An end-of-tenancy cleaning checklist

Work backwards from handover

Confirm the check-out time, access arrangements and any inventory or agent notes before choosing a cleaning slot. Leave time for a final look after the clean rather than scheduling it at the exact moment the keys are due.

Clear the property first

Remove belongings, food, rubbish and moving materials that are not meant to stay. An empty property is easier to inspect and lets cleaning reach cupboard interiors, floors and edges without avoidable obstructions.

Room-by-room checklist

Kitchen

• Empty and wipe agreed cupboards and drawers.
• Clean worktops, splashbacks, sink and taps.
• Confirm whether oven, fridge and other appliance interiors are included.
• Clean reachable external appliance surfaces and floors.

Bathroom

• Clean sanitaryware, taps, mirrors and tiles.
• Pay attention to limescale, shower screens and reachable grout.
• Empty cabinets and remove personal products.

Living areas and bedrooms

• Dust reachable surfaces, ledges and skirting boards.
• Check wardrobes and storage are empty if their interiors are in scope.
• Vacuum carpets and clean suitable hard floors.

Document the handover

Take dated photographs after belongings are removed and cleaning is complete. Cleaning cannot guarantee a deposit outcome: condition, damage, contractual terms and the landlord or agent's assessment all matter. A specific checklist and clear records are more useful than a promise no cleaner can control.