End of tenancy cleaning and redecoration
End-of-tenancy cleaning and decoration are the biggest causes of deposit deductions in the UK, but are easy to avoid by performing a thorough end-of-tenancy cleaning and redecoration session before the final inspection.
Key facts
End-of-tenancy cleaning is important for receiving your full deposit – more than half of deposit disputes (56%) are due to a lack of cleaning, with damage second at 43% and redecoration third at 30%
You can do your own end-of-tenancy cleaning and redecoration, you don't need to use a professional company
If the property is not cleaned and redecorated properly, then this will be reflected in your end-of-tenancy inventory report
We require the same level of cleaning hygiene and decoration as was documented in the move-in inventory report. How the result is achieved is up to you
If the cleaning and redecoration is not done, then you will be charged for a professional clean and redecoration and we may deduct this from your deposit
If you're doing your own end-of-tenancy cleaning and redecoration, remember to use your check-in inventory as a guide and use a checklist
Set aside enough time if you plan on doing it yourself - deep cleaning and decoration takes time no matter how long you've been living in a property, and you’ll be surprised how big of a job this can be
If you want to hire your own cleaning company for your end-of-tenancy clean, you should take care to ensure they will do the job well and that the work done will mean that we do not need to carry out further cleaning
When you move into a new property, it will be clean. You are entitled to receive a clean and hygienic property, but you must also ensure the standard is maintained for your tenancy and returned to us at the same standard.
Most people don’t do deep cleaning every week and that's especially true in the time before moving on to a new home. However, when moving out, the property must be as clean as it was when you first moved in.
Some choose to use a cleaning company to do the job - usually, they do what you could do yourself with the correct cleaning equipment and time and carry out a full top-to-bottom cleaning.
Who has to do what?
You are in charge of daily cleaning and maintenance in the property and can be held liable if you allow a lack of hygiene to cause a rise and spread of health hazards, diseases, pest infestation, and mould. Removing these hazards is costly and you will be charged for the bill. Garden, driveway, and patio areas are also for you to maintain and clean.
We are usually responsible for cleaning communal areas in shared houses.
End of tenancy cleaning is vital to avoid being charged
If you have not performed an end-of-tenancy cleaning and decoration before you’ve moved out, we will hire a company to do it and charge this to you/against your deposit. It’s in your best interest to maintain the property at all times.
The two inventory checks – when you move in and out – benchmark the property condition. We carry out a detailed inventory at the start of the tenancy that includes photos and details of the condition, and you receive a copy of this. You must ensure the second inventory is no worse than the first inventory.
Minimum standards
It is to your advantage to do a thorough end-of-tenancy clean, to ensure the property is returned as you received it and meet all the responsibilities in your tenancy agreement. Ensure that any damage caused by you or a visitor to your home is repaired or replaced. Allow yourself enough time and energy to do the final clean.
The cheapest option is to do the cleaning and redecoration yourself and is a good way to save some moving expenses... but, it must be to the required standard.
You will need to clean as a minimum the following items:
Kitchen – Empty all the cupboards and shelves. Remove all crumbs and deposits, clean inside and out and wipe thoroughly with a dry cloth. Do your best to clean around appliances and wash the floors beneath them and the walls behind them. Make sure any appliances supplied are clean, including the washing machine soap tray (can be cleaned with steam cleaner) and the dishwasher filter (use warm, soapy water). The back of most appliances is usually dirty – make sure to wipe them with a dry cloth. After you have cleaned the fridge, if it is empty switch it off at the mains and leave the door open to prevent mould. Make sure to pull out all fridge shelves, cabinets and racks. Give them a good clean, including the groves where they slide in the fridge. Repeat this for each appliance with similar features. Properly clean and degrease on top of kitchen cabinets.
Oven and hob – If not cleaned often, the oven builds up thick layers of grime, burnt food deposits, grease and household dust and makes for a big cleaning job that requires the most time, effort and harsh cleaning agents out of all other cleaning jobs. You must also clean the hob, burners, racks, baking trays, handles, extractor hoods, switches and all other surfaces. This can take a considerable time.
Here’s how to clean your oven and hob:
Begin With The Shelves: Your oven interior must be completely cool. Wear rubber gloves to make sure and remove the shelves. Set the shelves aside in a sealable plastic bag and clean the other parts of the oven.
