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Homeowner guide

End of tenancy cleaning: a room-by-room checklist

Your deposit is measured against the check-in inventory, not against an ideal home. Clean the home back to how it was when you moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear, and keep proof.

Last reviewed 30 October 2026. General guidance, not legal advice.

Start with the inventory

Find the inventory or check-in report and the photos from when you moved in. Those set the standard. Wear and tear from normal living, like faded paint or worn carpet, is not something you should be charged for.

Kitchen

  • Oven, hob, grill pans and extractor filter, inside and out.
  • Fridge and freezer: emptied, defrosted, wiped and left open if switched off.
  • Inside and on top of cupboards and drawers.
  • Sink, taps and limescale; the washing machine drawer and seal.
  • Tiles, splashbacks, skirting and the floor.

Bathroom

  • Toilet, bath, shower, screen and basin, with limescale removed.
  • Grout and sealant: clean mould where you can.
  • Mirrors, cabinets, extractor fan cover.
  • Floor, behind the toilet and round the pipes.

Every room

  • Walls marks, light switches, door handles and doors.
  • Skirting boards, window sills, frames and the inside of windows.
  • Light fittings and lampshades.
  • Carpets vacuumed, hard floors mopped; carpets cleaned if the tenancy agreement or the check-in state needs it.
  • Every item of yours and all rubbish gone, including the garden and bins.

Your deposit

In England and Wales, a landlord must protect a deposit for an assured shorthold tenancy in a government-backed scheme, and return it within 10 days of you both agreeing how much you get back. If you disagree, the scheme's free dispute service can decide. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes. In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 means your landlord can't make you pay for a service as a condition of the tenancy; they can claim from the deposit for cleaning needed to bring the home back to its check-in state.

If you book a cleaner

  • Say the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and that the home will be empty.
  • Send them the inventory, and ask what their price includes (oven, inside windows, carpets).
  • Ask whether they come back if the landlord or agent finds something missed.
  • Agree who holds the keys.
  • Take dated photos when they finish.

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