Guide · End of tenancy
What does end of tenancy cleaning include?
A proper end of tenancy clean is more than a tidy-up — it's the clean your landlord or letting agent actually checks against. Here's exactly what's covered in a professional job, room by room.
End of tenancy cleaning is designed around one outcome: the property passes a check-out inspection. That means it has to match (or beat) the condition recorded in your inventory at check-in.
This page breaks down the full scope of a professional end of tenancy clean — the baseline any reputable cleaner should cover, and a few things that sit outside it. Use it to pressure-test quotes, write a move-out plan, or just to know what you're paying for.
Room 1
Kitchen
The kitchen is where most deposit deductions happen. Done properly, it takes more time than any other room.
- Oven fully cleaned: interior, door glass (inside layer where accessible), racks, trays, seals and external housing
- Hob and extractor hood: grease, limescale and burn marks removed; extractor filter soaked and cleaned
- Splashbacks and tiles degreased; grout attended to
- Fridge and freezer: emptied, defrosted where needed, cleaned inside and out including seals and drawers
- Microwave cleaned inside and out; dishwasher filters and drawer
- Washing machine: drawer, rubber seal and door glass cleaned; visible mould/limescale treated
- Worktops, sink, taps, drainer: limescale and water marks removed
- Inside and outside of all cupboards and drawers — top, sides, fronts and handles
- Bins cleaned and deodorised; skirtings, radiators and floor finished
Room 2
Bathrooms and toilets
Limescale is the main villain here. We treat it properly with the right products — not disguised with shine spray.
- Shower screen, tiles, grout and silicone: limescale, soap scum and mould treated
- Taps, showerheads and handles descaled and polished
- Bath, basin and shower tray scrubbed and polished
- Toilet cleaned inside, outside, behind, under the rim and under the seat
- Mirrors and glass polished streak-free
- Cabinets inside and out; shelves and any fittings
- Extractor fan vent dusted; light fittings wiped
- Tiled or vinyl floors mopped into corners
Room 3
Bedrooms
Cleaning that passes inventory isn't just surface-level. Inside wardrobes and under beds matter.
- Wardrobes, drawers, bedside tables: inside, outside, tops and handles
- Skirtings, radiators, door frames, picture rails dusted and wiped
- Light switches and sockets wiped; cobwebs removed
- Marks on walls and doors addressed where reasonable
- Mirrors polished; internal windows and sills cleaned
- Carpets thoroughly vacuumed (shampooing is an optional add-on)
- Hard floors swept and mopped into corners and edges
Room 4
Living and dining areas
Usually quicker than kitchens and bathrooms, but the detail still matters for check-out.
- All surfaces, shelves and units — top, front and insides where empty
- Electronics and fittings carefully dusted
- Skirtings, radiators, doors, frames, sockets and switches
- Windows (interior), sills and frames cleaned
- Mirrors and glass polished
- Carpets vacuumed; hard floors mopped
Room 5
Hallways, stairs and entrance
First thing agents see on a check-out walk-through, last thing tenants think about.
- Entrance door, frame and any letterbox cleaned
- Stair spindles, handrails and landings
- Cobwebs removed; high-level dusting of light fittings
- Switches, sockets and radiators
- Floors vacuumed and/or mopped thoroughly
Room 6
General / final checks
The finishing pass — the difference between 'done' and 'done properly'.
- All bins emptied and bagged
- Internal glazing streak-checked in daylight
- Light bulbs checked for function (replacements by you, unless agreed)
- Final walk-through so you see the finished state before we leave
Worth knowing
What's not usually included
Transparency matters. These are the areas most commonly confused or up-sold — we'll always tell you up front what's inside and outside scope.
- Professional carpet shampooing or steam cleaning (optional paid add-on, with receipt)
- External windows above ground floor (needs specialist reach-and-wash equipment)
- Balcony, patio or garden deep cleaning
- Moving heavy furniture (wardrobes, sofas, beds) — for safety and to avoid damage
- Painting over wall marks or filling holes — that's a decorator's job, not cleaning
- Specialist mould remediation, pest control, or anything that legally needs a licensed trade
FAQs
Common scope questions
Do you bring your own cleaning products and equipment?
Is end of tenancy cleaning the same as a deep clean?
Will the cleaners move furniture?
Do you clean carpets and upholstery?
Do you clean the oven?
Can you work to the letting agent's inventory checklist?
Want this done properly, by a team you can trust?
Tell us about the property. We'll confirm what's in scope, what's extra, and the total per-property quote before anything's booked.