Cleaning and housekeeping are among the most reliable sources of part-time work in Brighton and Hove. Between the seafront hotels along Kings Road, the hundreds of holiday lets across Kemptown and central Hove, commercial offices in the city centre, and student residences near Falmer, demand for dependable cleaning staff is steady throughout the year.
For people who prefer working independently, listening to podcasts while on shift, or avoiding customer-facing stress, cleaning provides practical, honest work with predictable routines.
Here is a realistic guide to finding cleaning shifts in Brighton, what different roles pay, and what to expect before you start.
The Three Main Cleaning Sectors in Brighton
At a glance: Cleaning work in Brighton divides into three distinct areas: Hotel housekeeping (morning shifts with steady rotas), holiday let and Airbnb turnarounds (midday changeover shifts on Fridays and Mondays), and commercial office cleaning (early mornings or late evenings).
1. Hotel Housekeeping (Seafront & City Centre)
Brighton has dozens of established hotels, boutique guesthouses, and seafront establishments, ranging from large venues like the DoubleTree by Hilton on the seafront to independent boutique hotels around Regency Square and Kemptown.
- Shift patterns: Typically 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM. This makes housekeeping popular with parents and students who need their late afternoons and evenings free.
- The work: Stripping linens, making beds to hotel standards, sanitising bathrooms, vacuuming, and restocking guest amenities across allocated room quotas.
- Hiring setup: Most large hotels recruit directly or through local hospitality agencies with formal payroll and statutory holiday pay.
2. Holiday Let & Airbnb Turnarounds (Kemptown, Central Brighton, Hove)
Brighton is one of the busiest coastal holiday destinations in the South East, creating huge demand for turnaround cleaners to prepare apartments between guest stays.
- Shift patterns: Usually concentrated between 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM, with Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays being the peak changeover days.
- The work: High-speed, thorough cleans including linen laundering, kitchen degreasing, bathroom polishing, and staging welcome packs.
- Pay rates: Often paid per property (for example, £30 to £60 per clean depending on apartment size) or at premium hourly rates (£13.00 to £15.00/hr) because weekend availability is essential.
3. Commercial & Office Cleaning
Offices, medical practices, gyms, and retail premises across central Brighton, London Road, and Hove require daily cleaning outside standard business hours.
- Shift patterns: Early mornings (6:00 AM to 8:30 AM) or evenings (5:30 PM to 8:30 PM). These short, consistent shifts fit around daytime studies or another job.
- The work: Emptying bins, sanitising desks, vacuuming carpets, mopping hard floors, and cleaning staff washrooms.
Browse active vacancies in our cleaning jobs in section. If you want more details on casual contracts, see our guide on zero-hour contract rights and holiday pay in Brighton.
What Cleaning Jobs Pay in Brighton (2026 Rates)
Under UK employment law, all employed cleaners must receive at least statutory minimum wage rates (effective from 1 April 2026):
| Age | Statutory Minimum Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 |
| 16 to 17 / Apprentice | £8.00 |
Source: GOV.UK National Minimum Wage rates
In Brighton, entry-level hotel housekeeping generally pays between £12.71 and £13.50 per hour. Holiday let turnaround cleaners and specialist commercial teams often earn between £13.00 and £15.00 per hour due to the fast pace and weekend requirement.
What Employers Look for on a Cleaning CV
You do not need formal qualifications to get hired as a cleaner, but employers look for specific signs of reliability:
- Dependability and punctuality: Mentioning that you live close to the workplace and have a proven record of good attendance matters more than anything else.
- Attention to detail: Highlight any past experience where cleanliness, hygiene standards, or meticulous presentation were required.
- Physical stamina: Cleaning is active work. Showing that you are comfortable working on your feet for several hours is a plus.
- DBS checks (if applicable): If you already hold a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, state it clearly on your CV, as some school, healthcare, and commercial cleaning roles require it.
If you are writing a CV for your first local role, our first part-time job guide provides step-by-step layout advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring my own cleaning products?
For hotel, office, and agency cleaning jobs, employers supply all cleaning chemicals, equipment, and protective gloves. If you take on private holiday let cleans as an independent cleaner, you may occasionally need basic supplies, but most owners stock products in an on-site linen cupboard.
Can international students work in hotel housekeeping?
Yes. Hotel housekeeping paid through PAYE payroll is permitted on a Student Visa, provided your total working hours stay within your 20-hour weekly term-time limit. Read our Student Visa work rules guide for full legal details.
How physical is hotel housekeeping work?
Housekeeping is fast-paced and physically demanding. Cleaners typically have between 20 and 30 minutes to clean and reset a room to brand standard, which involves lifting mattresses, carrying linen bundles, and constant movement.
Cleaning Job Search Checklist
- Prepare a simple one-page CV highlighting reliability, punctuality, and physical fitness.
- Decide which shift window fits your day: mornings (hotels), midday (Airbnbs), or evenings (offices).
- Check Brighton PartTimer regularly for newly posted local cleaning roles.
- Prepare comfortable, supportive footwear for active shifts on your feet.
Browse open cleaning jobs on Brighton PartTimer to find your next shift today.