Introduction
I am sure that you are aware that as a tenant, you are responsible for returning the rental property back to it’s original condition, which includes the cleaning. End of tenancy cleaning tends to be more thorough than your typical clean. There is a rather strict list of what you are expected to clean at the end of your tenancy. Make sure that you refer back to your rental agreement, as your landlord may have specific requirements for the clean, such as steam cleaning etc.
- What is End of Tenancy Cleaning?
- End of Tenancy Cleaning Services
- End of Tenancy Cleaning Prices
- Additional Tenant Responsibilities
Moving is an expensive process, and the last thing that you need is to lose your deposit for silly cleaning issues. Moving to a new house can be a huge challenge, from changing your address to packing up the very last sock, it is a big endeavour. When it comes to end of tenancy cleaning, there are often specific requirements that either your landlord or estate agents require.
We have compiled the ultimate end of tenancy cleaning checklist, which has been approved by estate agents to make sure that you meet the landlords’ strict requirements. Whilst cleaning the rental property at the end of your tenancy is essential, there are also several other responsibilities that you have as a tenant in order to move to your next property without any hitches.
What Is End of Tenancy Cleaning?
End of tenancy cleaning also referred to as final cleaning is of extreme importance to both tenants and landlords and is essential in ensuring a successful end to the lease of a property. Employing the services of a fully trained end of tenancy cleaning team will ensure that you, either as a tenant or landlord, are left with a pristine property, ready for whatever your next step may be.
Tenants are usually required to do an end of tenancy cleaning when they move out as part of the letting agreement. The cleanliness (or lack of) of the property at the end of the tenancy is responsible for more than half of the deposit disputes. If the property has not been cleaned to an acceptable standard, then the landlords have the right to deduct the cost of hiring a cleaning company from the deposit.
If this happens then the landlords or agents will not be as conscientious about spending somebody else’s money and will just use their referred agency, no matter the cost, and deduct this from your deposit. Moving between locations can be stressful and expensive enough, without having to incur extra charges that can be easily avoided if the right cleaning company are used.
Many tenants will choose to hire a professional cleaning service to handle their end of tenancy cleaning to ensure they get their deposit back, although a few will try and clean the property themselves. There is nothing wrong with doing this but there is usually more than enough to do when moving to a new house so finding the time for a thorough cleaning of the entire property, to the required standards can be difficult.
End of tenancy cleaning should include a deep clean of the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Plus, all surfaces throughout the property: floors, tiles, carpets, walls, and windows. Dust and dirt will need to be removed and cobwebs cleared out of hard to reach places. All the appliances which are included in the tenancy such as dishwashers, cookers and washing machines will also need to be cleaned out to a high standard.
A typical end of tenancy cleaning service will usually include removing everything from the refrigerators, freezers and cupboards; cleaning the oven and all the cupboards and surfaces, dishwashers and microwaves; scrubbing all floors, bathroom and sinks; furniture and carpet cleaning; plus clearing out and tidying of any garages or outbuildings.
With such a large amount of cleaning required It is easy to see why most people prefer to hire a professional cleaning team for the end of tenancy cleaning as it is very labour intensive and it needs to be done thoroughly to avoid having to forfeit the deposit. Professional cleaning companies also have all the necessary equipment, tools, and cleaning materials for a very thorough and fast cleaning service.
If you have the time and are physically fit, you can do a good job of the cleaning yourself, but if you can afford it, just hire a team of professionals as this will save you all the hassle and the cleaning will likely be done to a higher standard!
Moving out of a property can cause a huge upheaval in your life, from the important things such as having to inform everyone of new addresses and cancelling utility bills to the trivial aspects like ensuring that you have enough cardboard boxes and bubble wrap.
By engaging professional cleaning services, you can be assured that they will take away some of the stress related to the end of your tenancy.
Utilising professional cleaning services will take care of everything whilst you deal with moving into your new property and can even offer a key collection and drop off service to make things as easy for you as possible. Imagine how good it would feel to watch your boxes leave the property and not have to worry about rolling your sleeves up and scrubbing and cleaning every inch of the property!
When it comes to end of tenancy cleaning, there are often specific requirements that either your landlord or estate agents require, and a local agency is usually best placed to be aware of these.
