End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist: What Landlords Check in London

If you are renting in London, getting your deposit back comes down to one thing: how clean the property is when you hand it over. Landlords and letting agents in London are thorough — they know exactly where to look. This checklist covers everything they check, room by room.

Kitchen — The Highest Scrutiny Area

Letting agents spend the most time in the kitchen. Miss a spot here and it is the first thing they photograph.

• Inside the oven — every surface, door, and shelf. This is the single biggest deposit deduction point
• Hob and extractor fan — no grease or burnt-on food
• Fridge and freezer — cleaned inside and out, defrosted, switched off with door ajar
• All cupboard fronts — inside and out, including handles and hinges
• Worktops — no stains, crumbs, or sticky residue
• Sink and drainer — polished, no limescale, no debris in the plug
• Floor — mopped, no grime under the fridge or units (they will pull them out)
• Windowsills and frames — dust-free
• Light switches and plug sockets — no marks or fingerprints

Living Room & Hallway

• All surfaces dusted — skirting boards, window ledges, picture rails, shelves
• Floors hoovered and mopped — under furniture, behind doors, in corners
• Carpets — professionally cleaned if stained. Landlords often require receipt proof
• Radiators — dusted between and behind each panel
• Light fittings and switches — no cobwebs or dust
• Windows — streak-free inside and out (ground floor only)

Bedrooms

• Built-in wardrobes — cleaned inside and on top
• Under the bed — vacuumed and dust-free
• All surfaces — window ledges, shelves, skirting boards
• Carpets — hoovered, spot-cleaned
• Curtains or blinds — dusted

Bathroom

• Toilet — cleaned inside and out, including behind the base
• Shower and bath — no limescale, no mould on sealant, glass doors streak-free
• Sink — polished, no toothpaste or water marks
• Mirror — streak-free
• Tiles — wiped down, no soap scum or mould
• Floor — mopped, especially behind the toilet and under the sink
• Extractor fan — dust-free

What Letting Agents Check That Renters Miss

• Inside kitchen cupboards: They open every single one. Crumbs or spills lose points
• Behind white goods: The fridge, washing machine, and dishwasher get pulled out
• Top of wardrobes and cabinets: Dust accumulates there for months
• Under the sink: Leaks, grime, and forgotten rubbish
• Inside the oven: Checked with a torch. Burnt-on food is an automatic deduction
• Blinds: Dust on individual slats is noticed
• Light bulbs: Working bulbs required. Replace any that have blown

End of Tenancy Clean — Book Professional Help

Our end of tenancy cleaning service covers every item on this checklist. Six hours of professional cleaning by a DBS-checked, insured cleaner. All products and equipment included.

Book online in two minutes — if you are not satisfied, we re-clean at no extra cost.