Sundays & Bank Holidays: A Plan Smart Guide to Cleaning Surcharges
There are two kinds of Sunday in London. The lazy one with a paper as thick as a duvet and a coffee you never quite finish. And the other kind, when you are turning over a flat between guests and the lift has chosen melodrama. If you have ever booked cleaning on a Sunday or bank holiday, you will know the price is often a touch higher. This guide explains why that happens in London and how to plan so those extras do not eat your margins or your mood.
Why peak day surcharges exist in London
On Sundays and bank holidays, fewer cleaners are available, public transport is less frequent, and building access can be limited. Concierge desks change hours, lifts need booking slots, and parking becomes a puzzle. Laundry and rubbish collections also run on different schedules. Behind every spotless bathroom is a chain of steps: scheduling, access, cleaning, restocking, and a quick photo to confirm all is well. On peak days in London, that chain takes more time and people to keep intact. The surcharge pays for those buffers so standards do not slip.
When paying the premium makes sense
There are moments when trying to avoid a surcharge is a false economy. Back-to-back bookings with same-day check-in. A brand new listing gathering its first reviews. An important stay where you are courting a corporate client. In these cases, speed and certainty protect revenue and reputation better than any saving.
When you can often sidestep it
If your guest arrives late, or you have a day or two between stays, you can stage most of the work on a weekday. Leave the peak day for a light reset only. Think fingerprints off the glass, bins out, and a quick check of high-touch areas. Ten minutes, not two hours.
The smart sequence plan for London
Start at the end and work backwards. Note the guest arrival, then plot the latest sensible finish for your clean. If that finish falls on a Sunday or bank holiday, move the substantive tasks earlier and keep only a quick check for the day itself. Keep access simple. Confirm codes, fobs, permits, and lift bookings on a weekday when teams are fully staffed.
Decide what lives on site. A spare set of linen per bed and basic consumables prevent last-minute scrambles. If you use delivery services, schedule drops for weekdays where possible and keep one emergency set tucked away. Toiletries, bin liners, and a handful of dishwasher tablets can be staged in advance.
Agree on the after look once, and in pictures. A three-photo checklist for living space, kitchen, and bathroom removes guesswork and saves minutes when minutes matter. The reset is faster when everyone can see the goal rather than interpret it.
Three London scenarios and how to handle them
1) Saturday check-out, Sunday check-in. Do the full clean late Saturday. Make beds, stack towels, and set the coffee station. On Sunday, request a brief reset and photo confirmation. You gain certainty without paying for a second full visit.
2) Bank Holiday Monday arrival. Clean on Friday, stage the flat completely, and leave one sealed linen set in a cupboard. On Monday, swap linen and run a five-minute surface check. No laundry runs, no drama.
3) Peak summer with no gaps. Accept one surcharge for the critical turnover and make everything else easier. Restock toiletries in bulk midweek, descale beforehand, and rely on the photo checklist so presentation stays consistent and quick.
Common London pitfalls and how to avoid them
Ambiguous quotes. A Sunday clean can mean clean only. It may exclude linen transport, toiletries, or photos. Ask what is included, what is an add-on, and whether access or parking is priced in.
Wishful access. Many buildings have strict rules. If your lift needs booking, or your concierge stops taking parcels at noon, arrange those details on a weekday. Peak days magnify small delays.
No onsite buffer. One spill or late checkout can unravel your timeline. Keep a spare set of linen per bed on site, two if storage allows. You will sleep better, and your guests will too.
A quick FAQ
Do I always pay more on Sundays and bank holidays in London? Not always, but often. Availability narrows and logistics stretch. Planning can help you avoid the priciest windows.
Is a light reset enough? If the deep clean happened earlier and you staged supplies, yes. The reset is simply proof of shine before the key turns.
Can a provider reduce surcharges? We cannot make them disappear, but smart sequencing often trims both cost and stress. Stage big tasks on weekdays, time deliveries sensibly, and keep peak day visits short.
How Get Set Clean helps
Peak days are not the same as Tuesdays. Our teams are paid fairly, and we include the buffers that keep your place guest-ready. What we do is help you plan. Stage the heavy lifting on weekdays, time deliveries sensibly, and keep resets short and focused. If you are worried about costs, we will map the week with you so the premium slots are used only when they genuinely protect your income and your reviews.
TL;DR
Use weekdays for the big jobs. Keep a linen buffer on site. Photograph your after. Treat peak day surcharges as a tool, not a tax. Spend them where they save you from a late check-in or a weak first impression, and skip them where planning will do the job just as well.
Need a hand building a peak day plan? We can structure cleans, deliveries and quick resets so your Sundays feel civilised again. Get Set Clean can help.
