End of tenancy cleaning checklist: every room covered
A complete, room-by-room end of tenancy checklist so your rental meets inventory standards and protects the deposit.
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In a UK tenancy, the responsibility is shared by stage. The landlord should provide the property in a clean condition at the start and is usually responsible for communal areas. The tenant must keep the property reasonably clean during the tenancy and return it as clean as it was at move-in, allowing for fair wear and tear. The move-in inventory is the reference point throughout.
At the start of the tenancy
The landlord should hand over a clean property, and the move-in inventory should record its condition, ideally with photos. This document is important: it sets the cleaning standard the tenant will be measured against at the end.
During the tenancy
The tenant is responsible for keeping the property reasonably clean and well aired, and for day-to-day upkeep. This includes preventing avoidable problems like mould from poor ventilation. The landlord remains responsible for repairs and, in blocks of flats, for cleaning shared communal areas.
At the end of the tenancy
The tenant should return the property as clean as it was at move-in, minus fair wear and tear. This is where most disputes happen, because cleaning is the most common cause of deposit deductions. A thorough final clean is the tenant's responsibility, see our checklist and guide to getting your deposit back.
What about professional cleaning?
A landlord cannot force a tenant to pay for professional cleaning, only to meet the move-in standard, see do landlords require professional cleaning. Many tenants still choose it as the simplest way to meet that standard and protect their deposit.
Quick reference
| Stage | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Move-in condition | Landlord provides clean |
| During tenancy | Tenant keeps reasonably clean |
| Communal areas (flats) | Usually landlord |
| Move-out clean | Tenant, to move-in standard |
For a deposit-ready move-out clean, our end of tenancy cleaning service covers Derby and the surrounding area. (General guidance, not legal advice.)
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