The real Living Wage is a voluntary hourly rate set by the Living Wage Foundation. For 2026 it is £13.45 across the UK and £14.80 in London, announced in October 2025. It sits above the statutory National Living Wage of £12.71, and many public-sector and blue-chip cleaning tenders now require it — a real cost factor in pricing.
What is the real Living Wage?
The real Living Wage is a voluntary rate calculated by the Living Wage Foundation, based on the actual cost of living. It is distinct from the statutory minimum. The current rates — announced on 22 October 2025 during Living Wage Week — are £13.45 across the UK and £14.80 in London. The UK rate rose 6.7% and the London rate 6.9% on the previous year.
How does the real Living Wage compare to the minimum wage?
The real Living Wage sits above the statutory National Living Wage. The gap is roughly £0.74 an hour UK-wide, and larger in London — which, across a full cleaning team, is a material difference in the wage bill and therefore in the contract price.
Why do cleaning tenders require the real Living Wage?
Many public-sector and blue-chip buyers now require the real Living Wage as a condition of the contract, reflecting responsible-procurement and social-value priorities. Because cleaning is a labour-intensive service, the wage rate is the single biggest driver of price — so a Living Wage requirement is one of the first things a serious cleaning buyer specifies.
When do accredited employers have to apply the new rates?
Living Wage Foundation-accredited employers must implement each year's new rates within six months of the October announcement — meaning the £13.45 / £14.80 rates announced in October 2025 must be in place by 1 May 2026. For a cleaning contract, this is why a Living Wage clause should be clear about the rate and the uplift date.