How to Pass a Foxtons Checkout Inspection
If you've rented through Foxtons, you know the system runs tightly — the branded Minis, the My Foxtons portal, everything documented and trackable. Their checkout process is no different. Independent clerks, a specific cleaning specification, and a deposit dispute route through mydeposits. The mechanism is standardised, which is actually good news: if you understand how it works, you can use it.
Deductions can appear on your portal within days of move-out. The tenants who avoid them are the ones who read the check-in report, match the condition it documented, and attend the checkout with evidence. Here's exactly how to do that.
How the Foxtons Checkout Process Works
Four stages, clearly structured — and the evidence trail runs through all of them.
Independent clerk inspects the property
On the last day of your tenancy, an independent inventory clerk (not a Foxtons employee) carries out the checkout. They work through every room comparing current condition against your check-in report. You have the right to attend — and you absolutely should.
Report uploaded to My Foxtons
The checkout report is uploaded to your documents folder on the My Foxtons portal, typically within three days of move-out. Download it and read it carefully as soon as it appears. Compare it line by line against your check-in report.
💡
Log into My Foxtons and set up email notifications so you know the moment it's uploaded.Landlord proposes deductions (up to 10 days)
Your landlord reviews the checkout report and has up to 10 days to propose deductions through the portal. Deductions appear itemised — you'll see what's being claimed and why.
💡
Don't automatically accept. Review every line against your check-in report and your own dated photographs.Negotiate, accept, or escalate to mydeposits
You can accept, counter, or dispute deductions through the portal. If you can't reach agreement, the disputed portion is frozen while the rest of your deposit is released. The unresolved amount goes to mydeposits for independent adjudication.
💡
The adjudicator never visits the property. Everything is decided from documents — your photos and receipts are your only tools.The Foxtons Cleaning Specification
Foxtons publishes a cleaning specification in the My Foxtons portal that outlines exactly what standard the property should be returned in. Most tenants never read it. Reading it changes everything.
📋 What you should do
Log in to My Foxtons, find the cleaning specification in your documents, and treat it as a physical checklist. Work through it room by room before the checkout. This is the exact document Foxtons uses to evaluate the property — there's no reason not to have it in your hands.
⚖️ Do you have to book through Foxtons?
No. Foxtons offers a cleaning booking option through the portal — it's a convenience, not an obligation. What matters is the result. If the property matches your check-in report standard, you've met your obligation regardless of who did the cleaning.
The benchmark that matters most: Find the cleanliness description in your check-in report. If it says "professionally cleaned throughout" — that's the standard you're held to. If it says "domestically cleaned" or notes existing issues — those same caveats apply in your favour. The check-in report is your benchmark, not the specification. The question of whether your landlord can demand a professional clean is answered entirely by what was documented at the start.
What Foxtons Tenants Actually Get Caught On
These patterns come up consistently in tenant discussions on Reddit, Trustpilot, Mumsnet, and MoneySavingExpert. They're not unique to Foxtons — but understanding them helps you prepare for what the checkout clerk is likely to focus on.
Tap any issue to see what happened and what to do instead.
Cleaning
Very common
Deducted for professional cleaning despite cleaning thoroughly themselves
Tenant cleaned the property themselves — thoroughly, they felt. A deduction was proposed for a professional clean. The landlord's basis: the check-in report stated 'professionally cleaned throughout.' The standard was set at check-in; matching it at checkout requires the same level.
Read the check-in report before starting. If it says 'professionally cleaned,' you need to meet that standard — whether you do it yourself to that level or hire a professional. Keep a receipt as evidence either way. Our 72-hour re-clean guarantee exists for exactly this situation.
Avoidable with prep
Furniture
Common
Charged for furniture not returned to original rooms
Tenant had moved furniture during the tenancy — a bookshelf to a different bedroom, dining chairs into the living room. The checkout flagged discrepancies against the inventory. The landlord claimed for the cost of returning items to their documented positions.
Foxtons explicitly warns tenants about this. Before checkout, check every item listed in the check-in inventory against its documented location and move anything that's shifted. This takes 20 minutes and costs nothing.
Entirely preventable
Inventory
Occasional
Charged for items tenant says were never in the property
Tenant was charged for missing inventory items they believed were never in the property to begin with. Because the check-in inventory was accepted without amendment, disputing it after the fact became significantly harder.
This is the move-in mistake with checkout consequences. Always read, walk through, and challenge the check-in inventory at the start. Anything missing or inaccurate should be flagged in writing within the amendment window. An unchallenged inventory is effectively agreed.
Hard to remedy at checkout
Bathroom
Common in certain areas
Mould and limescale deductions in older conversions
Mould around bathroom grout and sealant flagged at checkout. Common in period conversions across areas like Islington and Camden where bathroom ventilation is limited. The tricky part: if it's structural, it's the landlord's problem. If it's lifestyle (no extractor fan use), it may be the tenant's.
removing mould from rented flatsour limescale guide covers the bathroom specifically. If the ventilation was always inadequate, report it during the tenancy — in writing — so there's a maintenance trail.
Often avoidable if addressed before checkout
Walls
Common
Wall damage from TV brackets, shelving, and picture hooks
Tenant had mounted a TV and put up floating shelves. At checkout, Rawlplug holes, visible filler marks in the wrong shade of white, and scuffed areas around removed brackets were noted. Foxtons' own guidance is explicit: you're responsible for returning walls to their original condition.
Fill holes with the right filler, sand flush, and touch up with paint that matches the existing wall. Use the same shade and finish — the wrong white is worse than no repair. If you're unsure of the shade, Foxtons or your landlord may have the original paint spec. Small pin holes from picture hooks are generally accepted as fair wear and tear.
