As a tenant or as a landlord, the period at the end of your tenancy agreement can be a stressful time. From the tenant’s perspective, if you’re not renewing, you’ve got to find, view and secure somewhere new to live or work out of. From the perspective of a landlord, if this is your business, you need to get your property ready and source a new tenant. At the end of the day, you can’t make money without someone living in your property paying the rent.
One of the biggest tasks at the end of a tenancy agreement is to get the property clean in full working order. As a tenant, doing a good job is key as this will likely result in you getting as much of your deposit back as possible. In order to do this, you have to tick all the boxes, which is why we have put together this complete end-of-tenancy cleaning checklist.
We have also created a downloadable PDF so you can take this on the go (scroll to the bottom to download).
End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist
Our end-of-tenancy checklist is designed to help tenants and landlords with their cleaning. The aim is to have the property look as good as it did when they first saw it. Here at Assertio Services, we specialise in helping landlords and tenants alike with their end-of-tenancy cleaning with our professional cleaning service, so our experts know a thing or two about cleaning rental properties.
Before you Start
Before you jump straight into furiously cleaning the first surface you see, there are a few general cleaning tips we would like to impart to ensure you stay focused and get the best results. The first tip would be to gather all the necessary cleaning supplies before you start. Are you missing anything? If you are, get it before you get stuck in as you are likely to lose enthusiasm if you have to stop halfway through cleaning. Or worse, you’ll just miss out on that section entirely.
Our second tip is to work from the top down. If you do it the other way around, you’re likely to move dust onto a section you’ve just cleaned, doubling your work. Our final piece of wisdom is to work room-by-room, doing it methodically will ensure you cover the whole property.
Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide
We have broken down our cleaning checklist by room to help you focus your efforts in one specific area, thus improving the overall cleaning standard across the property.
Kitchen
Below are the must-clean areas of the kitchen.
- Clean all kitchen appliances including the oven, microwave, fridge, and dishwasher.
- Pay attention to any extractor fans and the hob. Use a strong hob cleaner to get the best results.
- Wipe down all countertops and cabinets, both inside and out. Be sure to remove any stains and stagnant dust.
- Scrub the sink and taps, paying attention to the drains as well. Limescale and general grime may build here, so be sure to use a strong cleaning agent. We would advise using a drain unblocker also.
- Mop the floors, vacuum where necessary and finally empty the bins. It is also worth sanitising your bins to remove any odours.
Bathroom
The bathroom can be a hub for germs and bacteria. Here are our non-negotiables.
- Scrub and disinfect the toilet, sink, and bathtub/shower, including drains. Use a strong bleach where necessary to remove any unwanted stains. Drain unblocker may be required for shower and sink drains where hair is likely to have built up.
- Descale Shower and Taps, making sure to attend to the showerhead(s).
- Remove any smudges, stains or fingerprints from mirrors and bathroom tiles. Putting in a small amount of effort utilising a decent polish and cloth will go a long way in improving the overall appearance.
- Remove dust from towel rails and other handles.
- Wipe down any extractor fans, removing dust and grime.
- Empty bins and mop floors. Consider sanitising bins if necessary.
Living Room and Bedrooms
You’re likely to have spent a lot of time in the living room and bedrooms of the property. Below are some essential cleaning tasks you should do at the end of your tenancy agreement.
- Dust and wipe down all surfaces, including skirting boards. Don’t forget to wipe down window sills also.
- Vacuum carpets or mop floors where necessary. Address any stains with a good stain remover. Only apply stain remover after vacuuming and removing excess dirt and debris.
- Clean windows, blinds, and curtains. You may need to steam clean your curtains, so allow time for this.
- Remove any markings on the wall, if permitted. Some landlords would rather you left them untouched so they can have professionals come in and fix them.
- Ensure furniture is clean, dust-free and in the correct place. For example, if your sofa cushions have a stain, aim to have the stains removed by machine washing them.
Hallways and Common Areas
Hallways are typically where you spend time moving from one room to another. This means the floors tend to gather dirt and surfaces go unnoticed gathering dust.
- Wipe down doors, handles, and light switches. Be sure to wet-dust these surfaces to remove as much dust as possible.
- Dust and clean any shelving or built-in storage. These are areas that commonly get overlooked and dust builds up quickly.
- Vacuum and mop floors. If stains are present, use a good carpet stain remover after vacuuming.
Download Our End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist PDF
To download our end-of-tenancy cleaning checklist PDF, click the link below
[Button – Link to Checklist]
Don’t Want the Hassle? Hire Professional End of Tenancy Cleaners
Cleaning an entire property can be a daunting prospect, one that you may not even feel prepared to do. If that’s the case, why not consider hiring professional end-of-tenancy cleaners to come and service your property? Our team here at Assertio Services is well-versed in delivering outstanding results for properties at the end of their lease.
For more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. For more guides such as this one, head to our blog for industry secrets and professional cleaning advice.
