Quick answer: Across LA, move out cleans typically run $149 to $420 depending on size and condition. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready, which is a deep clean plus a 12-point photo report, is Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425, with a flat 48-hour turnaround. Charge by unit size with documented add-ons for heavy soil and extras.
For most LA apartments, charge a flat base by unit size, then add line items for condition and extras like junk haul or lock work. Keep it documented with before and after photos, a clear scope that matches the lease, and an itemized invoice that complies with California deposit rules. If you want a firm number now, Get instant quote in 30 seconds.
How should a landlord in LA charge for a move out clean?
Charge a base flat rate by unit size, then add condition-based extras. This avoids haggling and makes deposit accounting clean. Your base should cover kitchen, bath, appliances inside and out, interior windows, sills, tracks, floors, baseboards, and cabinet interiors. For context, across LA the market for move out cleaning runs $149 to $420. TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425, completed in 48 hours.
Use add-ons for heavy soil, junk removal, minor repairs, and security tasks. Examples: unit cleanout, handyman punch, paint touch-ups, and rekey. Each should be its own line with photos. This structure lets you charge the right amount, support a deposit deduction under California law, and protect against vacancy loss.
What should a move out clean include to support deposit deductions?
A proper move out clean is a defined scope you can defend with photos. At minimum, include these rooms and tasks: kitchen including oven, range, hood, fridge, microwave, sink and disposal, cabinets inside and out, counters; bathrooms including tub or shower walls and glass, toilet base and behind, vanity, mirrors, fan grilles; all rooms with dusting high to low, light fixtures and switches, door faces and handles, baseboards, interior windows, sills and tracks, blinds, closets and shelves, and floors vacuumed and mopped.
Document with time-stamped photos and an itemized invoice. California Civil Code §1950.5 requires landlords to itemize deductions and provide copies of invoices or receipts. Normal wear is not deductible, but cleaning to restore the property to the condition at move-in is. For a refresher on the rules and timelines, see the California DCA Landlord-Tenant Guide and our guide to the 21-day deposit return.
How much does a move out clean cost in California vs LA, and where do my rates land?
Across LA and statewide, market rates for move out cleaning commonly fall between $149 and $420 depending on size, soil, and add-ons. National sources like Angi cite $120 to $420, and LA-specific platforms often quote studio starts around $149 to $225 and up for larger units.
TurnOver LA’s Make Ready is a flat, size-based deep clean with a 12-point photo report: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425. Every job is finished in 48 hours. If the unit needs more than cleaning, add clear line items. Examples from our catalog: Unit cleanout or junk haul is Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR $420. Half-day handyman punch list is $230, full day $425. Paint touch-up is $200. Each add-on is optional and only used if the condition requires it.
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Flat rate or hourly: which model makes sense for move out cleaning?
Use flat rates for most apartment turnovers. Hourly billing creates friction with security deposit disputes, and it shifts risk to the tenant. A clear flat rate per unit size with defined inclusions is easier to post in your lease and to defend with photos.
Flat rate advantages: predictable cost, easier deposit accounting, less vacancy risk, and faster approvals. Hourly can make sense only when the scope is undefined, such as hoarding or post-contractor dust everywhere. Even then, cap it with a not-to-exceed and convert to line items once scoped. TurnOver LA uses flat rates by size for Make Ready and then adds fixed-price extras if needed, all done within 48 hours without a rush fee.
How do I write the charge so it complies with California deposit law?
California Civil Code §1950.5 requires that you return the deposit within 21 days with an itemized statement and copies of invoices or receipts. Cleaning is deductible only to restore the unit to the condition it was in at the start, less normal wear. Include photos of soil and of the cleaned result. Offer the pre-move-out inspection if your tenancy requires it, and keep notes on any agreed cleaning tasks.
AB 12 limits residential security deposits in many cases, which increases scrutiny on deductions. Use clear line items labeled Cleaning, Trash and debris removal, Minor repair materials and labor, and Security. Link these to photos and inventory. For a deeper refresh on timelines and wear standards, see our guides on California 21-day deposit return and normal wear and tear in California.
What extras can and cannot be billed at move out in LA?
You can bill for cleaning, trash removal, and repairs beyond normal wear when the lease supports it and you document the condition. Examples that commonly qualify: heavy appliance degreasing, inside cabinet residue, soap scum buildup, trash and belongings left behind, and pet urine remediation. You can also bill for lock rekey if the lease requires return of all keys and you document missing or unreturned keys.
Be careful with paint. Touch-up for tenant-caused wall damage is billable, but full repaint for minor scuffs at the end of a long tenancy may be wear. In LA RSO buildings, look at your approved move-out process and timeframes under the LAHD Rent Stabilization Ordinance. If you are addressing pet or smoke odor, see our guides on pet odor removal and removing smoke smell for scope and charge structure.
Need the unit turned before the next tenant?
We do the move-out clean and send you a photo report you can attach to the deposit itemization.
