To pass an end of tenancy inspection, clean the property back to the condition shown in your check-in inventory. Agents focus on the oven, limescale in bathrooms, inside cupboards and appliances, skirting boards, and marks on walls and doors. Work top to bottom, room by room, and photograph every room when you finish.
Where do letting agents check first?
Inventory clerks know where tenants run out of time. They go straight to the oven, the extractor hood, the shower screen, the inside of the washing machine drawer, the tops of door frames and the back of kitchen cupboards. Start your clean with these.
Kitchen checklist
- Oven, racks, glass door and grill pan degreased
- Hob, extractor hood and filters
- Inside fridge, freezer and seals
- Inside dishwasher and filter
- Washing machine drawer and door seal
- Inside and outside every cupboard and drawer
- Tiles, grout, sink and taps descaled
- Floor, including edges and under appliances
Bathroom checklist
- Limescale removed from taps, shower head and screen
- Bath, basin and toilet, including behind the toilet
- Tiles and grout scrubbed
- Mirrors and cabinets inside and out
- Extractor fan cover
- Floor and skirting
Every other room
- Skirting boards, doors and door frames
- Light switches and sockets
- Inside wardrobes and drawers
- Windows, sills and frames inside
- Radiators
- Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, hard floors mopped
Should you hire a professional end of tenancy cleaner?
If your tenancy agreement requires a professional clean, yes. If not, it is still worth weighing up the cost against the risk of a deduction. A professional end of tenancy clean in London costs from about £170, and most include a free re-clean if the agent raises an issue.
