What is included in end of tenancy cleaning?

A professional end of tenancy clean covers the kitchen (oven, hob, extractor, appliances), bathrooms (limescale, tiles, grout), internal windows, skirting boards, doors and light fittings. The whole property is cleaned to its move-in, inventory-check standard. Carpet cleaning is usually an optional add-on.

How long does end of tenancy cleaning take?

A 1-bed flat takes around 3–4 hours, a 2-bed flat 5–6 hours, and a 3-bed house 6–8 hours. A team of two to three cleaners can roughly halve those times, so most London properties are completed within a single day.

Should I clean before or after removing my furniture?

Always clean once the property is empty. Cleaning around furniture leaves obvious gaps the inventory clerk will spot, and you'll likely need to redo areas once items are moved. Book your clean for after the removals are done and before the check-out.

Room-by-room checklist

The end of tenancy cleaning checklist

Everything a check-out inventory clerk inspects, room by room. Work through this list to clean to the standard your deposit depends on — or let us do it for you.

Kitchen

The kitchen is where most deposit deductions are made — give it the most time.

Oven cleaned inside and out, including door glass, racks and trays
Hob, extractor hood and filters degreased
Inside and outside of all cupboards and drawers wiped
Fridge/freezer defrosted, emptied and cleaned
Sink and taps descaled; splashbacks and tiles cleaned
Worktops, skirting and floor cleaned

Bathrooms

Limescale and mould are the classic check-out flags — be thorough.

Limescale removed from taps, shower screen and tiles
Toilet cleaned and descaled inside and out
Bath, basin and shower scrubbed and rinsed
Grout and sealant cleaned; mould removed
Mirrors and glass left streak-free
Extractor, skirting and floor cleaned

Living areas & bedrooms

Detail matters here — clerks check the surfaces people forget.

Carpets vacuumed (professionally cleaned if required by the agreement)
Hard floors swept and mopped
Inside wardrobes and storage wiped out
Skirting boards, doors and door frames wiped
Light switches, sockets and fittings dusted
Window interiors, sills and frames cleaned

Hallways & throughout

Finish with the shared details that run through the whole property.

Cobwebs removed from ceilings and corners
Marks removed from walls where possible
Bannisters, radiators and high surfaces dusted
Internal glass and any mirrors polished
Bins emptied and cleaned; rubbish removed
Final walk-through against the check-in inventory

Tip: clean against your check-in inventory.

The property only needs to match the condition recorded when you moved in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Keep your check-in report to hand, and photograph each room once cleaned as evidence. For the full picture on deductions, read can a landlord charge for cleaning?

Need a broader guide to the move-out process? Read how to get your full deposit back — a step-by-step guide covering what agents look for and how to dispute a deduction.

Rather not do it yourself?

We clean to every point on this checklist, to inventory standard, backed by our 72-hour re-clean guarantee. Get a free fixed-price quote.

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