How to get your full deposit back when you move out

To get your full deposit back, hand the property back in the same condition as your move-in inventory, minus fair wear and tear. In practice that means cleaning to a professional standard, repairing any damage you caused, removing all your belongings and rubbish, and providing photographic evidence of the condition you left it in. Cleaning is the single biggest factor, so it is where most deposits are won or lost.

What do landlords and agents actually check?

At check-out, an inventory clerk or landlord compares the property against the move-in report. The most scrutinised areas are almost always the same.

• Cleanliness throughout, especially the oven, kitchen and bathroom.
• Limescale on taps, shower screens and toilets.
• Carpets and flooring, including stains and marks.
• Walls for scuffs, marks and unfilled picture holes.
• Gardens and outdoor areas, if included in the tenancy.

Why cleaning is the deposit battleground

Cleaning is consistently reported as the number one cause of deposit deductions by UK deposit schemes such as the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. The reason is simple: it is the easiest thing for a landlord to evidence and the most common thing tenants underestimate. A property that looks clean to a busy tenant often falls short of an inventory clerk's standard.

Understand fair wear and tear

Landlords cannot charge you to put right normal, reasonable use. Lightly worn carpets in a flat lived in for years, or slightly faded paint, are fair wear and tear. What is not covered is dirt, grime, damage, stains and a failure to clean. The longer the tenancy, the more wear is considered reasonable.

Step-by-step: protect your deposit

1. Find your move-in inventory and photos. This is the standard you are measured against.
2. Repair what you can. Fill picture holes, replace blown bulbs, touch up obvious marks if permitted.
3. Remove everything. All belongings, food and rubbish, including the bins.
4. Clean thoroughly using our end of tenancy cleaning checklist, or book a professional clean.
5. Photograph everything on the day you leave, date-stamped, as your own evidence.
6. Return the keys on time and in the way your agreement specifies.

Does a professional clean guarantee my deposit?

No clean can guarantee a deposit, because deductions can also cover damage or unpaid rent. But a professional end of tenancy clean removes cleaning, by far the most common dispute, from the equation. It meets inventory standards first time and gives you a clear before-and-after record. If a dispute does arise, evidence of a professional clean is strong support for your case.

We provide deposit-ready cleans across the area, including Derby, Long Eaton and surrounding towns, often at short notice to fit your move-out date.