The receipt is the point. The clean comes with it.
Legally, you must leave the place reasonably clean and tidy: that is the Residential Tenancies Act standard, and a professional clean is not automatically required. But between the January student-flat turnover, a property manager with a checklist, and a bond you want back, a professional exit clean with an itemised receipt is often the pragmatic buy. Know the standard, then decide.
Is this your stream?
You are moving out, the property manager inspects before releasing the bond, and you want one crew to hit the checklist and hand you a receipt. Especially true in the January-February student turnover when DIY time is the thing you do not have.
Selling? That is pre-sale presentation, a deep clean. Staying put but behind on housework? Regular cleaning. Only doing carpets because the agreement says so? The carpet cleaning stream covers that.
What an exit clean costs in Wellington
A national published guide sets the frame, and Wellington prices sit inside it. Fixed quotes beat open hourly for bond work.
$50–$60/hr
At Your Service's published end-of-tenancy guide puts cleaning at around $50 to $60 per hour, recommending fixed flat-rate quotes over open hourly billing for budget certainty. Use it to sanity-check any Wellington quote.
$180–$1,000+
The same guide: $180 to $300 one-bedroom apartment, $250 to $400 two-bedroom, $300 to $700 three-bedroom house, $500 to $1,000+ four-bedroom or larger. Wellington renters report around $500 from a company for a full house, inside that range.
Carpets + oven
Carpet steam cleaning is almost always a separate line, and oven interiors are an add-on with many operators. If the property manager requires both, get one bundled quote rather than two surprises.
Wellington end of tenancy providers, compared
Bond specialists, insured move-out teams and the published benchmark. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Choose by situation
Bond Cleaning NZ bundles carpet shampooing with the bond clean, and K Cleaning Solution lists carpet shampoo and stain removal on its move-out service. One booking, one receipt, nothing for the property manager to query.
House Cleaners Wellington and Smart Cleaning publish their hourly rates and list end-of-tenancy and bond cleans as services. On a small flat in good condition, hourly can beat a flat package price.
All Star Cleaning offers same-day availability and states $1M liability cover. When the inspection date moves forward, speed plus insurance paperwork is the combination that matters.
Book the moment the tenancy end date is confirmed. Wellington cleaners book out through late January and February. Split one flat-rate quote across the flat rather than hoping four separate DIY efforts satisfy the exit report.
Common mistakes
Paying for a standard you were never legally required to meet: under the Residential Tenancies Act, tenants must leave the property reasonably clean and tidy. That is the legal standard. A tenancy clause demanding a professional clean regardless of condition is on shaky ground. Know the standard before you spend $500.
Booking before the inspection date is set: Wellington's rental calendar has two crunch points, the January-February student turnover and the June-July flat season, and cleaners book out weeks ahead. Confirm the key handback date, then book the clean for the day or two before.
Assuming carpets are included: carpet steam cleaning is almost always a separate line item, priced per room or per area. If the tenancy agreement or property manager requires it, budget for it on top of the exit clean. See the carpet cleaning stream for operators.
Forgetting the oven and the rangehood filter: property managers check the oven first. Oven interiors are an add-on with most cleaners, and the rangehood filter is the second-most-common bond deduction conversation. Put both on the booking explicitly.
Not keeping the receipt: the point of paying for a professional exit clean is the paper trail. Get an itemised receipt or invoice, photograph the clean rooms before handback, and keep the entry inspection report. The exit report is compared against it, not against perfection.
Cleaning before the last box is out: a move-out clean works on an empty house. Cleaners working around your remaining furniture charge more and deliver less. Book the clean after the move, not during it.
FAQ
How much does end-of-tenancy cleaning cost in Wellington?
At Your Service publishes a national guide: cleaners charge around $50 to $60 per hour, with flat rates by size running $180 to $300 for a one-bedroom apartment, $250 to $400 for two bedrooms, $300 to $700 for a three-bedroom house, and $500 to $1,000+ for four bedrooms or larger. Wellington community threads put a full house exit clean from a company around $500, which sits inside that guide. Carpets are usually extra.
Am I legally required to pay for a professional clean?
No. The Residential Tenancies Act requires tenants to leave the property reasonably clean and tidy. That is the whole standard. Many tenancy agreements ask for professional cleaning, and a property manager can require it if the property is not left reasonably clean, but a spotless self-clean with photos can meet the legal test. The professional clean is buying you time and a receipt, not a legal obligation.
What does a bond clean actually cover?
Everything the exit inspection checks: kitchen including oven and rangehood, bathrooms, floors, skirtings, windows inside, wardrobes and cupboards wiped out, walls spot-cleaned, and marks removed where possible. Carpet steam cleaning and exterior windows are usually add-ons. Ask for the operator's checklist and compare it against your entry report.
When should I book in Wellington?
As early as you can in the peak windows. The student-flat turnover from late January through February and the mid-year lease season book Wellington cleaners out. Off-peak, a week's notice is usually enough. Schedule the clean for the day or two before key handback, after the last of your stuff is out.
What should I ask before booking?
Ask for the checklist, whether oven and rangehood are included, whether the quote is fixed or hourly, whether GST is included, and whether you get an itemised receipt for the property manager. If carpets are required, ask for a bundled price. State the bedroom and bathroom count and any stains upfront: surprises at the door become extras on the invoice.
The legal standard is reasonably clean and tidy, and the pragmatic one is whatever the exit report compares against the entry report. Budget against the published guide: $50 to $60 an hour, or $180 to $1,000+ flat by size, with carpets and oven extra. Bond Cleaning NZ or K Cleaning Solution for a bundled exit with carpets, House Cleaners Wellington or Smart Cleaning for published hourly rates, All Star for short notice. Book early in the student turnover, get the checklist, and keep the receipt.