Obviously moving is an expensive time and this article will provide you with an idea of end of tenancy cleaning prices and the costs you should expect to incur as well as examine the different options that are available to you.
When considering end of tenancy cleaning prices, you will need to consider numerous factors that all contribute to either reducing or increasing costs. Every possible combination has its benefits and downsides, and we will cover some these in more detail.
Cleaning
There are many cleaning companies that will be able to provide you with a professional end of tenancy cleaning service at a highly affordable price. If you wish to undertake the end of tenancy cleaning yourself, we have put together a typical moving out cleaning checklist.
Across the whole property
Bedrooms
Step one is to take care of dust and dirt. The best way to tackle this is to wipe rooms from top to bottom.
- Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners
- Dust reachable surfaces – wardrobes, shelving and cupboards
- Wipe accumulated dust and dirt from top of doors
- Wipe accumulated dust from top of picture frames
- Wipe dirt off curtain rails
- Properly vacuum and dust both sides of curtains and blinds
- Wipe and polish mirrors, pictures and other wall hangings
- Wipe off dust from skirting boards and decorations
- Dust off all light fittings and lampshades
- Clean and polish metal ornaments
- Wipe and polish switches
- Remove/repaint dirty marks from walls
- Carefully clean power sockets and extension cords
- Thoroughly vacuum all mattresses
- Mop hard floors and laminate
Bathrooms
Dirt and mildew are most visible and least tolerable in bathrooms. Toilets, showers, tiles and baths should be cleaned and polished as well as possible.
- Clean basins, taps and fittings
- Remove hard water stains
- Remove limescale if present
- Scrub and rinse soap dispensers
- Wipe and polish radiators and towel rails
- Scrub and rinse toilet and bidet
- Clean plumbing behind toilet if reachable
- Wipe marks and stains from shower screens
- Scrub and rinse bath marks and signs of mildew
- Make sure to clean drains
- Wipe and polish mirrors and glass surfaces
- Descale, rinse and wipe showerheads, taps and metal surfaces
- Scrub and rinse accumulated dirt from the toothbrush area
- Clean extractor fans
- Wipe reachable bathroom tiles
Kitchens
Cleaning the kitchen is a quarter of the job. Your kitchen is most likely to be the most used room, not to mention the most heavily exposed to various germs and dirt.
Your kitchen is most likely to be the room that is used the most, and it will probably have the greatest accumulation of dirt.
- Wash and polish all worktops, countertops, and the sink area
- Clean inside cupboards, drawers, and shelving
- Throw leftover food and carrier bags away
- Wash and polish the sinks
- Polish and shine the taps
- Remove accumulated limescale
- De-grease and polish wall tiles
- Remove mould growth between grout
- Clean and de-grease ovens both internally and externally
- Clean the grime from extractors and hobs
- Scrub gas rings and gas control knobs if you have them
- Wipe the cooker top and buttons if you have them
- Clean any microwaves inside and out
- Clean out the fridge/freezer
- Clean the washing machine inside and out
- Clean the dishwasher inside and out
- Clean exterior of all appliances
- Sanitize the bins and remove rubbish
- Clean outside of cupboards and drawers
- Stack and arrange cutlery, utensils, and other dining accessories
- Clean inside of windows and wipe down sills, ledges, and frames
- Wipe dirt from woodwork (doors, handles, doorframes, furnishings, and skirting boards)
- Wipe down radiators if applicable and accessible
- Remove dust from plugs and light switches
- Vacuum, mop and polish floors
Furnishings
Landlords or their letting agents will pick up dirty furnishings upon their inspections. You must carefully wipe, vacuum, and clean all furnishings.
- Wipe and polish tables, countertops, and other worktop surfaces
- Make sure you remove all fingerprints and marks
- Look out for any oil stains
- Take sofa cushions outside and pound them until the dust is removed
- Vacuum the sofa with and without it’s cushions on
- Move all furnishings to vacuum underneath
- Wipe and polish all wooden units
Carpets
Carpets always come under scrutiny from landlords/letting agents. Carpet cleaning is one of the hardest jobs to tackle, but the best way to do it is to hire a carpet cleaning machine.
- Thoroughly vacuum all carpet edges
- Move furniture and vacuum underneath
- Steam clean, if possible
- Try hand-washing stains if a carpet cleaning machine is not available
Windows
Everything within your rental property should be subject to a thorough clean before you move out. Cleaning the inside of the windows is no exception.
