Start with your check-in inventory
Your deposit is judged against the inventory and photos taken when you moved in, not against a perfect show home. Dig out the check-in report first and note anything that was already marked, stained or worn, so you know the standard you need to return the property to.
In England, landlords and agents can’t make you pay for a professional clean as a condition of the tenancy. That has been a banned fee under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 since 2019. What they can do is deduct from your deposit if the property is less clean than it was at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. Whether you clean it yourself or book a team, the aim is the same: back to check-in standard.
Kitchen
- Oven, racks, trays and door glass degreased, inside and out
- Hob, extractor hood and filters
- Fridge and freezer defrosted, emptied, cleaned and left with the door ajar
- Inside and outside every cupboard and drawer, including crumbs in the hinges
- Dishwasher filter and seals, washing machine drawer and door seal
- Microwave, kettle and toaster if they came with the property
- Tiles, splashback, worktops and sink descaled and polished
- Bins emptied and washed
Bathrooms
- Limescale removed from taps, shower heads, screens and tiles. Brighton’s hard water makes this the most common deduction we see.
- Grout and silicone scrubbed, with mould treated
- Toilet cleaned inside and out, including the base and behind the pan
- Bath panel, extractor fan cover and mirror
- Cabinets emptied and wiped
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wardrobes and drawers emptied and wiped inside
- Skirting boards, door frames, doors and handles
- Light switches, sockets and light fittings dusted
- Radiators wiped, including the gaps between the panels
- Interior windows, sills, frames and tracks. Sea air leaves a salty film on glass near the front.
- Carpets vacuumed, with a steam clean if your tenancy agreement asks for one or the check-in report says they were professionally cleaned
- Hard floors mopped, including the edges and under furniture
Before you hand back the keys
- Remove every personal item and all rubbish, including from bin stores and gardens
- Replace blown bulbs and check smoke alarms work
- Take dated photos of every room after the clean, matching the angles in the check-in report
- Note the meter readings and photograph them
If your deposit is protected with the DPS, TDS or mydeposits and you disagree with a cleaning deduction, you can use the scheme’s free dispute service. Your after photos will be your best evidence.
When it’s worth booking a professional clean
A thorough end of tenancy clean on a two-bedroom flat takes one person a full day or more, and the oven and limescale take the longest. If you’re juggling a move, a professional clean is usually cheaper than a deduction, and a good company will come back if the check-out report flags something they cleaned.
We clean for tenants, landlords and letting agents across Brighton & Hove, working from the inventory checklist. See our end of tenancy cleaning page or typical prices.