DIY fixable before checkout
Your Foxtons Pre-Checkout Checklist
Work through this before your checkout day. It's ordered by risk level — kitchen and bathroom first, often-forgotten areas last. Tick items as you go.
Foxtons Pre-Checkout Checklist
Tick items as you complete them. Critical items are marked — do these first.💻
My Foxtons — before you do anything
Start here
Log in to My Foxtons and download your check-in inventory from the documents folder
CRITICAL
Read the Foxtons cleaning specification (also in the portal) — this is the standard you'll be compared against
CRITICAL
Note the cleanliness description in the check-in: 'professionally cleaned' vs 'domestically cleaned' — your benchmark depends on this
CRITICAL
Review where every piece of inventory furniture is documented — note anything that's moved during your tenancy
🍳
Kitchen — highest checkout risk
High risk
Oven interior: scrub walls, base, ceiling, door glass (both sides), seals, and racks. The most commonly flagged item in London checkout reports
CRITICAL
Extractor fan filter: remove and soak. Most tenants forget this exists until the clerk lifts it out
CRITICAL
Behind the fridge and washing machine: pull out, mop the floor, wipe the wall. Accessible only now
CRITICAL
Inside all cupboards and drawers: check for crumbs, sticky residue, any food left behind
Hob and splashback: degrease thoroughly — grime between burner rings and under hob edges
Dishwasher and washing machine interiors: clean filter, drum, and rubber seals
Sink and taps: limescale on chrome, under the rim, in the drain
🚿
Bathroom — second highest risk
High risk
Grout lines: scrub every line — discolouration is one of the most noted bathroom findings
CRITICAL
Mould on sealant: treat and remove. If severe, sealant may need replacing before checkout
CRITICAL
Shower screen or curtain: limescale, water marks, soap scum — compare against check-in photos
CRITICAL
Taps, showerhead, basin: descale thoroughly, especially in hard-water areas (most of London)
Toilet: limescale under the rim, cistern exterior, base around the pan
Bath: marks, chips, staining — cross-reference condition against check-in report
🖌️
Walls and fixtures
Medium risk
TV brackets, shelving holes, Rawlplug fixings: fill, sand flush, and paint to match — Foxtons is explicit that this is your responsibility
CRITICAL
Small picture hook holes: generally accepted as fair wear and tear, but check your tenancy agreement
Skirting boards: wipe full length of every room — including sections that were behind furniture
Light switches and plug sockets: wipe off finger marks and grime
Door handles: marks around handles are noted at checkout — clean both door face and handle surround
🛋️
Furniture and inventory
Don't overlook
Return all inventory furniture to its documented position in the check-in report — Foxtons flags this specifically
CRITICAL
Check every inventory item is present and in similar condition to check-in
CRITICAL
Curtains and blinds: clean, hanging correctly, no stains or damage
Upholstery: no new stains beyond check-in record — treat any marks before the inspection
⚠️
Often forgotten — do these last
Missed constantly
Window tracks: run a cloth through every window track in the property — clerks check these routinely
CRITICAL
Light fittings and shades: dust inside pendant shades, check all bulbs are working
Remove all personal belongings: loft, garden shed, under stairs, inside every cupboard and drawer
CRITICAL
Garden and bin area: cleared and clean — tenants are responsible for this
Take meter readings and photograph them before leaving
Photograph everything: every room, every appliance interior, every surface — dated and timestamped
CRITICAL
After cleaning: Take dated photographs of every room, every appliance interior, and every surface before leaving. These are your evidence if anything is disputed through mydeposits. The adjudicator works from documents only — no site visits.
If Deductions Are Proposed
Don't panic, and don't accept automatically. Everything runs through the My Foxtons portal, which means there's a clear paper trail. Here's how to respond.
Review checkout report against check-in — line by line
If an issue existed at the start and was documented in the check-in report, say so — with page references. The comparison is your primary argument. Our guide on what landlords can legally deduct covers exactly what's enforceable and what isn't. See what landlords can legally deduct.
Provide your photographs as counter-evidence
If the deduction is for cleaning and you cleaned to the documented standard, your dated photos are your case. Submit them through the portal as evidence alongside your written response.
Challenge inflated costs with independent quotes
If the claimed cost seems disproportionate, get an independent quote for the same work. Deductions must reflect actual loss — not inflated market rates. A comparable quote from a reputable company carries real weight. See our pricing page for a reference point on London end-of-tenancy cleaning costs.
Escalate to mydeposits if you can't agree
The undisputed portion of your deposit is released immediately. The disputed amount goes to mydeposits for independent adjudication. The adjudicator works from documents only — no site visits. Your check-in report, checkout report, photos, and receipts are everything. See how long the deposit return process takes.
Remember: The deposit is legally your money until the landlord demonstrates otherwise. That's not a Foxtons rule — it's how all deposit protection schemes work. The burden of proof sits with the landlord. Weak evidence, vague claims, or unsupported costs will not succeed at adjudication.
Foxtons Areas — What to Know for Your Borough
Foxtons operates across much of London. The specific issues that come up at checkout vary by property type and borough — here's what to watch for in the areas where they're most active.
Let us handle the clean — with a re-clean guarantee
We clean to Foxtons' specification standard and back every job with a 72-hour re-clean guarantee. If anything is flagged at checkout, we come back at no cost.
Related Pages
Renting through Foxtons across London?
We cover every borough Foxtons operates in. Get a quote and we'll confirm availability for your area and moving date.
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.
View all posts by Deni Ivanov →