and end-of-month figures use all 9,161 end of tenancy cleans.
Moving out? Book your end of tenancy clean
Fixed prices from £135, DBS-checked teams and a 72-hour re-clean guarantee.
Book onlineEnd of tenancy cleaningCall 020 8146 0266
Or find cleaners in your area for local prices and reviews.
Written by the Tenancy.Cleaning team
We complete end of tenancy, deep and specialist cleans across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our guides are based on that work and checked against current UK rules.
DBS-checked cleaners£1M public liability72-hour re-clean guarantee300+ local teams
