Getting your full deposit back when moving out of a rental in London comes down almost entirely to the condition of the property at checkout. Landlords and letting agents conduct thorough inspections against the inventory taken when you moved in — and the cleaning standard expected is consistently higher than most tenants anticipate.
This checklist covers every area that letting agents inspect, room by room. It is the same standard used by professional end of tenancy cleaners across London.
Before You Start: The Rules
| RULE 1 | The standard is ‘as found at check-in’, not ‘reasonably clean’. Your tenancy agreement and check-in inventory define the standard. The property must be returned in the same condition, accounting for fair wear and tear only. |
| RULE 2 | Photograph everything when you have finished. Date-stamped photographs of every cleaned area are your evidence if there is a deposit dispute. Take them immediately after cleaning, before you hand back the keys. |
| RULE 3 | Letting agents know what tenants miss. Experienced agents check these first: inside the oven, behind appliances, limescale on bathroom fixtures, inside cupboards, and the tops of door frames. This checklist covers all of them. |
Kitchen
The kitchen is where most deposit deductions happen. It takes the longest and needs the most attention.
Oven and hob:
- Clean oven interior completely — racks, base, walls, door glass, and door seal
- Degrease hob — all rings, surrounding surface, and underneath the hob tray where grease collects
- Clean extractor fan — including the filter (remove, degrease, replace or note if replacement needed)
- Clean inside the microwave — ceiling, walls, base, and door seal
Fridge and freezer:
- Defrost and clean the freezer completely — all drawers, shelves, walls, and drain hole
- Clean fridge inside — all shelves, drawers, walls, door seals, and drip tray if accessible
- Clean outside of fridge and the top
Other appliances:
- Clean inside dishwasher — filter, spray arms, walls, door seal, run empty hot cycle
- Clean inside washing machine — drum, door seal, detergent drawer, run empty hot cycle
- Degrease kettle and toaster exterior
Cupboards and surfaces:
- Clean inside all kitchen cupboards — shelves, walls, and door interiors
- Degrease all cupboard doors and handles — especially nearest the hob
- Clean all worktops and the backsplash behind them
- Clean the sink and taps — descale fully, including base of taps and overflow
Walls, fixtures, floor:
- Clean all kitchen walls and tiles — grease settles on all surfaces from cooking
- Wipe light switch and pull cord
- Clean skirting boards
- Wipe the top of the door frame
- Sweep and mop thoroughly including under appliances
Bathroom and En-Suite
Shower and bath:
- Descale shower head, taps, and shower rail
- Clean shower glass or curtain thoroughly — limescale on glass and mould on curtain seals are specifically noted on most checkout reports
- Clean shower tray or bath — remove all limescale and soap scum
- Clean bath panel and the gap at the floor
- Regrout or clean grout lines — black or pink mould in grout is a standard deduction
WC:
- Clean toilet bowl inside fully — including under the rim
- Clean toilet seat, lid, and base
- Clean behind the toilet, around the cistern, and floor around the base
- Clean outside of cistern including the top
Basin:
- Descale basin taps and clean the bowl
- Clean waste plug and overflow
Fixtures and floor:
- Clean inside bathroom cabinet — shelves and door interior
- Clean mirror streak-free
- Wipe extractor fan cover — remove if possible and wash
- Clean all wall tiles and grouting
- Wipe skirting boards, light pulls, and switches
- Clean floor thoroughly including behind the door and corners
- Remove any mould from floor-wall junctions
Living Room and Reception
- Dust and wipe all surfaces including shelves, window sills, and mantelpiece
- Clean inside the fireplace or firebox if applicable
- Wipe all light switches and plug sockets
- Clean light fittings and any wall lights
- Clean all windows inside — glass, frames, and sills
- Wipe all doors — both sides, the frame, and the top of the frame
- Clean blinds — wipe each slat
- Vacuum and wipe curtain tracks or poles
- Vacuum carpet thoroughly — move furniture to vacuum underneath
- Clean skirting boards full length of the room
Bedrooms — Repeat for Each
- Clean inside all wardrobes — shelves, floor, and hanging rail
- Wipe tops of wardrobes — a standard inspection point
- Clean all windows inside — glass, frames, and sills
- Wipe all doors inside and out, and the top of each door frame
- Wipe light switches and plug sockets
- Vacuum carpet or mop hard floor
- Clean skirting boards
- Dust and wipe all surfaces
Hallway and Stairs
- Clean front door inside and out — door, frame, and letterbox
- Wipe banister, spindles, and newel post
- Vacuum or clean stair carpet — each tread and riser
- Clean all doors in the hallway
- Sweep and mop the floor
- Wipe skirting boards
Throughout the Property — Never Miss These
| IMPORTANT | These apply to every room and are the most commonly missed items on checkout reports. Agents check these specifically because they know tenants skip them. |
- Inside all cupboards and storage spaces
- Tops of all door frames — standard inspection point, consistently overlooked
- Light switches and plug sockets throughout
- All windows — inside glass, frames, and sills
- Skirting boards throughout the entire property
- Extractor fan covers in kitchen and bathroom
- All built-in appliances — clean inside and out
The Most Common Deposit Deductions
| Cause | How Common | Prevention |
| Oven not cleaned | Most common of all | Clean thoroughly or book a professional oven clean |
| Limescale on bathroom fixtures | Very common in London | Descale all taps, shower heads, and glass |
| Inside kitchen cupboards not cleaned | Common | Empty and wipe every shelf inside |
| Mould in bathroom grout or sealant | Common | Clean grout lines, treat mould with appropriate product |
| Tops of wardrobes/door frames not wiped | Very common | Include in your checklist explicitly |
| Marks on walls | Common | Small marks = fair wear and tear. Large marks = charged |
Professional End of Tenancy Cleaning in Fulham
Maid in Fulham provides end of tenancy cleaning across Fulham, Parsons Green, Chelsea, West Kensington, Hammersmith, Clapham, and Battersea. Our service follows this exact checklist and comes with a 72-hour re-clean guarantee.
| Property Size | Typical Cost |
| Studio / bedsit | £100–£130 |
| 1 bedroom flat | £130–£160 |
| 2 bedroom flat | £160–£220 |
| 3 bedroom house | £220–£280 |
| 4+ bedrooms | £280–£380+ |
| BOOK | Call +44 7787 898743 or book here. We can typically accommodate bookings within 24–48 hours, including weekends. |
