End of Tenancy Cleaning for Shared Houses — Who Pays?
If you're moving out of a shared house, the cleaning part can get messy fast — not because the rules are complicated, but because shared houses come in different legal setups, and the "who pays" answer depends entirely on which one you're in.
The good news: the logic is straightforward once you know your tenancy type. The key is to work out your setup, understand what landlords can and can't charge for, and have a plan that protects you — even if housemates don't cooperate.
The First Question: What Type of Tenancy Are You In?
This is the fork in the road. Your tenancy type determines who's liable for what — including cleaning.
What Type of Tenancy Are You In?
Select your setup to see how cleaning liability works for your situation.
Joint Tenancy
One contract, everyone namedThe classic house-share setup. Everyone signs one tenancy agreement for the whole property.
Joint and several liability — you're collectively responsible for the tenancy terms, and the landlord can pursue any one tenant for the full loss if someone else doesn't do their part.
The deposit is usually treated as one single deposit for the whole joint tenancy, even if you each paid a share.
The landlord can claim cleaning costs from the overall deposit if the property is left dirtier than at check-in. It doesn't matter if "you cleaned your room perfectly" — if communal areas are left in a worse state, the deduction hits the shared deposit.
Individual Tenancies
Separate contracts, one per room (common in HMOs)Each tenant signs their own agreement — often for a specific room with shared use of kitchen and bathroom.
You're typically responsible for your room and for shared areas to the extent your agreement says so.
Deposits are usually separate, and deductions are argued based on your individual obligations (room condition + shared-space responsibilities).
You pay for what you're responsible for under your contract. But landlords sometimes try to spread communal cleaning costs across everyone because the mess is in shared areas — whether that sticks depends on what each contract says and what evidence exists.
Lodger
You live with the landlordYou rent a room in your landlord's own home.
Different legal framework entirely. Deposit protection rules and dispute processes aren't the same as for assured shorthold tenants.
Deposit protection isn't legally required in the same way. Your rights depend on the agreement you have with your landlord.
This article is mainly for private renters (ASTs) in shared houses. If you're a lodger, the principles of returning things in good condition still apply — but the enforcement mechanisms are different.
The Rule That Applies in All Shared Houses
So the real standard isn't "professional clean" — it's: return the home to the check-in cleanliness level, allowing for fair wear and tear. That principle is reflected in the government's Tenant Fees Act guidance.
Whether it's a joint tenancy or individual, cleaning deductions usually stand or fall on three things:
The inventory shows what "clean" looked like
The check-in report is the benchmark
The check-out evidence shows it's worse
Photos, report, or clerk's notes documenting the difference
The cost is reasonable and linked to the problem
Not inflated, not a whole-house deep clean for one dirty oven
So… Who Pays in Practice?
Here's the straight answer by scenario — tap each one to see the full picture.
Who Pays? — By Scenario
Tap your scenario to see the answer, the reasoning, and how to handle it.
Joint tenancy — everyone moves out together
The deposit is one lump sum and the tenancy is one agreement, so deductions come out of the shared deposit. Because of joint and several liability, if one person refuses to contribute to cleaning, the others can still lose money.
How to handle it
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Agree in writing (even a WhatsApp message) how cleaning tasks/costs are split
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Assign ownership of communal areas and high-risk items (oven, extractor, fridge, bathrooms)
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Make one person responsible for organising proof (photos/video)
Joint tenancy — one person leaves, others stay
If you leave but the tenancy continues for the others, you usually can't force the landlord to return "your share" from the deposit scheme — because the tenancy hasn't ended. It's common for the incoming tenant to pay the outgoing tenant their share directly.
How to handle it
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Do a "mini check-out" with photos of your room and shared areas on your leaving day
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Get remaining tenants to confirm in writing the condition you left things in
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Keep all evidence — if the group gets hit with deductions later for mess that happened after you left, you can push back
Individual tenancies — you move out
Your room must match the check-in standard, and shared areas must meet whatever your agreement requires. But shared spaces are where disputes happen because "who caused what" is harder to prove.
How to handle it
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Clean your room to inventory standard — photograph everything
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Clean shared areas to the standard your contract requires
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If the landlord tries to allocate someone else's mess to you, ask for evidence linking it to your obligations
What If One Housemate Refuses to Clean?
