End of tenancy cleaning checklist: what letting agents actually check.
At check-out, the agent or inventory clerk compares the property with the check-in inventory, room by room. Cleaning is the most common reason deposits are disputed, so this is the list our end of tenancy teams work to — the same things the clerk looks for. Use it to clean yourself, or to check a professional clean before you hand the keys back.
Before you start
- Dig out the check-in inventory and photos. The standard you need is “as clean as at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear” — not showroom-new.
- Book the clean for after the removal van has gone and before the check-out appointment, ideally with a day in between for anything that needs a second pass.
- Return everything to where the inventory says it was, and replace any blown bulbs — missing bulbs are one of the most frequent small deductions.
- If the tenancy agreement says the carpets must be professionally cleaned, keep the receipt: the clerk may ask for it.
Kitchen
- Oven cleaned inside and out, including racks, trays, the door glass and the seal — this is the first thing every clerk opens
- Hob, rings, pan supports and the splashback degreased
- Extractor hood cleaned and the filters degreased or replaced
- Fridge and freezer defrosted, emptied, cleaned and left switched off with the doors propped open
- Washing machine drawer, seal and filter cleaned; dishwasher filter and seals cleaned
- Microwave inside and out
- All cupboards and drawers emptied and wiped inside, tops of wall units dusted
- Worktops, tiles and grout cleaned; sink and taps descaled and polished
- Bin cleaned inside and out; floor swept, mopped and the edges and corners done
Bathrooms
- Limescale removed from taps, shower head, shower screen and tiles
- Grout and silicone cleaned; mould treated
- Toilet cleaned inside, outside, behind and under the seat hinges
- Bath, basin and shower tray cleaned and polished; plugholes cleared of hair
- Mirrors, glass and chrome polished streak-free
- Extractor fan cover dusted; cabinet cleaned inside and out
- Floor cleaned including behind the toilet and the door
Bedrooms and living rooms
- Inside wardrobes, drawers and cupboards wiped and left empty
- Skirting boards, door frames, doors and door handles wiped
- Light switches, sockets and light fittings dusted and cleaned
- Radiators cleaned front, top and (as far as possible) behind
- Curtain rails, blinds and window sills dusted; blinds wiped slat by slat
- Windows cleaned inside, including frames and the tracks of sliding windows
- Mattresses vacuumed; under beds and behind furniture vacuumed
- Marks on walls removed where possible (sugar soap works on most scuffs)
- Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, then professionally cleaned if the tenancy agreement requires it or there are stains
Hallway, stairs and the bits people forget
- Stairs, banisters and spindles dusted; stair carpet edges vacuumed
- Front door inside and out, letterbox and door furniture
- Cobwebs from ceiling corners and light fittings in every room
- Loft hatch, meter cupboard and under-stairs cupboard emptied and wiped
- Balcony, patio or garden tidied, swept and cleared of rubbish and cigarette ends
- Bins emptied, washed and put out or returned to their place
- All rubbish, food and personal items removed from the property
Protecting your deposit
Your deposit must be held in one of the government-approved tenancy deposit schemes, and if you disagree with a deduction you can use the scheme’s free dispute service. The adjudicator decides on evidence, so:
- Take dated photos of every room after cleaning, including inside the oven, fridge and cupboards.
- Keep the cleaning receipt if you used a company — it is strong evidence that the property was professionally cleaned.
- Attend the check-out inspection if you can, and ask the clerk to note anything you disagree with on the report.
- Remember the standard is “as at check-in”. A landlord cannot charge you to improve on the condition you received the property in.
DIY or professional?
A thorough end of tenancy clean of a two-bedroom flat takes two people most of a day, plus the cost of hiring a carpet cleaner and buying oven cleaner, descaler and degreaser. Against that, a professional clean costs a fixed price from £130 (see our guide to cleaning prices), comes with the receipt agents like to see, and we come back free of charge if the agent raises anything within 24 hours. If your deposit is five weeks’ rent, the maths usually favours booking it.
Common questions
As clean as it was at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear. The check-in inventory and photos are the benchmark the clerk uses, so get hold of them before you start.
A landlord cannot force you to use a professional cleaner — only to return the property to its check-in standard of cleanliness. Many tenancy agreements do, however, require professionally cleaned carpets, and you may need the receipt.
The oven, the inside of the fridge, bathroom limescale and the inside of cupboards — the places tenants most often skip and the easiest for an inventory clerk to spot.
A professional team of two typically takes 3–4 hours for a one-bedroom flat and 5–7 hours for a three-bedroom house, longer if carpets are being cleaned too.