The End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist

When a deposit dispute goes to adjudication, the property doesn't have to be spotless in the abstract. It has to be handed back as clean as the check-in report says it was received. Fair wear and tear applies to the condition of a property (worn carpet pile, faded paint) but not to cleaning: dirt isn't wear and tear. Cleaning is one of the most common causes of deposit deductions, and most of those arguments come down to whether anyone can show what was actually cleaned.

This is the set checklist every Regiment end of tenancy clean follows. Use it to check a property yourself, brief another cleaner, or see exactly what you're getting when you book us. Print it, tick it off, keep it with the check-out report.

Print This Checklist

Before the clean: four things that make it work

• Defrost the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours ahead (they can't be cleaned around ice)
• Remove your belongings where possible (cupboards can't be cleaned inside if they're full)
• Keep the electricity and hot water on (a clean without hot water isn't one)
• Arrange access: keys, codes, parking, whatever the property needs

Doing it yourself vs booking a professional

There's no legal requirement to use a professional cleaner at the end of a tenancy. What matters is the standard, not who achieves it. A thorough DIY clean against this checklist can absolutely pass a check-out. The honest trade-off is time and equipment: ovens, limescale and carpets are where DIY cleans most often fall short of the check-in standard, and they're also the items most often flagged in check-out reports.

If you'd rather have it handled, with the checklist as your evidence trail, that's exactly what our end of tenancy clean is. Carpets needing more than a vacuum can be added to the quote up front.