End-of-tenancy cleaning with a handover guarantee: info & costs
If you move out of a flat, you will usually have to give it a thorough clean. A cleaning company can help you with this. Here are some tips on professional flat cleaning.
19.03.2026
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1. How much does an end-of-tenancy cleaning service with a handover guarantee cost?
The price of the end-of-tenancy cleaning of the flat depends primarily on the size and the degree of soiling in the flat. Other factors such as:
Number of bathrooms
Number of windows and blinds
additional spaces (e.g. balcony or basement)
This means that the cleaning costs vary significantly. The following table shows guide values from the Comparis moving costs calculator.
| Number of rooms | Cleaning costs in francs |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | 350–700 |
| 2.5% | 550–900 |
| 3.5% | 750–1’300 |
| 4.5% | 850–1’400 |
| 5.5% | 1’190–1’600 |
Source: Comparis moving costs calculator
2. Where can I find a cleaning company for an end-of-tenancy clean with a handover guarantee?
You can usually find cleaning companies for an end-of-tenancy clean of your home online. Also ask your friends and acquaintances for a recommended cleaning company.
Order from multiple providers in good time quotes from several providers. Especially around the official cantonal moving dates, cleaning companies get booked up very quickly. Depending on the canton, the moving dates are usually the end of March, end of June and end of September.
Money-saving tip: book your move and cleaning with the same company
Removal firms often also offer end-of-tenancy cleaning services. If you book both services together, many firms will offer a discount.
3. How can I find a reputable company for the final cleaning of my home?
To find a reputable cleaning company, you should pay attention to the following points:
The quote is free of charge and with no obligation. This is always the case with the Comparis moving service.
Only accept quotes where an employee has viewed the apartment. Also discuss:
the scope of cleaning
the handover guarantee
the timing of the cleaning
the company’s liability for any damage caused during cleaning
Request a written quote. This should contain all the details, including the handover guarantee at no extra cost.
Make sure you receive the order confirmed in writing.
It’s also best to compare the ratings from several companies. In most cases, this will show you what customers’ experiences have been.
Important: some companies have bad Google reviews deleted. Therefore, be cautious if reviews seem too good or perfect.
4. Cleaning company for the final apartment clean: What must the quote contain?
You must insist on a handover guarantee, and that this is stipulated in the contract. If your landlord finds any dirty areas at the handover the cleaning company must re-clean them free of charge.
Cleaning quotes should record the following points in writing:
Fixed price
Cleaning and handover date
Scope of cleaning
Liability for damage caused by the cleaning company
Some companies also state if certain services are not included.
Quotes with handover guarantee
Have you requested quotes for apartment cleaning on Comparis? Have you requested quotes for end-of-tenancy cleaning on Comparis? The contractual partners of the Comparis moving service always provide a handover guarantee.
5. What tasks will the cleaning company take on during the move?
In general, a distinction is made between a «swept-clean handover» and a thorough final clean. What must be cleaned when you move out is usually stated in the tenancy agreement. Go through the necessary cleaning work item by item with the cleaning firm.
In the case of a thorough final cleaning, cleaning agencies usually take on the following services:
Thorough cleaning of the kitchen (oven, extractor fan, fridge, kitchen cupboards)
Descaling of all fittings
Disinfection and polishing of bathrooms and sanitary facilities
Interior and exterior window cleaning, including frames, shutters/blinds, curtain tracks, windowsills and windowpanes
Cleaning of doors, door handles, built-in cupboards, skirting boards, switches, sockets, radiators and floors
Cleaning of washing machine, tumble dryer and sun blinds
Terraces, patios and balconies to be swept clean
Cleaning of additional rooms (cellar, attic, post box and garage)
Some cleaning companies also offer plug hole filling as a service.
Is specialist cleaning part of the end-of-tenancy cleaning?
When moving out, you only have to do the cleaning and repairs that you can do yourself. If the landlord asks for specialist treatment to be carried out by a professional, you can refuse. Any clauses in the tenancy agreement that state otherwise are generally not binding. Specialist cleaning includes, for example, special care for parquet flooring.
6. How long will the end-of-tenancy cleaning take if I do it myself?
If you clean the apartment yourself, you save money. However, it takes a lot of time. Allow at least two days for cleaning. The larger the flat, the more time you should allow. If you are then finished in one day, you still have time to do any additional cleaning.
How long does it take to clean a room?
Plan around 1½ hours of work per room. This does not include the bathroom and kitchen: for these rooms you should plan for up to three and five hours respectively.
Based on the above cleaning tasks, first create a detailed cleaning checklist for each room. Ask your friends for help. The more helping hands there are, the faster the end-of-tenancy cleaning will be done.
7. Frequently asked questions on apartment cleaning with a handover guarantee
End-of-tenancy cleaning is the final clean, before you hand over your rented apartment to the landlord or the next tenant.
In Switzerland, it is usually very thorough. You must clean all rooms, including ancillary areas such as the balcony and the cellar. Exceptions apply if, according to your rental agreement, you are required to clean the property to a «swept clean»or if something else has been agreed.
End-of-tenancy cleaning includes all rooms in your apartment, including ancillary areas. Additional spaces include, for example, the basement, balcony and garage. Unless otherwise agreed in the tenancy agreement, you must clean these areas thoroughly. The tenants’ association provides you with an overview of the cleaning tasks, that you are required to carry out.
However, as a rule, you do not have to carry out or pay for any specialist cleaning work that requires a professional. If your landlord asks for this, you can refuse. This includes, for example, the special care of parquet flooring.
In general, how clean the apartment needs to be at handover depends on the agreement in the tenancy agreement. Because: some rental agreements stipulate a full clean, while other properties only need to be «swept clean». Some landlords will give you a list of what you need to clean when you move out.
You are required to clean most apartments thoroughly. This also includes additional spaces such as the attic, cellar and garage – although in those areas, a sweep-clean is usually sufficient. Typical tasks include:
Floors, tiles and synthetic resin surfaces wash using suitable cleaning agents.
Vacuum fitted carpets and remove any stains you have caused yourself as best you can.
Remove dirt from the walls remove
Dowel holes fill in dowel holes and remove adhesive items from the walls, such as self-adhesive hooks.
Clean the windows. This also includes interior sills and accessible exterior sills.
Clean cupboards, inside and out clean the inside and outside of cupboards.
Bathroom.
Kitchen and kitchen appliances.
Balcony.
You generally do not need to carry out you usually don’t have to carry out special cleaning tasks. These are usually cleaning tasks that only professionals can carry out. You also do not have to carry out any cleaning work that is dangerous for you.
You can find a detailed list of typical cleaning tasks on the overview of cleaning tasks provided by the Tenants’ Association.
As a rule, you have to pay for the professional end-of-tenancy cleaning of the apartment. You can also do the cleaning yourself without a company – but this often takes a lot of time.
However, you do not have to pay for any special cleaning services that can only be carried out by specialists.
Good to know: With some rental models, you don’t have to clean the apartment as thoroughly. For this, landlords charge a flat-rate cleaning fee. In that case, you will have to pay this fee.
This article was first published on 13.09.2019
