There can be a massive amount of pressure to leave a property clean when you are renting. Property cleanliness can cause dispute between tenants and landlords/agents and may put your deposit in peril. However, this can easily be avoided through a deep clean when leaving your property!

Why carry out an end of tenancy clean?  

A rental property should be returned to the landlord cleaned to the same standard that it was when you moved in.  

At the start of all tenancy agreements, an inventory report is carried out. This details the condition of the property and any included furnishings. This can be used to reference the appearance of the property, and the degree to which it should be cleaned.  

If the property is not cleaned to a good standard, you risk losing part of your deposit. Tenancy deposits cover any cleaning or repairs for dirt or damage left behind when moving out of a property.  

What should the end of tenancy cleaning include?  

It is important to clearly understand what to clean so you can deal with areas in a logical order.

The order that you clean rooms can depend on what is in it, and the current cleanliness of it. For example, carpet stains or dirty ovens may need to be left for a couple of hours whilst a product works its magic!  

We also recommend leaving surfaces of high-traffic areas of the house until last.  

Depending on what needs to be cleaned, you may need to begin the process up to two weeks before you move out.  

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window cleaning

Move furniture, boxes, and rubbish  

Put rubbish into bin liners and remove your belongings from the area. If possible, move your belongings into your new property, or place them all in the same room.

This means surfaces and crevices can be cleaned properly as you will not have to work around obstacles. Plus, you avoid the risk of damaging your personal belongings with cleaning chemicals.  

What to clean at the end of a tenancy  

Different rooms and furniture may have unique cleaning requirements, but there are certain steps to take for all areas of the house. Here is our tenancy cleaning checklist:  

For All Rooms  

Take these steps when cleaning every room, in addition to room-specific cleaning:  

  1. Dust walls, ceilings, and skirting boards to remove cobwebs and particles  
  1. Wipe down all surfaces before hoovering the floor. Dust and dirt that falls to the floor can be vacuumed  
  1. Vacuum or sweep all floors, mop tiles or laminate flooring, and steam carpet floors where necessary  
  1. Polish surfaces like mirrors, window ledges and bannisters  
  1. Clean windows, doors, and metal hardware like door handles and window locks

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Cleaning the living room and bedrooms at the end of a tenancy  

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bedroom cleaning

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  1. Wipe clean all radiators  
  1. Dust light fixtures and lampshades  
  1. Clean away any marks on walls, doors, and flooring  
  1. Be thorough when carpet cleaning - remove hair, dirt, and stains  
  1. Clear out all cupboards, wardrobes, and drawers and clean inside compartments  
  1. Dust and polish furniture, and vacuum any mattresses that will be left in the property  
  1. Dust curtains  

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Cleaning the kitchen at the end of a tenancy

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Deep clean all appliances (make sure to check the toaster for crumbs) and remove them from countertops and shelves whilst cleaning takes place. This means entire surfaces can be sanitised without obstacles in the way.  

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kitchen counter cleaning

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  1. Wipe all cabinets, countertops, cupboards, and shelves  
  1. Clean the sink and wipe the draining board and taps  
  1. Scrub the microwave, including the walls, ceiling, and glass plate  
  1. Deep clean the inside of the oven, including the walls, sides, and shelves  
  1. De-grease the hob, wipe the wall or splash-back behind it, and remove and clean the fan filters if grease has built up on them  
  1. Empty the fridge and the freezer of all contents, remove the shelves, and clean each shelf with soapy water. Turn the fridge/freezer off at the wall and allow the freezer to defrost. Leave the doors open to prevent the growth of mould  
  1. Wipe the washing machine and/or tumble dryer, including the drum and washing powder tray. Remove and clean the filters  
  1. Empty and clean all bins, ensuring no food or liquid is left at the bottom  

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Cleaning the bathroom at the end of a tenancy  

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  1. Wipe the bath, surfaces, mirrors, and tiles  
  1. Remove any mould from walls, tiles, and grouting  
  1. Clean any limescale from the sink, faucets, and shower head  
  1. Clean and unclog plugholes to remove debris, grease, and hair  
  1. Scrub, disinfect, and bleach the toilet to remove any stains  

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Cleaning outside, the garden, and driveway at the end of a tenancy

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  1. Sweep away leaves, twigs, and debris  
  1. Scrub muddy paving stones or patio flooring  
  1. Remove large weeds, and cut the grass if it has grown too long  
  1. Ensure window cleaning is also completed on the outside to remove water stains, bird droppings, or mud  

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How thorough does an end of tenancy clean need to be?  

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Standards of what is deemed ‘clean’ vary from person to person. Whilst cleaning should be done thoroughly in all rooms, you should ensure that the property is at least as clean as it was when you moved in.

Reference the inventory and the pictures you took at the beginning of the tenancy. Compare the cleanliness, as well as any wear and tear that existed when you moved in.  

Top tip - Take photographs when you move out of the property. This means you have documentation of the property’s condition and the way that you left it, should any disputes arise.  

mopping floor

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What counts as wear and tear?

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Wear and tear is the gradual damage caused by day-to-day living.  

Worn carpets, scuffed surfaces, and faded paint are inevitable when letting a property. However, you should clean and repair large marks or damage such as chipped paint and scratched/stained surfaces.  

Damage beyond what is considered as wear and tear can lead to deductions from your deposit.

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Who should carry out an end of tenancy clean?

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Previously, landlords could require that you hire a professional cleaner. However, now, landlords cannot ask tenants to hire a cleaner at the end of a lease under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.  

Cleaning the property yourself

Opting to clean the property by yourself can lower the cleaning cost and offer a more affordable option. However, it can take longer, especially when you are juggling cleaning and polishing with moving house and working! You may also find yourself lost with deep cleaning tasks like oven and grout cleaning which you may never have tried before.  

Professional cleaners for the end of a tenancy

Hiring an end of tenancy cleaning service guarantees the property is cleaned well and meets the landlord's standards. It also means that between work, organising the move, and everything else, it is one less thing to try to find the time for!  

 

You can be confident that all rooms, surfaces, and furniture have been cleaned with high quality cleaning products.  

 

A Cleaning Service offers deep cleaning services in professional carpet cleaning and kitchen cleaning, including professional oven cleaning.  

 

Learn more about our services, or get in touch now.  

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