What Is Included in an End of Tenancy Clean?

An end of tenancy clean is a thorough, top to bottom clean of a rented property when one tenancy ends and before the next one begins. It goes a long way beyond a normal tidy up, and it’s very often the difference between getting your deposit back in full and watching money disappear on cleaning charges.

This guide goes through it room by room, explains what letting agents and inventory clerks actually look at, and covers the bits people most often miss.

Why it matters so much

When you moved in, someone wrote down how clean the property was. That’s the check-in inventory, and it’s usually backed up with photos. At checkout the property is compared against it. If the oven was clean when you arrived and it’s carrying a year of roast dinners when you leave, the landlord can claim the cost of putting it right from your deposit.

Cleaning is one of the most common reasons for deposit deductions in England. The good news is that it’s also the easiest one to avoid, because it’s completely in your hands.

The kitchen

The kitchen takes the most time and gets the closest look. A proper clean covers:

• Worktops, splashbacks and tiles, with grease and grout lines cleaned, not just wiped.
• Every cupboard and drawer inside and out, including the tops of wall units where dust and grease settle together.
• The sink, taps and drainer, descaled so they shine rather than look cloudy.
• The oven, hob, grill pan, shelves and extractor hood and filter, properly degreased.
• The fridge and freezer, emptied, defrosted if needed, cleaned inside and dried, with the door seals done.
• The washing machine drawer and door seal, the dishwasher filter and the microwave.
• Bins, light fittings, switches and the floor, including the edges and under the kickboards where you can reach.

If there’s one thing to focus on, it’s the oven. It’s the single most common cleaning deduction, and it’s the job most people underestimate.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are descaled and sanitised throughout: toilet (including the base and behind it), basin, bath, shower tray, tiles and grout, taps, plugholes, mirrors and shower screens. Limescale is the big one. If you live in a hard water area, and much of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire is, it builds up fast on taps and glass, and a quick wipe won’t shift it.

Extractor fans, the inside of the bathroom cabinet and the area around the toilet cistern are easy to forget, and clerks do check them.

Bedrooms and living areas

Across the rest of the property the clean covers dusting high and low, skirting boards, doors and door frames, light switches and sockets, window sills and internal glass, radiators, curtain rails, and the inside of wardrobes, drawers and cupboards. Floors are vacuumed and mopped, including under beds and behind furniture that can be moved.

Carpets are worth a mention. Some tenancy agreements ask for professional carpet cleaning at the end, but a landlord can’t make that a blanket requirement in England. What matters is that the carpets are returned in the same condition as at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Read your agreement and your inventory to see what was recorded.

The bits that get missed

• Tops of door frames, wardrobes and kitchen units.
• Light fittings and lampshades.
• Window tracks and the inside of window frames.
• Marks around light switches and on doors at hand height.
• Behind the fridge, cooker and washing machine, if they can be moved safely.
• Outside areas listed in the inventory, such as a patio, bin store or garage.

Fair wear and tear isn’t the same as dirt

A landlord can’t charge you for the property simply getting older. Faded paintwork, a carpet that’s a bit worn where people walk, or a slightly loose cupboard hinge after a long tenancy are normal. Dirt is different. Grease, limescale, dust and stains aren’t wear and tear, so they’re fair game for a deduction if you leave them behind.

Doing it yourself or getting it done

You can absolutely do it yourself if you have the time, the right products and the energy at the end of a move. Leave far longer than you think it’ll take, start with the oven, and work top to bottom in each room so dust doesn’t fall on surfaces you’ve already done.

A professional clean makes sense when you’re short of time, moving a long way, or simply want it off your list. Agents and clerks know what a professional finish looks like, and some landlords and letting agents ask for one.

Before you book, it helps to get the property ready for the clean, because an empty home gets a much better result.

Help in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire

Our end of tenancy cleaning covers everything on this page, for tenants, landlords and letting agents. If you’re moving house rather than leaving a rental, our move-in and move-out cleaning works the same way. We’re based in Nordelph near Downham Market and cover towns and villages across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Send us a few photos through the quote form and we’ll come back with a price.