What an end of tenancy clean covers

What a check out clean includes, whether a landlord can require one, and how it relates to getting a deposit back.

An end of tenancy clean returns a property to the standard it was let at, so the check out inventory matches the check in one. It is more thorough than a regular clean, and it is usually the largest single item in a deposit dispute.

What it usually includes

• Inside the oven, the hob and the extractor, which a regular clean leaves.
• Inside cupboards, drawers and the fridge and freezer, defrosted.
• Limescale off taps, showerheads, tiles and glass.
• Skirting, door tops, light switches and the inside of windows.
• Carpets cleaned where the inventory recorded them clean at the start.

Can a landlord require it

Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019 in England, a landlord cannot make a professional clean a blanket condition of the tenancy or demand a receipt from a particular company. What they can require is that the property is returned as clean as it was at the start, fair wear and tear aside. A professional clean is a way to meet that, not a fee they can impose.

End of tenancy cleaning is listed under cleaning on Halo Hive, with payment held until you confirm the work is done.

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Last reviewed 2026-09-28.