- Remove any marks, fingerprints, and oily stains
- Wipe down to prevent streaks when drying
- Dust off and clean windowsills
- Wipe down frames
- Dust off blinds, curtains, and shades
Drawers, cupboards, and shelves
It’s quite common to forget to clear a drawer or cupboard that you don’t use often. Always inspect each drawer, cupboard, and shelf.
- Clear drawers inside and out
- Remove any unnecessary items or leftover goods
- Wipe down the inside and out
- Wipe around handles
Fridge/freezer
Check your tenancy agreement to see if your landlord wants the fridge/freezer turned on or off upon check-out. To clean it properly, you may need to defrost the freezer or at least turn it off a day in advance.
- Remove dirt, mildew, and leftover food
- Wipe and polish handles
- Clean rubber seal
- Move it and clean underneath and behind
- Dismantle, wash and rinse slots, grills, and shelves inside
- Wipe and polish the exterior
Appliances
You will need to check your tenancy agreement regarding your responsibilities on cleaning appliances.
The dishwasher
- Clean the dishwasher of food and soap deposits
- Remove all dirt, mildew and food deposits
- Inspect and clean filters
- Wipe the rubber seal
- Move it and clean underneath and behind
- Wipe the soap dispenser drawer and remove marks and stains
- Wipe down handles
The washing machine
- Clean the drum from leftovers and stains
- Inspect and clean filters
- Inspect the rubber seal
- Move it and clean underneath and behind
- Wipe the soap dispenser drawer and remove marks and stains
- Clean handles
The tumble dryer
- Clean inside and out
- Inspect the rubber seal
- Clean the soap dispenser drawer
- Inspect and clean the filter
Ovens and microwaves
- Clean and de-grease oven, extractor fan, hob and grill
- Clean and de-grease the microwave
- Scrub off food deposits and grime
- Clean grill pan and oven racks
- Clean the inner of both the oven and microwave
- Inspect and wipe the rubber seals
- Inspect and wipe all buttons
- Clean exterior and remove stains and marks
The toaster
- Clean, wipe and polish the exterior
- Remove any food deposits and bread crumb leftovers
- Clean within as much as possible
- De-grease handles
- Remove grime
Smaller details
There are many smaller tasks that you’ll also have to remember in order to get your full deposit back. Remember to:
- Clean and dry all kitchen tiles
- Get rid of leftover rubbish
- Rinse out rubbish bins
- De-grease fans and extractors
If you plan to do the cleaning yourself, make sure you have all the necessary cleaning supplies and equipment to get the job done. If you intend to use professional cleaning services, budget for the cost, and book an affordable, reliable cleaning company as early as possible. Make sure that when you have finished with the clean, you remove all of the rubbish, and you take all of the cleaning supplies with you.
By ensuring that the property is cleaned to a high standard, you will hopefully be able to guarantee the return of your deposit, as well as avoiding any potential conflicts or stress.
End of Tenancy Cleaning Services
If however this checklist looks rather daunting, there is another option! Many cleaning companies offer brilliant end of tenancy cleaning services, often even offering a deposit back guarantee. If you have decided that you want to get a professional cleaning company in to help with the move-out cleaning, you are probably wondering what the cost of this service is.
End of Tenancy Cleaning Prices
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this as there are so many factors that can affect the cost. This can include the location, size of property, current cleanliness and time of year. As well as this, many end of tenancy cleaning prices may not cover key areas that require additional work, such as carpet cleaning, gardens, exterior window cleaning and many others.
The good news however is that the majority of cleaning companies tend to quote a fixed rate depending on the size of your property and the number of rooms in the property.
This is obviously a very good a thing, as you will not have to worry about hourly rates, allowing you to relax if the job has not been done by the end of the day. Additionally, this will protect you from incurring more costs. A lot of end of tenancy cleaners will also offer a key pickup and drop off service, which means you can leave the key to your property with them.
