End of tenancy clean checklist
Written around what an inspection actually checks, not what feels like cleaning. A tidy flat with a dirty oven still loses money.
18 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- Every room fully emptied before cleaning startsFurniture hides floor, skirting and corners. Nothing behind it counts as done until it's moved.
- Oven cleaned inside and out, racks includedThe single most common deposit deduction. Worth doing properly rather than a quick wipe.
- Extractor fan and hob degreased
- Fridge and freezer emptied, defrosted and wiped out, left switched off with the door propped
- Cupboards wiped inside and out, kitchen and bathroom both
- Limescale removed from taps, shower and toilet
- Bathroom sealant checked and cleaned of any mould
- Walls checked for marks and scuffs, spot-cleaned or touched upBlu Tack marks and scuffed corners are exactly what an inspection is looking for.
- Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, or professionally cleaned if the tenancy agreement requires it
- Windows cleaned inside, sills included
- Skirting boards wiped down throughout
- Light fittings and switches wiped, cobwebs cleared
- Radiators dusted behind and along the top
- Any nail holes filled, if the agreement allows it
- Bins emptied and left clean, not just empty
- Meter readings recordedTaken on the day you hand back the keys, so a final bill can't be disputed later.
- Keys, fobs and any parking permits gathered ready to hand back
- Photos taken of every room, dated
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- What's the item that costs people their deposit most often?
- The oven. It's the one thing agents check without fail, and a greasy one is an easy, specific deduction rather than a vague 'general cleanliness' one.
- Should I clean before or after everything's packed and moved out?
- After. Furniture and boxes hide skirting, corners and floor that need doing, and moving something later just undoes the section behind it.
- Do I need to take before-and-after photos?
- Yes, dated, room by room. It's the difference between a dispute you can prove and one that's just your word against theirs.