Specialist cleaning, if it is needed
Arrange specialist cleaning where the death was unattended.
This is not ordinary cleaning, and it is not something a family should ever be asked to do themselves.
- How long it takes
- 1–3 days
- Typical cost
- £500–£3,000 depending on the room and materials involved
- What you need before you start
- Coroner or Police release of the property
Where a death was unattended, biohazard cleaning is a licensed activity with controlled waste disposal. Household cleaning products do not make a room safe.
Flooring, plaster and furniture sometimes have to be removed. A good company will tell you honestly what can be saved.
Home insurance sometimes covers this. Ask before you pay — it is often overlooked.
Nobody in the family should be in the room during the work.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 19 August 2026 by Simon D Campbell. Applies to England and Wales.