- Average studio cost – £95 to £240, with an average of £195
- Apartment with one or two rooms – £140 to £315, the average is £250
- Apartment with two or three bedrooms – £155 to £380, the average is £315
- House with four or five bedrooms – £185 to £525, with an average of £370
- Properties with six or more bedrooms are the most expensive – starting at £230 and averaging around £415
Carpet Cleaning
Please be aware that the majority of companies do not include carpet cleaning in their prices. This may lead you to consider whether this is something that you may do yourself. Carpet cleaners are readily available for hire in many retail outlets in many locations however, in most cases cleaning companies will offer a significant reduction if you are booking carpet cleaning at the same time.
This can often work out less overall than doing the work yourself once the hire costs and shampoo costs have been considered. Always check your tenancy agreement as this will often stipulate whether or not you need to clean the carpets before you move out.
As a rough guide carpet cleaning prices per room are, on average as below:
- Single room – from £15
- Double room – from £20
- Dining room – from £25
- Living room – from £25
- Corridor / landing – from £10
- Stairway – from £20 per level
Oven Cleaning
As mentioned above, some companies will only offer to clean the rooms of the property but will not clean appliances, such as cookers, fridges, and dishwashers. When looking at end of tenancy cleaning prices you should ensure that they at least offer oven cleaning. This is because this is often the most difficult to clean and can frequently be the reason that your deposit is not returned.
If oven cleaning is not included in the quote, then the following guideline figures should help you to calculate the total end of tenancy cleaning prices that you should expect. Again, there may be significant regional variations but between £50 and £120 dependent on oven size and type is a good indicative figure.
- Standard single oven clean – from £50
- Standard double oven clean – from £70
- Range oven clean – between £80 and £100 dependent on size
- Ceramic/Glass hob – from £20
Garden clearance
On a normal tenancy agreement your garden and outside area are also your responsibility, so be sure to have a quick clean around these areas. Sweep up any leaves, tidy up any flowers or potted plants, and give the lawn a quick mowing. If there is an outbuilding such as a shed or green house, ensure that the inside and outside are tidy. This is one part of the cleaning that can easily be done yourself.
Do I get a Free Reclean or a Deposit Guarantee?
If your property is not up to standard, then the landlord or letting agency have the right to dispute the refund of your deposit. They will also seek to hire a professional cleaning company to undertake full End of Tenancy Cleaning, deducting the bill amount from your deposit. This is certainly not cost effective, as they will not be inclined to shop around, and could possibly settle on a high charging company if it’s more convenient for them.
Some cleaning companies will offer to return to the property to readdress any issues that arise from the final inspection, with some offering additional financial compensation if this occurs. If you can find a company that offer this service, then they should be very strongly considered. More and more companies are now beginning to offer this, which can only be good news for tenants and the landlords.
Will the Clean Meet the Requirements of my Tenancy Agreement?
When considering companies be sure to contact your landlord or agency and request a copy of the inspection checklist, along with a copy of your move in report. Compare this against the checklist that the cleaning companies have provided and ensure that you haven’t missed any exceptions such as garden requirements, window cleaning or repainting worn or marked areas. This is when it can be beneficial to engage a local company as they are often well acquainted with the requirements of the local letting agencies.
Additional Tenant Responsibilities
In addition to the cleaning that you must undertake at the end of your tenancy, you also have specific responsibilities as a tenant.
- Give Your Landlord Notice – Make sure that you give your landlord appropriate notice, in alignment with your rental agreement.
- Manage Damages – Fix any damages that you may have caused, such as holes in the walls from picture hooks. The property should look the same on the day that you moved out as it looked on the day that you moved in.
- Pay Off Your Utility Bills – Ensure that all of your utility providers have been informed of your move-out date and have been cancelled where needed.
- Remove Your Possessions – Do not leave any of your belongings behind, or you may lose a large chunk of your security deposit.
- Take Pictures of the Property – Document everything with pictures, so that you have evidence in case you need to dispute any deposit issues with the landlord.
- Organise a Move-out Inspection – Arrange a final inspection with the landlord, to discuss any maintenance or cleaning issues that there may be, giving you the chance to make any changes that you need to in order to end the lease on a high.
Overview
End of tenancy cleaning doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds! With our cleaning checklist you will be able to leave the rental property sparkling, and you can leave with a full deposit in your pocket. If you follow our cleaning checklist, your landlord should be more than happy with the cleanliness of the property, and you can end your tenancy on a high, ready for a new adventure.
