What to expect from an end of tenancy clean

Moving out is busy enough. The last thing you want is a fight over your deposit. A thorough end of tenancy clean is the easiest way to avoid one.

This article explains what the clean covers, how it links to your deposit, and how to plan it so moving day goes smoothly.

Why the clean matters for your deposit

At the start of most tenancies, an inventory records the condition of the property. It often includes photos. At the end, a check-out inspection compares the property with that record.

If the property is less clean than when you moved in, the landlord can propose a deduction for cleaning. Normal fair wear and tear is different. Carpets wearing with age, for example, is not something you should be charged for.

In England and Wales, most deposits for assured shorthold tenancies must be held in a government-backed scheme. Each scheme offers a free dispute service if you and your landlord cannot agree. See tenancy deposit protection on gov.uk for the details. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check the guidance for where you live.

What the clean covers

An end of tenancy clean is a top to bottom clean of an empty home. Everything is cleaned inside as well as out. A typical checklist looks like this:

• Kitchen: inside and out of the oven, the hob, the extractor hood and filter. The fridge and freezer, defrosted. The microwave, dishwasher and washing machine drawer. Inside every cupboard and drawer. Tiles, sink and taps.
• Bathrooms: limescale off taps, shower heads and screens. The toilet, including the base. Bath, basin, tiles and grout. The extractor fan cover and mirrors.
• Every room: skirting boards, door frames and handles, light switches and sockets. Window sills and frames, radiators and inside wardrobes.
• Floors: vacuumed and mopped throughout, including where furniture stood.
• Glass: the inside of windows. The outside only if your tenancy says so and it can be reached safely.

The oven and the carpets are the items agents mention most. Ask your cleaner whether inside the oven is included in their price. Carpet cleaning is usually a separate job. If your tenancy asks for a professional carpet clean, arrange one and keep the receipt.

Do you have to use a professional?

In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 means a landlord generally cannot make you pay for a professional clean. What they can expect is the property back as clean as it was at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear.

So you can do it yourself. But a professional clean of an empty home is usually faster and more thorough. You also have a booking record if questions come up later.

When to book it

Timing makes a big difference. Plan it like this:

1. Move all your belongings out first. The clean needs an empty property.
2. Book the clean for your last day or the day before, after the removal van has gone.
3. Leave time before the check-out inspection, in case anything needs a second look.
4. Book early in busy periods. The end and start of the month are busy, and so is late summer, when many tenancies turn over.

How long it takes

An end of tenancy clean takes longer than a regular clean, or even a deep clean, of the same home. The number of bathrooms makes a big difference. So does the state of the oven, and how long it has been since the last deep clean. Larger homes are often done by more than one cleaner.

For a rough idea of hours, try the cleaning price calculator. Our guide to how much a cleaner costs explains what moves the price up or down.

Three things to do before the cleaner arrives

1. Find your check-in inventory. It is the standard you are measured against. No cleaner can know it unless you share it.
2. Share it with your cleaner. Send the inventory, or the agent's checklist, so they know exactly what is expected.
3. Sort out access. Agree how the cleaner gets in, and where the keys go afterwards.

When the clean is finished, take dated photos of every room. If a deduction is ever disputed, photos are your best evidence.

Booking an end of tenancy clean on Holler

On Holler, you set the address of the property you are leaving. You see the cleaners who cover it. Holler is opening area by area, so it depends where the property is.

Choose end of tenancy cleaning and pick a time. The price is shown up front and includes everything. You pay in the app, and there is no booking fee on top.

On the day, you can track your cleaner on a live map. You can message or call them through the app to arrange keys, without sharing your number. Use the chat to send your inventory too.

Holler also covers regular, deep, oven and window cleaning. So if your new place needs a deep clean before you settle in, you can book that the same way.

For the full checklist and answers to common questions, read our end of tenancy cleaning guide.