How to Prepare for End of Tenancy Cleaning Guide
Moving out of a rented property can feel overwhelming, especially with the looming pressure of the checkout inspection and your securing deposit hanging in the balance. Preparing your home for end of tenancy cleaning is a critical step to ensure the process goes smoothly and meets the landlord’s standards. This guide will walk you through everything you need to do to get your property ready for professional cleaners and the final inspection from start to finish. Consider this your how to guide for setting up the stage for a professional end of tenancy cleaning.
Understand the Landlord’s Expectations
Before anything else, check your tenancy agreement and inventory list. Landlords often outline specific cleaning expectations that must be met. Pay attention to:
- Areas requiring deep cleaning (e.g., carpets, windows, or the oven).
- Any clauses about professional cleaning.
- Expected condition compared to the move-in inventory report.
Declutter and Remove All Personal Items
Professional cleaners need an uncluttered space to work efficiently. Here’s how to tackle decluttering::
- Remove belongings: Pack and move your personal items out of the property before the cleaners arrive. This includes furniture, clothes, and decorations unless they were part of the rental.
- Empty drawers and cabinets: Leave all storage areas completely empty for a thorough clean.
- Dispose of unwanted items: Recycle or donate anything you don’t plan to take with you. Arrange for bulky waste collection if necessary.
Defrost the Fridge and Freezer
If your rental includes a fridge or freezer, defrost it at least 24–48 hours before the cleaning session. Here’s how:
- Unplug the appliance and remove all food.
- Place towels to absorb water from melting ice.
- Wipe down shelves, trays, and drawers once defrosted.
Repair Minor Damage if Any Exists
Inspect the property for minor wear and tear and address what you can:
- Fill small holes left by picture hooks or nails using wall filler.
- Replace light bulbs or batteries in smoke alarms if they’ve burned out.
- Tighten loose screws on fixtures like cupboard handles or toilet seats.
Clear Out Rubbish and Take Out the Bins
- Empty all indoor and outdoor bins.
Taking out the rubbish isn't part of the end of tenancy cleaning regardless of what most of your friends might have told you. Generally the sales agent of the cleaning company would advise you if they do that as a part of their regular service or if it adds up as an extra, but by default you can not expect cleaners to take out the rubbish even if it's packed. There are many reasons for that, some of them legal, so unless the cleaning company has a written notice about you wanting specific bags to be thrown out, they won't take the rubbish out for you. Make sure you show up after the cleaning session is concluded as things like that might be overlooked otherwise.
- Recycle cardboard, glass, and plastics properly.
Again, when it comes to recyclable rubbish it's the responsibility of the tenant to make sure that's done. Cleaners aren't going to do the recycling for you.
- Arrange for bulky waste or excess rubbish removal if necessary.
You might potentially have to remove large bulky rubbish or furniture items prior to the cleaning as the large furniture could get in the way and end of tenancy cleaners aren't going to move furniture for you, which could result in issues with the checkout. If you had your own furniture in the property that hasn't been moved, make sure you you remove it prior to the cleaning.
Arrange for Required Utilities For the End of Tenancy Cleaning
Before cleaning begins, ensure utilities like electricity, water, and gas remain connected for the cleaning team’s equipment. The cleaners will require hot water, running water as well as electricity. The sales agent will advise you about that, but as you're already reading our how to prepare guide it's a good idea to mention that as well.
At the end after the cleaning has been completed you can ensure to do the followint two steps as well:
- Take final meter readings and inform your utility providers.
- Settle outstanding bills or arrange for account transfers.
Secure Keys and Property Access
To avoid delays or miscommunication, arrange access for the cleaning team prior to the end of tenancy cleaning. Normally there is a half an hour or a full hour timeframe for the cleaners to arrive. With the hectic traffic in London though, cleaners are rarely punctual. That is even more severely pronounced during the high season from July through to the end of September. To avoid issues with that and to ensure your day and schedule aren't going to be messed up you can do these two things:
- Leave a set of keys in a safe and accessible location or hand them over directly.
- Inform cleaners of security systems, codes, or special instructions.
Inform the Cleaning Team of Any Special Requests
While professional cleaners typically follow a standard end-of-tenancy checklist, let them know if:
- There are specific areas requiring extra attention like pet related messes or urine stains from small children for example.
- Any appliances need special cleaning (e.g., a self-cleaning oven or delicate countertops), hidden areas or anything that might be helpful to them, but isn't visible at a first glance.
- You have concerns about odors (e.g., from smoking or cooking). There isn't much they could do to entirely remove the lingering odor of a household where smokers have lived, but they could do their best to make the place look as fresh as possible by shampoeing carpets and steam cleaning curtains for example.
Conduct a Pre-Cleaning Inspection
Before handing over the property to cleaners, do a final walkthrough:
- Ensure no personal items remain. We have already mentioned this before, but it's one of the most important prerequisites for a successful end of tenancy cleaning.
Check all rooms thoroughly, including behind furniture and in closets, to ensure nothing is left behind.
- Check cupboards, drawers, and behind furniture for overlooked items, as if you don't many of the things could be left to the checkout inspection and it's usually considered that the items will have to be disposed off (for a fee from another company that deals with rubbish removals)
Make sure storage areas are completely empty to allow for a thorough clean.
- Confirm all fixtures and appliances are in working order.
Address any minor issues, such as replacing lightbulbs or fixing loose screws.
Budget for Additional Services
Some cleaning tasks may require specialized services that aren’t included in standard end-of-tenancy cleaning:
- Carpet steam cleaning or shampoo cleaning.
Highly recommended for properties with carpets, especially in high-traffic areas such as the living room, hallways, staircases and landings.
- External window cleaning.
May be necessary for properties with easily visible or dirty windows. External window cleaning is often part of the end of tenancy cleaning, but only if the windows the necessity for ladders and special equipment and are reachable from the inside.
- Upholstery cleaning for rented furniture.
Essential if the property came furnished with sofas or other fabric items.
Check with your cleaning company to book these services in advance if needed.
The professional cleaning crew normally follows a detailed and exhaustive end of tenancy cleaning checklist so you could eventually ask for it and check with the cleaning crew what they've done. Keep in mind that if the cleaning took place in the morning, they would probably have a second appointment in the afternoon so you might have to check their work on your own. An additional thing to remember is that some companies would have taken photographic evidence of their work being complete, so make sure you take photos of your own to compare and avoid discrepancies.
Document the Property’s Condition
Once the professional cleaning is done:
- Take high-quality photos of each room as evidence of its condition.
Photographs should clearly show the cleanliness and any improvements made.
- Compare the cleaned property to the move-in inventory report.
Highlight areas of improvement and confirm everything matches the initial condition.
- Share these photos with your landlord or letting agent.
This helps support your deposit return and demonstrates your efforts.
Final Thoughts
Preparing your property for end-of-tenancy cleaning doesn’t have to be stressful. By decluttering, addressing minor repairs, and ensuring access for cleaners, you can streamline the process and increase your chances of getting your deposit back in full. A little preparation goes a long way toward a smooth move-out experience!
Need help with your end-of-tenancy cleaning? Contact our trusted team of experts for a hassle-free service tailored to your needs.
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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