- The standard you are judged against is the check-in inventory, not a brand new home.
- Ovens, limescale, carpets, skirting boards and the inside of cupboards are the areas most often checked.
- In England and Wales your deposit must go into a government-approved scheme within 30 days, and in Scotland within 30 working days of the tenancy starting.
- Landlords cannot take money from your deposit for reasonable wear and tear.
- Every approved scheme offers free dispute resolution if you disagree with a deduction.
Start with your check-in inventory
Before you pick up a cloth, find the check-in inventory and any photos from the day you moved in. This is the record the landlord or agent will compare against at check-out. If the oven was already stained or the carpet already worn, the inventory should say so.
If you never received an inventory, take your own photos of every room now and keep them with the date. Read your tenancy agreement for any cleaning terms, so you know what you agreed to, such as cleaning curtains or the garden.
Kitchen checklist
The kitchen is where most cleaning deductions come from, because grease and food build up in places you do not see every day. Give it the most time.
- Oven, hob, grill pan and racks degreased, inside and out, plus the extractor hood and its filter
- Fridge and freezer emptied, defrosted, wiped and left with the doors ajar if switched off
- Inside and outside of every cupboard and drawer, including the tops of wall units
- Sink, taps and draining board descaled, plughole clear
- Tiles, splashback and grout wiped, worktops cleared and cleaned
- Washing machine drawer and seal, dishwasher filter, microwave inside and out
- Floor swept and mopped, including behind and under appliances you can move safely
Bathroom checklist
Limescale and mould are the two things inspectors look for. Descaler needs time to work, so apply it first and clean the rest of the room while it sits.
- Toilet inside and out, including the base, hinges and behind the cistern
- Bath, shower tray, screen and tiles free of limescale and soap scum
- Taps, shower head and plugholes descaled and clear of hair
- Grout and sealant cleaned, with any mould treated
- Mirror, cabinet, extractor fan cover and light fittings wiped
- Floor cleaned right into the corners
Bedrooms, living areas and hallways
These rooms look clean at a glance, so it is easy to miss the details. Work from the top of the room down, so dust falls onto floors you have not cleaned yet.
- Skirting boards, door frames, doors and handles wiped
- Light switches and sockets cleaned, cobwebs removed from ceilings
- Inside wardrobes, drawers and any furniture provided by the landlord
- Windows inside, frames, sills and tracks; curtains or blinds dusted
- Radiators wiped, including the gaps where dust collects
- Carpets hoovered thoroughly, hard floors mopped
- All belongings and rubbish removed, including from lofts, sheds and the garden
How deposit protection works in England
If you rent privately in England on an assured tenancy, your landlord or letting agent must put your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. Most assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies on 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act, and deposit protection still applies. The three schemes in England and Wales are the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
Once you and the landlord agree how much you will get back, the landlord must return it within 10 days. If you disagree, the money stays protected in the scheme until the dispute is settled. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 a landlord in England cannot make you pay for a professional clean at check-out. You do have to return the property as clean as it was at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear.
How deductions and fair wear and tear work
A landlord or agent can only take money from your deposit if there is a good reason, and you can ask for the reasons in writing. Common reasons are cleaning needed to bring the property back to its check-in standard, damage beyond normal use, missing items and unpaid rent.
Fair wear and tear means the gradual decline that comes from normal living: faded paint, carpet worn along a walkway, furniture that ages. Landlords cannot charge for it. Deductions should reflect the actual loss, so a landlord should not expect you to pay for a brand new carpet to replace one that was already several years old.
If you disagree, use the scheme's free dispute resolution service. Both sides send evidence and an adjudicator decides. You usually have to raise the dispute within 3 months of moving out, and the decision is final. Your photos, the inventory and any cleaning receipts are your best evidence.
What is different in Scotland and Wales
In Scotland the landlord must lodge the deposit with one of three approved schemes, Letting Protection Service Scotland, mydeposits Scotland or SafeDeposits Scotland, within 30 working days of the tenancy starting. At the end, the scheme tells you about any proposed deductions and you have 30 working days to respond. If you do not reply, the landlord gets the deductions they asked for, so keep an eye on your email.
In Wales most renters have an occupation contract under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. The landlord must protect the deposit within 30 days and give you information about the scheme. Rules can change, so check the current guidance on gov.uk, mygov.scot or gov.wales for where you live.
How AYS can help
On AYS Concierge you enter your postcode and see cleaners who cover your area, then describe the property and ask for free quotes with no obligation. Share your check-in inventory and mention the oven, carpets and windows so the quote covers what will be checked. You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before the clean starts.
Questions people also ask
How long does an end of tenancy clean take?
It depends on the size of the property and its condition. A small, well kept flat can be done in a few hours by one person, while a family house with a heavily used oven and limescale in the bathrooms can take a full day or a team. Leave the property empty before the clean starts, so every surface and cupboard can be reached.
Can my landlord make me use a professional cleaner?
In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 means a landlord cannot require you to pay for a professional clean or use a particular cleaning company. You must still return the property in the condition it was in at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. If you clean it yourself to that standard, the landlord has no reason to deduct for cleaning.
Should I clean the carpets at the end of my tenancy?
Check your inventory and tenancy agreement. If the carpets were clean at check-in, they should be clean at check-out, allowing for normal wear along walkways. A thorough hoover is the minimum. Stains, pet odours or marks from furniture are where a deep carpet clean can help, as the landlord can claim the cost of putting them right.
What if my deposit was never protected?
Write to your landlord and any letting agent first, as many return the deposit once they receive a letter. If that does not work, you may be able to apply to court. A court can order the landlord to pay compensation of between one and three times the deposit. Citizens Advice can help you with the steps and letters.
- GOV.UK: Tenancy deposit protection
- GOV.UK: Tenancy deposit disputes and problems
- Citizens Advice: Getting your tenancy deposit back
- GOV.UK: Tenant Fees Act 2019 guidance for landlords and agents
- mygov.scot: Getting your tenancy deposit back
- GOV.WALES: Deposits guidance for tenants
Rules can change. Check the official pages above for the latest position.
