An end of tenancy clean has to return the property to the condition recorded in your check-in inventory, allowing for fair wear and tear. This room-by-room checklist is the one our teams work from, with the areas inventory clerks check most closely and the jobs people most often forget.
Key takeaways
- Start with your check-in inventory. It sets the standard the property is judged against.
- Kitchens and bathrooms cause most cleaning disputes: ovens, grease, limescale and mould.
- Clean top to bottom and back to front: high surfaces first, floors last.
- Interior windows feature in 92% of our itemised move-out cleans, so don’t skip them.
- Take dated photos of every room when you finish.
- No UK nation requires a professional clean by law, but the property must meet the check-in standard.
Before you start: what do you need?
- Find your check-in inventory and any photos. Note the condition of carpets, oven, fridge and bathroom at the start.
- Move all belongings and rubbish out first. Cleaning around boxes always misses something.
- Defrost the freezer 24 hours before, with towels underneath.
- Gather products: degreaser, limescale remover, oven cleaner, glass cleaner, a gentle multi-surface spray, microfibre cloths, a non-scratch scourer, a mop and a vacuum with attachments.
- Open windows as you work, wear gloves and read the labels. Government chemical safety advice warns never to mix cleaning products, because combinations such as chlorine bleach and ammonia can give off toxic gas.
Prefer a printable version? Our cleaning checklist page sets out exactly what our teams cover on every job.
Kitchen checklist
- Cupboards and drawers emptied and cleaned inside, outside and on top
- Worktops, splashbacks and tiles degreased; grout scrubbed
- Sink, taps and plughole de-limed and polished
- Oven: inside, racks, trays, door glass (including between the panes where it opens) and the grill
- Hob and extractor hood, including the filter
- Fridge freezer emptied, defrosted, washed inside and dried; door seals cleaned
- Washing machine drawer and door seal; dishwasher filter
- Microwave inside and out, and the kettle and toaster if they belong to the landlord
- Light switches, sockets and cupboard handles wiped
- Bins emptied and washed
- Floor vacuumed, including along the kickboards, then mopped
The oven is the single most common problem. If yours has years of carbon build-up, a professional oven clean from £35 is usually cheaper than a deduction. Not sure whether the fridge counts? See is the fridge included in end of tenancy cleaning.
Bathroom checklist
- Toilet cleaned inside and out, including the hinges, base and behind the cistern
- Bath, shower tray, screen, shower head and taps de-scaled
- Tiles and grout cleaned; any mould spots treated
- Silicone sealant cleaned (heavily stained sealant may need replacing, which is a repair rather than a clean)
- Mirrors, cabinets and shelves cleaned inside and out
- Extractor fan cover dusted
- Radiator or towel rail wiped
- Floor washed, including behind the toilet and around the pedestal
Limescale builds up in layers. Apply limescale remover, leave it for the time on the label and repeat rather than scrubbing hard, which can scratch chrome and screens.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Dust from the top down: light fittings, curtain rails, picture rails and the tops of doors and wardrobes
- Skirting boards, door frames, light switches and sockets wiped
- Radiators dusted and wiped, including behind where you can reach
- Wardrobes, drawers and shelves cleaned inside and out
- Interior windows, frames, tracks and sills
- Marks on walls gently spot-cleaned (test first, as some matt paints scrub off)
- Furniture left by the landlord vacuumed or wiped, including under cushions
- Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, including the edges; hard floors mopped
Hallways, stairs and outside space
- Front door, letterbox and door handles
- Banisters and spindles
- Stairs vacuumed edge to edge
- Coat cupboard and meter cupboard cleared
- Balcony or patio swept, if it’s listed on the inventory
- Bins outside emptied
Which areas are most often forgotten?
| Area | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tops of kitchen cupboards | Grease and dust collect where you can’t see |
| Inside the oven door glass | Clerks open the door and look straight at it |
| Extractor filters | Greasy filters are easy to photograph |
| Window tracks and sills | Dust and condensation marks build up |
| Behind and under appliances | Especially where the fridge or washing machine can be moved safely |
| Washing machine drawer | Mould grows in the detergent compartment |
| Light switches and door handles | Fingerprints show up in check-out photos |
Carpets: when should you book a deep clean?
If the check-in report records carpets as professionally cleaned, you’ll usually need to return them in a similar condition, allowing for wear and tear. In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 means a landlord can’t require you to pay for professional cleaning. The government’s tenant guidance also says they can claim the cost of returning the property to its original condition from your deposit if it’s left dirtier than at the start. About half of the move-out cleans we complete include carpet cleaning, priced at £30 per room.
Does the standard differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The benchmark is the same everywhere: the condition at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. What differs is the deposit framework behind it.
- England: deposits are protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. Since 1 May 2026, most private tenancies are assured periodic tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
- Wales: contract-holders under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 have deposits protected in an authorised scheme within 30 days.
- Scotland: deposits are lodged with one of three approved schemes within 30 working days of the tenancy starting, and can cover cleaning if the property isn’t left in a reasonable condition.
- Northern Ireland: deposits are capped at one month’s rent and protected in an approved scheme within 28 days.
Every approved scheme offers free dispute resolution if you disagree with a cleaning deduction.
What’s normally not included in an end of tenancy clean?
- Washing whole walls and ceilings (spot-cleaning marks is fine)
- Exterior windows that need a ladder
- Removing large amounts of rubbish or furniture
- Repairs such as filling holes, resealing baths or repainting
How long will it take?
For a professional team, a one-bedroom flat usually takes a few hours and a larger house most of a day. Doing it yourself typically takes much longer, especially the oven and bathroom, so allow at least a full day after the property is empty, and more for a house.
After the clean: your hand-back checklist
- Walk through every room with the inventory in hand.
- Take dated photos and a short video of each room, the oven, the fridge and the bathroom.
- Keep your cleaning invoice if you used a professional company.
- Return all keys and fobs, and get a receipt.
- Give your forwarding address in writing so the deposit can be returned.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an end of tenancy clean take?
A professional team usually finishes a one-bedroom flat in a few hours and a larger house in most of a day. A DIY clean typically takes considerably longer.
Do I have to use a professional cleaner?
No. You can clean the property yourself. What matters is that it meets the check-in standard, allowing for fair wear and tear.
What do inventory clerks check first?
Usually the oven, the hob and extractor, bathroom limescale and mould, the inside of cupboards, interior windows and the condition of the carpets.
Should I clean before or after the removal van?
After. Moving furniture creates dust and scuffs, so clean once the property is empty.
What happens if the agent finds a problem?
If we did the clean, report it within 72 hours and we’ll come back to re-clean those areas at no cost, under our 72-hour re-clean guarantee.
Want it done for you? Our fixed-price end of tenancy cleaning follows this checklist on every job, carried out by DBS-checked cleaners. See how much end of tenancy cleaning costs, check local teams on our London end of tenancy cleaning page, and book online.