HOW TO HIRE · CLEANING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a moving cleaner in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A move-in / move-out cleaning in Ireland costs €110–€400 per visit, typically around €240. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a moving cleaner in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers moving cleaner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — window and Surface Cleaning — cleaning windows and all surfaces is a key part of move-in/move-out services.
- How does size of the property change the price?Every extra metre adds both labour and materials. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does level of cleaning required change the price?The specification is agreed before any work begins. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional services requested change the price?The work cannot be scheduled until this is known. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Bathroom Disinfection — bathrooms receive a comprehensive clean, including disinfecting toilets, sinks, and showers — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a moving cleaner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
No licence or register applies to cleaners in Ireland. Anyone may trade as one, so the checks that matter are trader status, insurance, references and what is written down.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
That they are a trader, not a favour — a business name, an invoice, a VAT or tax reference if registered; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; Whether the person who quoted is the person who comes; References from two current customers, not testimonials on a page; What is in scope in writing, because 'a clean' means different things.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; an agency also carries employer's liability and covers sickness. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers moving cleaner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — window and Surface Cleaning — cleaning windows and all surfaces is a key part of move-in/move-out services.
A good answer: Every extra metre adds both labour and materials. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The specification is agreed before any work begins. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The work cannot be scheduled until this is known. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Bathroom Disinfection — bathrooms receive a comprehensive clean, including disinfecting toilets, sinks, and showers — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a moving cleaner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; an agency also carries employer's liability and covers sickness — kitchen Sanitization — the kitchen is a focal point in move-in/move-out cleaning, where services include cleaning countertops, cabinets, and appliances.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the moving cleaner starts, and an itemised invoice after — deep Cleaning — move-in/move-out cleaning often includes a thorough deep clean of all rooms.
Getting the quote right
- Size of the property — every extra metre adds both labour and materials.
- Level of cleaning required — the specification is agreed before any work begins.
- Any additional services requested — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known.
- Number of rooms — the quantity is confirmed before the visit is booked.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: size of the property — every extra metre adds both labour and materials
- They will not talk about it: level of cleaning required — the specification is agreed before any work begins
- They will not talk about it: any additional services requested — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known
- A price for the moving cleaner before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the moving cleaner has begun
What a moving cleaner costs: €110–€400 per visit
The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Deep cleaning and End of tenancy cleaning each carry their own band. Move-in / Move-out Cleaning price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Moving cleaners near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSize of the property — every extra metre adds both labour and materials — that is what the moving cleaner is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLevel of cleaning required — the specification is agreed before any work begins — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny additional services requested — the work cannot be scheduled until this is known — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherNumber of rooms — the quantity is confirmed before the visit is booked — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the moving cleaner is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, level of dirtiness — what is included in the package changes the total.
- Deep Cleaning
- Move-in/move-out cleaning often includes a thorough deep clean of all rooms.
- Kitchen Sanitization
- The kitchen is a focal point in move-in/move-out cleaning, where services include cleaning countertops, cabinets, and appliances.
- Bathroom Disinfection
- Bathrooms receive a comprehensive clean, including disinfecting toilets, sinks, and showers.
- Window and Surface Cleaning
- Cleaning windows and all surfaces is a key part of move-in/move-out services.
- End of Tenancy Cleaning
- Specifically designed to meet landlord requirements and secure the return of your deposit.
- Post-Renovation Cleaning
- Cleans up after renovations, removing dust, debris, and stains left behind.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a moving cleaner: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the size of the property, the level of cleaning required, and any additional services requested. Larger homes or those needing extensive cleaning will generally incur higher costs.
The duration of a move-in/move-out cleaning can range from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the size of the property and the extent of cleaning needed. A larger home with more rooms will typically take longer.
While general cleaning professionals can handle most tasks, specialised services may be required for deep cleaning carpets or upholstery. Always check if specific qualifications are necessary for certain tasks.
Many cleaning services offer same-day or emergency cleaning, but availability may vary. It's advisable to book in advance, especially during busy moving seasons.
Yes, many cleaning companies offer package deals for multiple services, such as carpet cleaning or window washing along with move-in/move-out cleaning. This can often lead to cost savings.
Tasks such as deep repairs, electrical work, or structural changes are usually outside the scope of move-in/move-out cleaning. It's best to clarify with the cleaning service what is included in their offerings.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in cleaning
Moving cleaners near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — VAT rates
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — CLEANING - CONTRACT (Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only