London's cleaning market has moved fast in 2026, with a higher wage floor, record sector growth and prices climbing faster than the national average. This roundup pulls together five real developments from this year and what they mean if you are hiring a cleaner or looking for cleaning work in the capital.
TL;DR: The National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour in April 2026 and the wider UK cleaning sector is now worth a record £66.9bn. In London, self-employed domestic cleaners typically charge £15 to £25 an hour, and local prices have risen faster than anywhere else in the UK.
Key facts
- The National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026, setting the legal floor for employed cleaners.
- The UK cleaning, hygiene and waste sector is worth a record £66.9bn and employs about 1.49 million people, roughly 5% of the workforce.
- Self-employed domestic cleaners in London typically charge £15 to £25 an hour, above the UK norm of £15 to £20.
- Agency cleaning in London runs closer to £22 to £26 an hour once overheads and management are included.
- London cleaning prices rose an average of 18.3% between 2021 and 2026, compared with 12.1% nationally.
1. The wage floor moved up again
From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour. That is the legal minimum for employed cleaners aged 21 and over, and it quietly resets the whole market. When the floor goes up, agency quotes and independent rates tend to follow, because the people doing the work simply cost more to employ. If you pay a cleaner as an employee rather than a self-employed contractor, this is the number your budget has to start from.
2. Cleaning is now a record-sized industry
The British Cleaning Council's latest research puts the UK cleaning, hygiene and waste sector at a record £66.9bn, up more than ten percent in a year, employing around 1.49 million people. That is close to 5% of the entire UK workforce. The headline for households is simple. This is not a fringe gig economy, it is one of the largest employers in the country, and demand for reliable people keeps growing.
3. London still charges a premium
Self-employed domestic cleaners across most of the UK advertise roughly £15 to £20 an hour. In London the typical range stretches to £15 to £25, and agency services sit higher still at around £22 to £26 an hour for a regular two to three hour visit. The reasons are familiar to anyone who lives here. Dense rental stock, thousands of short-let turnovers, long commutes and busy professional households all keep steady pressure on supply.
4. London prices are climbing faster than the rest of the country
One of the clearest signals this year is the pace of change. London cleaning prices rose an average of 18.3% between 2021 and 2026, against 12.1% nationally. For households that means budgeting a little more each year for the same visit. For cleaners it means the capital remains one of the best places in the UK to build a full book of regular clients at a fair rate.
5. The gap between hiring direct and paying an agency
The spread between an independent cleaner at £15 to £20 and an agency at £22 to £26 is not just a markup. Agencies carry office costs, marketing and management, and many charge ongoing commission or lead fees that the cleaner never sees. More households are choosing to hire cleaners directly and pay them properly, while more cleaners are looking for platforms that let them keep what they earn instead of losing a cut on every job.
What this means if you are hiring
Budget realistically. A weekly two to three hour clean in London will land somewhere between roughly £45 and £75 depending on whether you go direct or through an agency. Write a clear job post that states your area, the hours, and whether you need general tidying, a deep clean or short-let turnovers. The clearer the post, the faster you match with someone reliable. On CQD New Gen, posting a cleaning job is free, always, with no fees to post.
What this means if you clean for a living
Rates in London are holding up and demand is steady across households, offices and short lets. The bigger question is how much of your rate you actually keep. Commission based platforms and agencies chip away at every job. Listing yourself where clients contact you directly, with no commission taken, is the difference between a busy month and a profitable one.
Whether you are hiring or looking for work, CQD New Gen connects households and cleaners directly, free to post and with no commission taken. www.cqdnewgen.ai
FAQ
How much does a house cleaner cost in London in 2026?
Most self-employed domestic cleaners in London charge between £15 and £25 an hour. Agency services typically run £22 to £26 an hour once management and overheads are included, so a regular two to three hour visit lands around £45 to £75.
What is the minimum wage for cleaners in the UK right now?
The National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour on 1 April 2026 for workers aged 21 and over. Employed cleaners must be paid at least this rate, and London rates usually sit well above it.
Is it cheaper to hire a cleaner directly or through an agency?
Hiring directly is usually cheaper because you avoid agency overheads and commission. Independent cleaners often charge £15 to £20 an hour, while agencies charge £22 to £26 for similar work.
Is there still strong demand for cleaners in London?
Yes. The UK cleaning sector is worth a record £66.9bn and London has steady year round demand from households, offices and short-let turnovers, with local prices rising faster than the national average.
How do I post a cleaning job or find cleaning work?
On CQD New Gen you can post a cleaning job for free with no fees, or list yourself as a cleaner and get contacted directly with no commission taken. Sign up, add your area and hours, and start matching.