End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist for Tenants
A room-by-room end of tenancy cleaning checklist for UK renters, covering what agents inspect, the easily missed spots and how to evidence your work.
Check-out inspections are detail-focused. An inspector compares the property against the inventory and looks for anything that is dirty, damaged or different. A thorough cleaning checklist helps you, or the cleaner you hire, avoid the common misses that lead to deductions from your deposit. This checklist is general; always check your tenancy agreement for specific obligations.
Before you start
- Find your inventory and check-in report. It is the standard you are cleaned against.
- Read your tenancy agreement. See whether professional cleaning is required.
- Remove all belongings and rubbish. Cleaning is easier in an empty property.
- Gather supplies. Cloths, sponge, scrub brush, a descaler, degreaser, multi-surface spray, glass cleaner, mop, vacuum, bin bags.
Work from top to bottom and back to front, so dust and drips fall onto areas you have not cleaned yet.
Kitchen
- Oven: clean the interior, door glass, racks and trays. See how to clean an oven naturally.
- Hob: degrease burners, rings and the surrounding surface.
- Extractor hood and filters: wash or wipe, as grease collects here and is often missed.
- Fridge and freezer: empty, defrost if needed, clean shelves, seals and drawers, leave doors ajar.
- Cupboards and drawers: wipe inside and out, including handles.
- Sink and taps: remove limescale and polish.
- Dishwasher and washing machine: clean filters and door seals, and wipe the drawer.
- Microwave: inside and out.
- Tiles, splashback and floor: wipe and mop, including edges.
Bathrooms and toilets
- Toilet: clean under the rim, base, cistern and behind the pan.
- Bath, shower and screen: remove limescale and soap scum; clean shower head.
- Grout and sealant: scrub, and note any mould that may need treating; see how to remove black mould.
- Taps and plugholes: descale and clear hair.
- Mirrors and cabinets: polish mirrors, and wipe inside cabinets.
- Extractor fan cover: often dusty.
- Floor and skirting: mop and wipe edges.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wardrobes and drawers: vacuum or wipe inside and out.
- Skirting boards and door frames: wipe, as they show scuffs and dust.
- Doors and handles: marks around handles and light switches build up.
- Light fittings and bulbs: dust shades and replace blown bulbs if required by the agreement.
- Windows, sills and tracks: clean glass both sides if reachable, and clear dead insects and dirt from tracks.
- Radiators: wipe the surface and behind if possible.
- Curtains and blinds: if they belong to the landlord, dust or wash as appropriate.
- Carpets: vacuum thoroughly, treat stains and consider professional cleaning if required. See carpet cleaning costs.
- Hard floors: sweep and mop, including under where furniture stood.
Hallways, stairs and extras
- Hall and stairs: vacuum or mop, wipe banisters and skirting.
- Cupboards under the stairs and storage: empty and wipe.
- Balcony, patio or garden: sweep, remove rubbish and tidy as required.
- Meter cupboard and loft: make sure no belongings remain.
Commonly missed spots
- Behind and under the cooker, fridge and washing machine.
- Tops of wardrobes, doors and kitchen cabinets.
- Tracks of sliding doors and windows.
- The inside of the bin and recycling storage.
- Light switches, plug sockets and door handles.
- The fridge door seal.
Document your work
Take dated photos of each room when you finish, including inside cupboards and appliances. Keep receipts for any professional cleaning. These records support you if there is a dispute. See end of tenancy cleaning cost if you decide to hire help.
A suggested order of work
- Day before: pack, remove rubbish and defrost the freezer.
- Start with high and dirty areas: oven, extractor, fridge, then kitchen cupboards.
- Move to bathrooms, letting limescale products soak while you do other tasks.
- Do bedrooms and living areas, top to bottom.
- Finish with floors, starting at the far end and working towards the door.
- Final walkthrough with the inventory in hand, taking photos.
What agents commonly flag
Typical deductions relate to grease in the oven or extractor, limescale on taps and screens, marks on walls and doors, hair in plugholes, dust on skirting boards and window tracks, unclean carpets and rubbish left behind. None of these is complicated, but they are easy to overlook when you are tired at the end of a move.
Tips for tricky situations
- Furnished lets. Check each item against the inventory and clean soft furnishings as far as their labels allow.
- Pets. Hair collects in vents, behind radiators and in carpet edges. Vacuum thoroughly and ask whether carpet cleaning is required.
- Smokers. Nicotine film on walls and windows needs warm soapy water and several passes, and may not fully lift.
- Mould. Clean visible patches and tell the landlord about the cause rather than just wiping it away.
- Leaving early. Cleaning is easier before furniture is removed, but you must still re-check everything after the last box leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to clean the garden?
Often you are expected to leave it tidy, as described in the inventory, for example lawn cut and no rubbish. Check what was recorded at the start.
How long does it take to do myself?
For a one-bed flat, often a full day for one person. A larger house can take two days or more. A professional team may do it faster.
What if there is damage I cannot clean?
Cleaning will not remove damage. Be honest about wear and tear versus damage, and read your tenancy agreement. If there is a dispute, a tenancy advice service can help.
Do I need to wash walls?
Wipe off marks you can reach where paint allows, but do not scrub so hard that you remove paint. If walls have been repainted or damaged, that is usually a decorating matter rather than cleaning.