How long does a holiday-let changeover take?
Updated 20/10/2026 · 5 min read
It's a bit like asking how long a piece of string is. A tidy one-bed flat after a couple's weekend stay is a very different job from a five-bed house after a week of golfers or a family with a dog. Here is what actually decides the time, so you can plan check-out and check-in with confidence.
The short answer
There is no single number. Small, well-kept properties can be turned around in a few hours; large houses, heavy use or a deep-clean finish can take most of a day with more than one cleaner.
That is why we never promise a fixed time up front. Our estimates are based on £25 per hour plus VAT, and the final price depends on the size of the property, how soiled it is and the time the clean actually takes. It is confirmed in writing before any work.
What makes a changeover longer
Size: the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and beds to strip and remake.
How the guests left it: kitchens left with cooking, barbecues, sand, mud or pet hair all add time.
Linen: stripping, bagging and making up fresh beds is a big part of every changeover. Pressed sets from a linen hire service save time on the day.
Extras: restocking consumables, emptying bins, laundry on site, checking for damage or lost property, and reporting maintenance issues.
Access and timing: key-safe details, parking, and a tight gap between check-out and check-in all affect how the clean is planned.
Why cleanliness matters more than anything since Covid
Since the pandemic, guests notice cleanliness first and forgive it last. A great location, views or price rarely make up for a hair in the shower or crumbs in the cutlery drawer, and it is one of the first things guests mention in reviews.
In our view that makes the changeover the single most important part of running a successful holiday let. Rushing it to save an hour is a false economy if it costs you a review.
How to keep changeovers quick and consistent
Use the same written checklist every time, so nothing depends on memory.
Keep a stocked cupboard of spare linen, towels and consumables at the property.
Book a periodic deep clean so routine changeovers stay quick.
Give your cleaner the guest dates as early as possible, especially around busy weeks such as The Open in St Andrews.
Get an estimate for your property
Send us the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and beds, and your usual guest turnover, through the quote form. We'll come back with an estimate, and a fixed price in writing once we've reviewed it. A request is not a booking.
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Bundle jobs onto one visit and one invoice — it costs less than booking each trade separately, and there is only one date to keep track of.
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Tell us about your property and we'll come back within one working day with a fixed price. No obligation, no pushy sales calls.