Work On The Cavity: Use a newspaper to cover the oven floor. Scrape off burnt-on food, avoiding scraping the heating elements. Oven cleaning kits are available online, in supermarkets and home improvement stores. Use an old toothbrush to reach difficult-to-reach areas. You can use baking soda mixed with a little water as an alternative to chemical oven cleaners.
Clean The Oven Door: Take out the removable door and then soak it in hot soapy water. Use a soft cloth to rub the glass door.
Clean The Hob: Remove the rings and burners, and wash them in hot, soapy water.
Clean the extractor fan/hood: these become greasy, so wipe thoroughly and clean any filters.
Living room – If provided, you need to clean the coffee table and all cupboards, cabinets, bookshelves and TV set. This room is mostly about dusting extensively and vacuuming everything.
Bathroom – Properly clean/scrub everything in the bathroom including the tiles, sink, bath, toilet, mirror and other accessories. Ensure the drains and plug holes are clear from debris and make sure the water runs away quickly. Remove mould, soap scum and limescale buildup from all metallic surfaces like the faucets, the shower, the drain grates. If the shower head has some of its holes plugged from limescale buildup, you will have to clean it. Detach the shower head and submerge it in white vinegar overnight. The day after, it should be cleared and working properly again.
Walls/Skirting/Paintwork – You should look for any scuffs or dirty marks on the walls. If it is not possible to wash them off, try lightly using a cleaning eraser to remove the marks. If neccessary, you can paint them over with some emulsion of the exact same colour - a "near match" is not good enough, and would require the full room repaint at your expense. If you hanged a tv, any pictures or decorations on the walls and caused marks or holes, you must properly repair these - fill holes with wall filler putty and paint over with the correct matching paint. If there is any mould, do not paint over it - remove it using the proper cleaning supplies. Skirting and paintwork must be wiped down, removing dust and any pet smells.
Windows – Clean all the windows from the inside. If you can’t reach the outside yourself, then arrange for a window cleaner to call. If there are any cracked panes arrange for them to be replaced unless they appear on the check-in inventory.
Furniture – Any provided upholstery needs to look pristine – no smells, no hair, no bad odour. This is especially true if you live with small children, pets or smoke cigarettes. Alternatively, you can hire a steam cleaning service to wash all your upholstery items. For the wooden upholstery, check for scuff marks and scratches.
Curtains/blinds – If the curtains are washable then follow washing instructions or take them to the dry cleaner and dust the curtain poles. Do the same with any fabric blinds in the property. Thoroughly dust both sides of the slats of venetian blinds. Repair any damage or replace if the blind has become unusable.
Carpets/Rugs/Tiles/Flooring– If you have a steam cleaner, this is a great way of bringing up carpets and rugs to look like new. If not, they are relatively cheap to hire and include various attachments to enable you to clean every part of the property including floors, tiles, windows, walls, and furnishings. The minimum thing you should do is vacuum all carpets and remove any hair, properly wash and clean any tiles or wooden flooring. Remember, if you have pets, there must be no trace of them when you leave - so make sure you remove any pet smells through thorough cleaning.
Staircases and hallways – These are higher traffic areas and may need more cleaning. The carpets and rugs might require steam cleaning to get all the dirt, grime and smells out.
Garden, exterior and bins – If there is a garden shed make sure it is clean and tidy. Hose down any decking and sweep up leaves and other debris from patio areas. Make sure that flowerbeds are in good order and mow the lawns where applicable. Any pet damage must be repaired, and pet mess cleared. Bins should be as empty as possible.
Finally ...
You should consider whether you have the time and energy required to complete the task to the required standard, so that you aren't charged.
If you are cleaning by yourself, allow enough time to hire equipment, buy the right products and replace/repair items.
Be thorough, tick things off your list as you go before the final inventory check and handing over the keys.
When should you do end of tenancy cleaning yourself
You rent a small property or a room of a shared property
You rent an unfurnished property
You deep clean at least once every couple of months
You have a lot of time between moving and handing back the keys
You’re looking for a cheaper moving experience
You’re an experienced cleaner
When shouldn’t you do end of tenancy cleaning yourself
You are allergic to harsh cleaning products, like bleach
You cannot find enough free time or energy
You are not a good and thorough cleaner
You need to use professional equipment you cannot operate yourself