You've lived in your flat for a year or two. You've been a decent tenant. Now you're moving out and staring at a £350 cleaning deduction on your deposit return statement. This is one of the most common — and most preventable — things that happens to London renters. According to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, cleaning disputes account for over 50% of all deposit deductions in England. With London deposits typically running £1,500–£3,500+, this room-by-room checklist is the most useful thing you'll read before moving out. See also: how to get your full deposit back in London.
Why Letting Agents Inspect So Thoroughly (and What They're Actually Looking For)
Your tenancy agreement almost certainly has a clause requiring you to return the property in the same condition it was handed over — fair wear and tear excepted. Agents use a detailed check-out report against your original check-in inventory, often with side-by-side photos. The standard isn't "clean enough to live in" — it's "clean enough to relet tomorrow." In London's rental market, where void periods cost landlords hundreds per day, agents enforce that standard hard. Most tenants underestimate the gap between their clean and what an agent considers acceptable. The kitchen oven is where nearly every dispute starts.
Kitchen Checklist
The kitchen is the most scrutinised room. Agents specifically check inside ovens, under hobs, and behind appliances — areas most tenants miss.
- Oven interior: degrease racks, cavity, glass door, and door seal
- Hob: remove and clean burner caps and drip trays
- Extractor fan: clean filters and outer housing
- Fridge/freezer: defrost, wipe interior shelves and drawers, clean seals
- Dishwasher: clean filter, wipe door seals, run empty cycle with cleaner
- All cupboards: inside, outside, and door fronts (including hinges)
- Sink and taps: descale, polish, clean around sealant edges
- Walls and splashback: degrease any cooking splatter
- Behind and underneath appliances if accessible
Bathroom and Wet Room Checklist
Hard water in London means limescale builds up fast. Grout, shower heads, and taps must be descaled, not just wiped.
- Shower: descale head, clean screen or curtain, scrub tray and waste drain
- Bath: remove limescale, clean taps, polish chrome
- WC: inside the bowl (including under the rim), cistern top, seat and hinges
- Sink: descale and polish basin and taps, clean pedestal
- Tiles and grout: scrub with appropriate cleaner
- Mirror: streak-free clean
- Extractor fan: wipe grille
- Sealant lines: remove any mould or mildew
Bedrooms and Living Areas
These rooms look simpler but the details catch people out — especially window tracks and behind radiators.
- Carpets: professional hot-water extraction or equivalent deep clean
- Hard floors: mop and remove any scuff marks
- Skirting boards: wipe entire length including corners
- Window sills, frames, and tracks (inside)
- Light switches and plug sockets: wipe clean
- Doors and door frames: remove fingerprints and scuffs
- Wardrobe and storage interiors: wipe shelves, vacuum base
- Radiators: clean between fins and top surface
- Mirrors and glass: streak-free
- Light fittings and shades: dust and wipe
Hallway, Stairs, and Communal Areas
Often overlooked in the rush to clean individual rooms, these areas are among the first things seen on check-out.
- Staircase: hoover each step, wipe balustrades
- Front door and letterbox: clean inside face and handles
- Any storage cupboards: clear out and wipe down
- Loft hatch or meter cupboard if applicable: dust and accessible surfaces clean
Professional Clean vs DIY
A professional end of tenancy clean typically takes 4–8 hours for a 1–3 bed property and follows the same checklist above, documented with a dated invoice. Most letting agencies accept this as proof of professional cleaning, which removes their ability to charge for cleaning from your deposit. For a standard 1-bed flat in London, expect to pay £108–£135. Compare that to a deposit deduction, which agents typically calculate at full cleaning costs plus admin — often £200–£400. The maths usually favour booking a professional. DS Cleaners provides a dated invoice accepted by all major London letting agencies.