When you hand back the keys, the landlord or letting agent walks through the property with the check-in inventory in hand and notes anything that is dirtier or more damaged than it was at the start. Knowing what landlords check at the end of a tenancy tells you where to spend your cleaning time, and it is rarely the rooms you clean every week. It is the oven, the limescale, the tops of things and the insides of cupboards.
This post is for tenants preparing for a check-out. If you would rather hand the job over, our end of tenancy cleaning service covers the whole property.
The inventory comes first
Most tenancies start with a check-in inventory: a written record, often with photos, of the condition of every room. At the check-out the property is compared against it. Anything that matches the start, allowing for normal wear from living there, should not be a problem. Anything worse may be noted.
Find your copy before you start cleaning. If the oven was already stained or the carpet already marked when you moved in, it should say so, and it tells you what standard you are being compared with.
The places inspections focus on
Inspections look hardest at the places a weekly clean does not reach:
- The oven and hob. Burnt-on grease inside the oven, on the racks and on the door glass, and around the hob and the extractor.
- Limescale. Taps, shower screens, shower heads, tiles and the toilet, especially where the water is hard.
- Inside cupboards and drawers. Crumbs, grease and marks inside kitchen units and wardrobes.
- Kitchen appliances. Inside the fridge and freezer, the washing machine drawer and the dishwasher filter, if they came with the property.
- Skirting boards, doors and frames. Dust along the tops and scuffs at hand height.
- Carpets and floors. Stains, odours and the edges of rooms where the vacuum did not reach.
- Windows and sills. Inside glass, frames and the condensation marks on sills.
- Walls. Marks, sticky residue from tape or hooks, and grease near the cooker.
Our full end of tenancy cleaning checklist goes through every room in order.
What counts as wear and tear
A landlord can expect the property back clean, but not as new. A carpet that is a little worn in a walkway after several years, or paint that has faded, is normal wear. A stain, a burn, grease that was not there at check-in, or a fridge left with food in it is not. Citizens Advice explains that a landlord or agent cannot take money from your deposit for reasonable wear and tear, and has to have a good reason for anything they do take.
Keep your own evidence
On the last day, once the property is clean and empty, take dated photos of every room, inside the oven, fridge and cupboards, and of the carpets. Ask for a copy of the check-out report and, if you can, sign it with the agent. If you paid for a professional clean, keep the receipt. This is the evidence you will need if the landlord and you disagree.
If you disagree with a deduction
In England, a deposit for most private tenancies has to be protected in a government-approved scheme, and your landlord must return it within 10 days of you both agreeing how much you will get back. If you cannot agree, the deposit stays protected in the scheme until the dispute is sorted out (GOV.UK: tenancy deposit protection). Each scheme also offers a dispute resolution service, and Citizens Advice explains how it works and what to send (Citizens Advice: getting your tenancy deposit back).
When to clean
Clean after the furniture and boxes have gone and before the check-out inspection. Cleaning around furniture leaves marks behind it, and carrying things out afterwards can scuff freshly cleaned walls and floors. Leave yourself a day or two before the inspection to deal with anything you notice. If you are booking help, do it as soon as you know your moving date, and remember that carpet cleaning is an extra on an end of tenancy clean and needs time to dry.
If you are still deciding whether you need a specialist clean at all, read what end of tenancy cleaning covers. For prices by property size, see end of tenancy prices. To book, call 01483 773531 or request a quote.