End of tenancy cleaning checklist (and what deposits actually get docked for)

Cleaning is the single most common reason for deposit deductions in the UK. Most disputes are lost on the same six things.

What agents actually check first

1. The oven. More deposits are docked for ovens than anything else. Racks, glass door, inside the roof of the oven, and the extractor filter.
2. Limescale. Taps, shower screen, shower head, toilet.
3. Inside kitchen cupboards and the fridge, including the seals and the drip tray.
4. Skirting boards, window sills and behind doors. Dust, not dirt, but it is what a checkout clerk photographs.
5. Carpets. Any stain that was not on the inventory.
6. The garden and the bins, if you have them.

Room-by-room checklist

Kitchen, Oven interior, racks, glass, grill pan. Hob and extractor filter. Inside and outside all cupboards. Fridge and freezer defrosted, cleaned, left open and switched off if agreed. Washing machine drawer and seal. Sink and taps descaled. Bin cleaned. Floor, including the edges.

Bathroom, Descale everything. Shower screen, head and hose. Grout. Toilet including the base and behind. Extractor fan cover. Mirror and cabinet. Floor and edges.

Bedrooms and living areas, All surfaces dusted including tops of wardrobes and door frames. Skirting boards. Window sills and interior glass. Light fittings and switches. Carpets vacuumed and stains treated. Marks removed from walls where possible.

Everywhere, Cobwebs. Radiators, including behind. Internal doors and handles. Vacuum inside built-in wardrobes. Empty and clean bins.

Do it yourself or pay someone?

A two-bedroom flat is realistically a full day for two people who know what they are doing, and longer for one person who does not. The oven alone can take two hours by hand.

A professional end-of-tenancy clean for a two-bed typically costs £150, £260 in a UK city, more in central London and more if you need carpets steam-cleaned. Against an average deposit deduction, it usually pays for itself.

Making sure it counts

• Book it for after you have moved everything out. Cleaning around furniture is not an end-of-tenancy clean.
• Get a receipt and an itemised list. Some agents accept a professional invoice as evidence in a deposit dispute.
• Ask whether carpets and the oven are included. They are the two most common exclusions.
• Take dated photographs of every room when you finish. This is what wins deposit disputes.
• Compare against the check-in inventory, not against your idea of clean.

Timing

Late July to September is the busiest period, driven by student moves and academic-year contracts. Book at least a week ahead in that window or you will pay a premium for short notice.