Post-construction cleaning after a renovation: what is included and who pays?

What is post-construction cleaning?

Post-construction cleaning is cleaning carried out in connection with or after building or renovation work. It is often divided into different stages:

• Rough clean: removing building waste, spills and packaging and vacuuming up coarser dust
• Fine or final clean: thorough cleaning of all surfaces, inside cupboards, windows, skirting boards and floors
• Optional follow-up clean: an extra round once the dust has settled after a few days

Construction dust, especially from plasterboard, concrete and filler, is very fine and spreads a long way. It requires vacuum cleaners with good filters and often several rounds.

Who is responsible for the cleaning?

When renovating, it is important to find out whether cleaning is included in the contractor's scope of work. Sometimes a rough clean is included, but not a final clean. If nothing is stated in the contract, you risk having to clean yourself or pay extra.

So check the quote from the building company before ordering a separate post-construction clean. If it is missing, you can ask the building company to add it, or hire a cleaning company that specialises in post-construction cleaning.

What affects the price?

Post-construction cleaning is often more time-consuming than ordinary cleaning. Ask for a quote and describe the work that has been done. Important factors are:

• The size of the area and how many rooms were affected by the work
• The type of work, for example sanding, demolition or filling, which create a lot of dust
• Whether building waste and packaging are to be removed, and how much there is
• Whether windows, the inside of cupboards and ventilation grilles are to be cleaned
• The need for special equipment, such as industrial vacuum cleaners
• Whether one or several rounds of cleaning are needed

ROT or RUT – which applies?

According to the Swedish Tax Agency, cleaning after building work does not qualify for the RUT deduction, but the work can qualify for the ROT deduction when it forms part of ROT-eligible renovation, repair or maintenance work in your home. The ROT deduction is 30 % of the labour cost. RUT and ROT together may not exceed SEK 75,000 per person per year, of which no more than SEK 50,000 may be ROT.

New construction normally does not qualify for ROT, and in that case the cleaning after the build gives no deduction either. Removal of building waste does not count as labour cost. Ask the company how it presents the work on the invoice, and if in doubt, check with the Swedish Tax Agency.

Preparations and tips

• Wait until all tradespeople have finished, otherwise surfaces may get dirty again
• Remove protective plastic and floor protection only when the final clean is to be done, or agree on who does it
• Replace or clean the filters in the ventilation and vacuum cleaner after dusty work
• Mention sensitive surfaces, such as newly oiled floors or a new stone worktop
• Make sure there is electricity, water and a way to carry out waste

What should the quote contain?

• Which stages are included: rough clean, final clean and any follow-up clean
• Which rooms and surfaces are covered, including windows and the inside of cupboards
• Whether removal of building waste is included and who pays the fees
• Fixed price or hourly rate, with the labour cost shown separately
• Date and how the work is coordinated with the building company
• How complaints are handled

Common mistakes

The most common mistake is assuming that the building company cleans up after itself without this being stated in the contract. Other mistakes are booking the cleaning too early, before the last tradesperson has finished, underestimating how fine construction dust is, and using an ordinary household vacuum cleaner that may break or spread the dust further. Also check that the cleaning company has liability insurance, as new surfaces are expensive to replace.

Post-construction cleaning via Fixtorget

Describe what has been renovated and how large the area is on Fixtorget, and up to four vetted companies can get in touch. You can see whether the company is verified and has reviewed proof of insurance. If extra tasks are needed during the work, they can be added via an additional specification, so that everything is documented.

Frequently asked questions