The End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist Letting Agents Actually Use

Most deposit deductions are not about damage — they are about cleaning. Inventory clerks compare the property against check-in photos, and anything that looks worse gets flagged. Working through the list below in order is the fastest way to pass first time.

Kitchen: the oven is the single most common failure point. Racks, glass, door seal and the inside of the extractor all need degreasing, not just wiping. Empty and clean every cupboard inside, pull out the fridge and freezer, defrost them, and leave doors ajar. Descale the sink and taps and clear the plughole.

Bathrooms: limescale on shower screens, taps and tiles is what clerks look for first. Treat grout and silicone for mould, polish mirrors and chrome, clean the extractor fan cover, and make sure the toilet is cleaned behind and underneath as well as inside.

Living areas and bedrooms: dust from the top down — light fittings, curtain rails, picture rails, then shelves, skirting and radiators. Clean inside wardrobes and drawers, wipe doors, frames, handles and light switches, and vacuum carpet edges where dust collects.

Windows and finishing: clean interior glass, sills and the tracks the windows sit in. Vacuum and mop all hard floors last so you are not walking dust back over them. Remove every bin bag from the property — rubbish left behind is an instant deduction.

If you would rather not spend a weekend on it, a professional end of tenancy clean typically costs a fraction of the deduction an agent would make, and comes with a re-clean guarantee if anything is raised.