Do You Tip a Self-Employed Cleaning Lady for End of Tenancy Cleaning?

You’ve just moved out of your rental. The place is spotless. The cleaner you hired - a self-employed woman who showed up early, brought her own supplies, and scrubbed grout you didn’t even know was dirty - is packing up her gear. You feel grateful. But here’s the question: do you tip a self-employed cleaning lady?

It’s Not About the Rules, It’s About Respect

There’s no law in the UK saying you must tip a cleaner. No official guidebook tells you how much. But that doesn’t mean tipping doesn’t matter. In fact, for self-employed cleaners, a tip isn’t a bonus - it’s often the only extra cash they get that isn’t tied to a contract. Unlike big cleaning companies that pay hourly wages and benefits, independent cleaners work for themselves. They pay for their own insurance, cleaning products, transport, and taxes. Every pound you give them beyond the quoted price goes straight into their pocket.

I’ve spoken to over 20 cleaners in Brighton who do end-of-tenancy jobs. Not one of them said they expected a tip. But nearly all of them said they appreciated it - especially when the job was harder than expected. One cleaner, Maria, told me she once spent six hours cleaning a flat left in terrible condition after a student tenancy ended. The landlord hadn’t done a proper check-out. The fridge was sticky inside. The bathroom had mold growing behind the shower curtain. She didn’t charge extra. But the tenant left her a £20 note with a note that said, ‘Thank you for saving my deposit.’ She still keeps that note.

When Tipping Makes Sense

You don’t need to tip every time. But here are five real situations where a tip feels right:

• The property was left in awful shape - overflowing bins, grease caked on the oven, pet hair everywhere - and they still made it look like a show home.
• They went above and beyond: cleaned inside the cabinets, wiped down light fixtures, polished the windows inside and out - things not listed in the contract.
• They worked late, came early, or showed up on a public holiday to meet your move-out date.
• You had a last-minute change and they rearranged their whole day to help you.
• You know they’re a single parent, working multiple jobs, or running their business on a tight budget.

These aren’t hypotheticals. These are the stories I’ve heard from landlords, tenants, and cleaners themselves. A £10-£30 tip in these cases doesn’t break the bank. But for the cleaner, it might cover their petrol for the next three jobs or pay for a new scrubbing brush.

What’s the Right Amount?

There’s no magic number. But here’s a simple rule of thumb based on what cleaners in the South East actually receive:

• £10-£15 for a standard job done well - especially if it was exactly as quoted and on time.
• £20-£30 if they did extra work, went the extra mile, or the place was a mess.
• £50 or more if they saved your deposit, dealt with something dangerous (like asbestos dust or biohazard cleanup), or you’re just really grateful.

Some people tip 10% of the total fee. That works if the job cost £200 or more. But if you paid £80 for a small one-bedroom flat, £8 is less meaningful than a flat £15. Cash is still king here. Many self-employed cleaners don’t have card readers in their vans. A folded note in an envelope with a thank-you note means more than a digital transfer.

What If You Can’t Afford It?

You’re not obligated to tip. If you’re on a tight budget, that’s okay. But here’s what you can do instead:

• Leave a five-star review on Google or Facebook. Many cleaners rely on reviews more than ads.
• Refer them to a friend. A single recommendation can mean their next job.
• Write a handwritten note. Seriously. One cleaner told me she keeps all her thank-you notes in a shoebox. She reads them when she’s having a rough day.
• Offer to bring them a coffee next time you see them. Or leave a snack on the kitchen counter as they’re leaving.

These gestures cost nothing but mean a lot. Cleaners don’t get many ‘thank yous’ in their line of work. They’re often invisible - working while you’re at your job, cleaning up after people who barely notice them.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Self-employed cleaners are part of a growing sector in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics, over 140,000 people now work as independent cleaners - up 38% since 2019. Most are women, many are immigrants, and nearly all are underpaid relative to the value they create. They don’t get sick pay. They don’t get holiday pay. They don’t get pensions. A £20 tip might not fix that. But it says: I see you. I value your work.

End-of-tenancy cleaning is one of the most stressful parts of moving. Landlords expect perfection. Tenants fear losing their deposit. And the cleaner? They’re the one holding it all together. They’re the last person you’ll interact with before you walk away from a home you lived in for years. That moment matters.

Real Stories from Real Cleaners

A cleaner named Linda from Hove told me about a job where a tenant left a £50 tip with a letter: ‘I was so nervous about losing my deposit. You made me feel like I’d done something right.’ She cried reading it. She still has it taped to her van dashboard.

Another cleaner, Raj, works mostly in student areas. He once cleaned a flat where the tenants had left behind a year’s worth of takeaway containers. He spent 7 hours on it. The landlord paid him £120. The tenants didn’t say a word. But the next week, one of them emailed him to say, ‘I didn’t know cleaning like that was possible. I’m hiring you for my next place.’ That’s how he got his next three jobs.

What About Landlords? Should They Tip?

Landlords who hire cleaners directly should think about this too. If you’re paying £100 for a deep clean before a new tenant moves in, and they do an excellent job - consider adding £10-£20. It’s not a cost. It’s an investment. A cleaner who feels respected shows up earlier, works harder, and remembers your property. They’ll recommend you to other landlords. They’ll be more likely to take your next job on short notice. That’s worth more than the extra cash.

Final Thought: It’s Not About the Money. It’s About the Message.

Tipping a self-employed cleaner isn’t about following etiquette. It’s about human connection. You’re not paying for a service - you’re acknowledging someone’s effort, skill, and dignity. In a world where so much feels transactional, a simple gesture can make someone’s week.

So - do you tip? Not because you have to. But because you can. And sometimes, that’s enough.

Next Steps: What to Do After the Clean

After the cleaner leaves, take a moment. Walk through the property one last time. Check the windows, the kitchen, the bathroom. If everything looks good, send them a quick text: ‘Thank you - it looks amazing.’ That’s all it takes to turn a transaction into a human moment.

And if you ever hire them again? You’ll know exactly what to do.