Janitor Service: What Does It Cost?

A janitor (Hausmeister) takes on a wide range of responsibilities — from maintaining green areas to cleaning staircases or carrying out small repairs.

In most apartment buildings and residential complexes today, janitor services are hired to take care of all ongoing maintenance and cleaning tasks around the property.

Typical duties include weekly stairwell cleaning, garden and lawn maintenance, and minor repair work.

Private homeowners can also hire a janitor service — for example, to handle sidewalk cleaning, snow removal in winter, or other routine chores they might no longer be able or willing to do due to age, lack of time, or prolonged absence.

The total cost depends on several factors:

• Type of services required

• Frequency of the services

• Standby or emergency availability

Who Pays for the Janitor Service?

The property owner always pays for janitorial services.

In apartment buildings, this is usually the homeowners’ association — meaning the individuals who own the apartments.

If a janitor is hired by the landlord, most of the costs can be passed on to tenants, except for administrative and maintenance tasks, which cannot be billed to tenants.

If owners live in their own units, they share the janitorial costs proportionally.

Landlords must also ensure that the fees charged match regional price standards. Tenants have the right to request a detailed breakdown of the janitor’s activities and to review the billing records.

It must be clearly documented which tasks were completed, when, and over what time period. Percentage-based estimates are not accepted.

For homeowners, janitor service costs are partially tax-deductible under Germany’s household-related services regulations: 20% of labor costs can be claimed (excluding material costs).

Tenants can also deduct 20% of janitorial costs as household-related services on their tax return, based on the annual service charge statement (Nebenkostenabrechnung).

If the tax office does not accept the landlord’s general statement, the landlord must issue a detailed invoice, separating labor and material costs of the janitor service.

According to the German Tenants’ Association (DMB), landlords must issue this specific statement free of charge to tenants.

What Does a Janitor Service Cost?

The cost varies widely depending on:

• the scope of services,

• the frequency of visits, and

• the size and location of the property.

On average, expect to pay €25–40 per hour for janitorial work.

Monthly fees depend on the contracted services. Below are typical regional cost ranges for different janitorial tasks:

Prices depend heavily on how frequently the janitor is hired. Regular, ongoing contracts are often cheaper per visit than one-time jobs.

There are also different billing models — by the hour, by square meter, or by the job.

For one-time services, companies often charge additional travel costs, while these are usually included in regular monthly contracts.

In general: The more often the janitor works and the more tasks included, the lower the overall unit price.

What Tasks Does a Janitor Perform?

Janitor services can be highly flexible, depending on the client’s needs. They are true all-rounders, often working across multiple trades.

Common janitorial duties include:

• Cleaning staircases, basements, attics, sidewalks, and courtyards

• Winter service (snow and ice removal)

• Lawn and garden maintenance (mowing, trimming hedges, plant care)

• Monitoring the heating system

• Checking the functionality of elevators and underground garages

• Moving garbage bins to and from collection points

• Supervising property viewings with potential tenants

• Inspecting the condition of the property

• Enforcing house rules

• Performing small repairs

In some cases, janitors may also take on minor administrative tasks.