Short answer
An end of tenancy clean is a thorough clean of an empty property before the keys go back, covering every room top to bottom, including inside the oven, fridge, cupboards and drawers, limescale in the bathroom, skirting boards, doors and floors. The standard is set by your tenancy agreement and the check-in inventory, allowing for fair wear and tear, so use those alongside the checklist below.
Start with the inventory and your agreement
Before you clean, find the check-in inventory and any photos taken when you moved in, and read the cleaning clause in your tenancy agreement. Most agreements ask for the property to be returned in the same condition it was let in, allowing for fair wear and tear. If the oven was spotless at check-in, it will be expected to be spotless at check-out; if the carpets were professionally cleaned before you moved in, the agreement may say how they should be left.
No cleaner, however thorough, can guarantee what happens to a deposit, because that depends on the inventory, the agreement and the condition of the whole property. What a careful clean does is remove cleaning as a reason for a dispute.
Before cleaning day
- Move everything out first. Cleaning an empty property is much quicker and nothing gets missed behind boxes.
- Check the electricity and water are still on, so appliances can be cleaned and the property can be checked properly.
- Defrost the freezer in advance and switch off and empty the fridge.
- Remove all rubbish, including from outdoor bins if the agreement requires it, and take down anything you put up.
- Gather supplies: cloths, gloves, a mop and bucket, a vacuum, a grout brush, oven cleaner suitable for your oven, descaler and glass cleaner.
Kitchen
- Oven inside and out, racks, trays, grill pan and door glass (see our oven cleaning guide).
- Hob, burner caps, pan supports and control knobs.
- Extractor hood, including filters, cleaned or replaced as the manual advises.
- Fridge and freezer empty, clean, dry and left with doors as the landlord prefers.
- Dishwasher and washing machine filters, seals and detergent drawers.
- Cupboards and drawers wiped inside and out, including tops and handles.
- Worktops, splashback, tiles and grout degreased.
- Sink, taps and drainer descaled and polished.
- Microwave, if supplied, inside and out.
- Floor, including edges, corners and under plinths where they unclip.
Bathrooms
- Bath, shower tray and basin, including plugholes and overflows.
- Limescale removed from taps, shower heads, screens and tiles.
- Grout scrubbed and silicone wiped (mould in silicone may need resealing, which is a repair).
- Toilet cleaned thoroughly, including the base, behind the pan, the seat hinges and under the rim.
- Mirrors, cabinets and shelves inside and out.
- Extractor fan cover, light pulls and switches.
- Floor and skirting boards.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Inside wardrobes, drawers and any built-in storage.
- Skirting boards, doors, frames and handles washed.
- Light switches, sockets and light fittings.
- Radiators, including the tops and between the panels where reachable.
- Window sills, frames and the inside of the glass.
- Curtains, blinds and curtain poles dusted or cleaned according to the inventory.
- Marks on walls spot-cleaned gently where the paint allows; test first, as scrubbing can leave shiny patches.
- Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, including edges, and cleaned if your agreement requires it.
Hallways, stairs and the outside
- Front and back doors inside and out, including the letterbox and door glass.
- Banisters, spindles and handrails.
- Stairs vacuumed edge to edge.
- Cobwebs removed from ceilings, corners and the stairwell.
- Any garden, garage, shed or balcony left as the agreement requires.
How long does an end of tenancy clean take?
It depends on the size of the property, how it has been looked after during the tenancy, and what is included. Ovens, carpets and heavy limescale tend to take the longest. An empty property is quicker than one with belongings still in it, so leave the clean until everything has been moved out. Allow time for a final walk-round with the inventory in hand before you return the keys.
When to call a professional
A professional end of tenancy clean is worth considering if you are short of time during a move, if the oven or bathroom needs serious work, or if you are a landlord or letting agent resetting a property between tenancies.
Our end of tenancy cleaning covers kitchens, ovens, bathrooms, floors and cupboards for tenants, landlords and letting agents in south Essex. Let us know who our contact is on the day, how we collect and return keys, and whether anyone else will be visiting at the same time. Call Jason on 07774 252535 or ask for a free quote.
Rather have it done for you?
A thorough move-out clean of an empty property, room by room, for tenants, landlords and letting agents. Family-run by Jason and Lucas Prior, covering south Essex.
Frequently asked questions
What does end of tenancy cleaning include?
A thorough clean of every room in an empty property, including inside the oven, fridge, cupboards and drawers, limescale in bathrooms, skirting boards, doors, windows on the inside, and floors. Carpets and outside areas depend on the agreement.
Will an end of tenancy clean get my deposit back?
Nobody can promise that. The deposit depends on your tenancy agreement and the check-in inventory, allowing for fair wear and tear. A thorough clean removes cleaning as a reason for deductions.
Do I need to clean the carpets when I move out?
Check your tenancy agreement and inventory. Some require professional carpet cleaning at the end of the tenancy; others only require them to be left in the condition recorded at the start.
Should I clean before or after moving my things out?
After. An empty property is quicker to clean and nothing gets missed behind furniture or boxes.
Related guides
- House deep cleaning checklist: a room-by-room checklist for deep cleaning a house, which also works as a spring cleaning checklist.
- How to clean an oven: a safe, step-by-step way to clean the oven cavity, racks and door glass, including what to do with pyrolytic and catalytic ovens.
- What affects the cost of end of tenancy cleaning: how bedrooms, bathrooms, furniture, build-up, appliances, carpets, keys and the check-out date change an end of tenancy cleaning quote.