If you're in a joint tenancy, the landlord doesn't have to play detective. They can deduct from the joint deposit if the house is left worse than it started. So your job is to make that outcome unlikely — even if one person is flaky.
Don't argue with the flaky housemate. Document the problem, mitigate it, and settle up separately. It's almost always cheaper than losing the deposit and fighting later.
If someone won't clean their area:
Put it in writing
Send a message: "X hasn't cleaned Y area — I'm concerned about deposit deductions." This creates a record.
Photograph the state of the area
Timestamped evidence of what they left behind protects you if there's a dispute between housemates later.
Clean it yourselves or agree to cover it
Not because it's "fair" — because it's usually cheaper than losing the deposit. Settle up separately afterwards.
The "Deposit-Safe" Plan for Shared Houses
This is the method that works in real life — even with imperfect housemates.
Pick a "cleaning lead" early
In joint tenancies, deposits are commonly handled through a lead tenant process with deposit schemes. Even where the scheme doesn't formally use that role, having one organiser stops chaos. This is particularly relevant in high-turnover rental areas such as Camden and Lambeth, where shared houses and HMOs are far more common than the London average.
Turn the inventory into a room-by-room target
Don't aim for "nice and tidy." Aim for "matches check-in." If the inventory says oven clean, the oven must be clean. If it says extractor filters clean, don't ignore them.
Split by risk, not by "fairness"
The biggest deposit deductions come from kitchens and bathrooms, so you might want to assign the person who's famous for being tidy and thorough on these tasks, even if you need to take them out for a pint afterwards. If there isn't such a person in your group, you might need to rely on the services of professional end of tenancy cleaners in London. Don't split cleaning as "everyone cleans their own room and that's it." Instead, assign ownership of the high-risk communal areas. Use the task splitter below.
Do a full photo + video walkthrough after cleaning
In shared houses, evidence has two jobs: it protects you against the landlord, and it protects you against your housemates. Video is especially useful because it shows continuity.
If someone refuses to do their part — document and mitigate
Put it in writing, photograph the problem, and if possible clean it yourselves and settle up separately. It's almost always cheaper than losing the deposit.
Shared House Task Splitter
Assign each cleaning area to a housemate. Focus on high-risk items first — these are where deposit deductions actually happen and getting your deposit back in full might not be possible.
Oven + grill + racks
Extractor fan + filters
Fridge / freezer + seals
Kitchen cupboards (inside)
Hob + surfaces + sink
Limescale + taps + shower head
Grout + sealant + mould
Behind toilet + base
Bathroom extractor fan
All floors + skirting boards
Windows (inside + tracks)
Walls + light switches + doors
Bins + rubbish disposal
What Landlords Actually Claim For in Shared Houses
Landlords can generally claim reasonable cleaning costs if the property is returned less clean than at check-in. In shared houses, the common triggers are predictable — and if you want a deposit-friendly approach, these are the areas you treat as non-negotiable.
Shared House Deduction Triggers
These are the specific areas that trigger deposit deductions in shared houses. Treat these as non-negotiable.
If the Landlord Proposes Deductions
Whether joint or individual, respond calmly and ask for these three things every time:
Itemised list of cleaning issues
Check-out evidence (photos / report)
Invoice or quote showing the cost
For a full breakdown of what landlords can and cannot deduct, including the betterment calculator, see our dedicated guide.
The Quick Answer
You all pay collectively. Everyone's deposit share is at risk if communal areas aren't done.
You pay for your room + whatever your contract makes you responsible for in shared areas. Protect yourself with evidence.
In joint tenancies, you still lose money unless the house meets check-in standard. Coordinate, take control, and document everything.
Professional End of Tenancy Cleaning With a Deposit-Back Guarantee
One professional clean covers the whole property — no arguments about who did what. If the landlord raises any cleaning issues, we come back and fix them free.
Deni is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience in content marketing and vast knowledge in the cleaning business. He specializes in creating engaging content that drives growth and builds brand identity. Passionate about innovation, Deni believes in delivering value through impactful messaging and providing value to readers in a concise and comprehensive manner.
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