Get an instant quoteHow do I price a heavy-soil or hoarder-style clean without hourly surprises?
Keep the base Make Ready as your starting point, then add fixed extras that match what you see. Examples from our catalog you can use as line items: Unit cleanout or junk haul is Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR $420 for debris removal before cleaning. If cabinets or walls need small repairs, schedule a Half-day handyman punch list for $230 or Full-day for $425. Paint touch-up is $200. If drywall was damaged, a Small patch plus texture is $150 per patch.
These items give you predictable costs without open-ended hourly billing. Use a brief scope note on each line, include photos, and set a not-to-exceed if you still need a ceiling. In Koreatown and North Hollywood, we regularly see vacancy losses of $100 to $150 per day. That makes predictable, same-week completion more valuable than shaving a small amount off labor.
Should I change or rekey locks at turnover, and what does it cost?
If keys are not all returned, or you have any doubt about copies in circulation, rekey at turnover. Across LA, market rekey costs often run $100 to $250 per door, and smart lock installs typically run $150 to $300 for labor. TurnOver LA pricing is fixed: Rekey first lock $100, Additional lock rekey $50 per lock, Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks $150, Lock rekey front plus deadbolt $110, Door knob or handle replacement $100 per knob, Smart lock install $210.
Yes, you can install a smart lock yourself if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but consider consistency and recordkeeping for multi-unit buildings. If you are moving a unit to self-show or you want a cleaner vendor flow, let us install and document it. Add locks as their own lines, separate from cleaning, to keep your deposit accounting clear.
What is included in TurnOver LA’s Make Ready and how do I use it in my pricing?
Make Ready is our base turnover deep clean plus a 12-point photo report you can attach to your deposit itemization or listing. It covers the cleaning scope described above, with inside appliances, cabinet interiors, bathroom descaling, interior glass, sills and tracks, baseboards, and detailed floor work.
Rates are Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425. Completion is in 48 hours, no rush fee. If you need repairs or haul-away, add from the catalog at fixed prices. To book only cleaning, choose the Make Ready service. If you also want us to handle locks or a small punch list, combine items in the same order. For scope details, see our Make Ready service page and our move out cleaning guide for LA.
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How do turnover rate and vacancy loss affect what I charge or outsource?
If your building has a high turnover rate, shave days, not dollars. Vacancy loss in LA commonly runs $80 to $200 per day depending on submarket. That makes a predictable 48-hour cleaning and punch schedule worth more than squeezing labor. Running a flat rate by size with fixed-price extras lets you greenlight work right after pre-inspection, cut idle time, and hit your 21-day deposit clock.
If you manage in Santa Monica or West Hollywood, align your move-out timeline with any local notice or RSO-adjacent rules to avoid delays. Book cleaning, rekey, and necessary repairs in one shot to make one return visit for photos and key drop. If you plan to go live fast, consider ordering our TLA Launch Pad Media Package at $399 to prep your listing assets the same week.
A simple LA-ready pricing formula you can paste into your SOP
Use this checklist to quote, document, and bill a move out clean across your portfolio:
- Start with flat base by unit size: Studio $225, 1BR $255, 2BR $335, 3BR $425 for Make Ready.
- Add junk haul only if debris is present: Studio $200, 1BR $310, 2BR $420, 3BR $420.
- Add minor repairs as needed: Half-day handyman $230, full day $425. Paint touch-up $200.
- Add lock work if keys are missing: Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks $150, or Rekey first lock $100 then $50 each additional. Smart lock install $210 if upgrading.
- Photograph all conditions before and after, attach the 12-point report and invoices.
- Itemize cleaning separate from repairs and locks on the deposit statement, with dates and materials receipts if any.
- Calendar the 21-day deadline and send the deposit accounting with photos and receipts.
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What should a move out clean consist of, and what is the 80-20 rule here?
A move out clean should target the 20 percent of surfaces that create 80 percent of complaints. In practice that means oven and range, fridge interior including drawers, bathroom fixtures and glass, cabinet interiors, interior window tracks and sills, and baseboards. The rest is standard dust, wipe, vacuum, and mop.
Use the 80-20 idea to set quality control. If those few hotspots are perfect, showings convert and deposit disputes drop. Our crews follow a simple sequence that hits these first, then finishes the remaining surfaces. You can adapt the same approach if you use in-house staff.
Sample line-item invoice you can model today
Here is a simple example for a typical 1BR in Glendale:
- Make Ready deep clean plus 12-point photo report: $255
- Trash and debris removal, 1BR: $310
- Paint touch-up at scuffed entry wall: $200
- Full apartment rekey up to 2 locks: $150
Total billed to tenant if deductible under the lease and §1950.5, with attached photos and receipts. Note that you only add haul, paint, or locks if the condition requires it. The cleaning line stands on its own with a defined scope.
For scope details on cleaning and punch items, see our Make Ready service page and our locks and security page.