End of tenancy cleaning checklist: how to get your full deposit back
The rooms and details that most often cost tenants money at checkout, and what the law says about cleaning charges.
To get your full deposit back, return the property as clean as it was at check-in, room by room, and keep photo proof. The kitchen and bathroom are where most cleaning deductions happen, so start there and leave the least time for them to go wrong.
What can a landlord charge you for cleaning?
In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 means a landlord cannot require you to pay for a professional clean. What they can do is deduct from your deposit if the property is dirtier than it was at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear. Your check-in inventory is the standard you are measured against, so dig it out before you start.
The kitchen checklist
- Inside every cupboard and drawer, including crumbs in the corners
- Fridge and freezer defrosted, cleaned and left with the door ajar
- Hob degreased, including under burner caps and trivets
- Extractor hood and filter
- Oven, racks and glass door (the single most common deduction)
- Sink and taps descaled, plughole cleared
- Worktops, splashbacks and tile grout
The bathroom checklist
- Limescale off taps, showerhead and screen
- Toilet, including under the rim and the base
- Bath and basin, overflow holes included
- Tiles and grout scrubbed, mould spots treated
- Mirrors polished streak-free
- Extractor fan cover dusted
Every room
- Skirting boards, door frames and handles
- Light switches and plug sockets wiped
- Radiators, top and behind
- Internal windows and sills
- High-level dust, cobwebs and light fittings
- Carpets vacuumed, hard floors mopped
What catches people out?
The details you stop seeing after living somewhere for a year. Our founder lost £200 from her own deposit because a steam iron had left a mark on a carpet. That is why every Dr. Sparkle clean ends with before and after photos, and why we come back free within 48 hours if the inventory check flags anything.
Should you book a professional clean?
If you are short on time, have a heavy oven or carpets to deal with, or share a house with several people, a fixed-price professional clean is usually cheaper than a deduction. Our prices start at £120 for a studio and £150 for a 1-bed. See our end of tenancy cleaning prices or, if you rent in a shared house, our HMO and student let cleaning.
Questions
Can my landlord make me pay for a professional clean?
No. In England the Tenant Fees Act 2019 stops landlords requiring a professional clean. You must return the property as clean as at check-in, allowing for fair wear and tear.
What is the most common cleaning deduction?
The oven, followed by limescale in bathrooms and dirty carpets. These are also the jobs that take longest to do yourself.
How much does an end of tenancy clean cost in Manchester?
Dr. Sparkle's fixed prices start at £120 for a studio, £150 for a 1-bed and £205 for a 2-bed, with the same prices in Birmingham.