Handing a rented home back

An end-of-tenancy clean is a practical job with a slightly tense audience. The person who checks the house may not be the person who booked the clean. It helps to know what you are aiming at.

Start with the list you were given

If the agent has an inventory or a checkout guide, that is the document that matters. Some ask for inside ovens, internal windows and emptied cupboards. Some are vaguer. Quote the list in your enquiry, in ordinary words, and we will say what we can take on.

Wear and tear is not dirt. A clean does not repaint scuffed walls or replace a cracked tile. If you are unsure whether something is damage or fair wear, that question belongs with the agent or the deposit scheme, not with a promise from a cleaner.

Empty what you want cleaned inside

Cupboards, the fridge and kitchen drawers need to be clear if they are on the list. A cleaner should not have to pack your plates. Bins should be empty enough to be cleaned, and food should be gone.

Carpets are a common sticking point. This website does not advertise specialist carpet cleaning. If the inventory requires a professional carpet clean with a receipt, ask us before you assume it is included.

Time on moving day

Vans, lifts and checkout appointments collide. Book the clean for when the rooms are actually empty, and leave a phone number that works if the van is late. We would rather move the time than clean around a sofa that is about to leave.

Nothing on this site promises that your deposit will be returned. If the clean is not carried out with reasonable care, tell us and read the refund and cancellation policy. The statutory position is separate from whatever the agent writes on a checkout form.