What is an End-of-Tenancy Clean, and What Does it Include?

An end-of-tenancy clean is a thorough, professional clean of a property at the end of a lease, carried out by a tenant to hand the property back to the landlord in a tidy, clean state, ready for reletting to another tenant.

It’s therefore unique to the relationship between a landlord and a tenant.

They’re often arranged as a cleaning service and carried out by the tenant as they prepare to hand back their premises.

Still, a landlord can also be involved after any lease ends and take steps beyond what the tenant did to ensure it is correctly cleaned for the next tenant.

You may then have other third parties, such as managing agents, acting on behalf of landlord-owners to arrange this.

They mainly relate to residential properties, whether a small flat or a larger house, and can also relate to commercial buildings and be linked to any more significant issues of repairs and dilapidations.

So, in short, an end-of-tenancy clean is a tenant handing back the property nice and clean, just like they took it.

Why Do I Need an End-of-Tenancy Clean?

Strictly speaking, a landlord can’t force a full-on end-of-tenancy clean for residential properties under The Tenant Fees Act 2019, which banned any specific clause in the lease requiring it.

However, the general obligation remains to keep the building clean and tidy, and to hand it back in this condition. But that can be done however the tenant wants, including themselves, family, and friends.

Therefore, somewhere in the lease must be the reason for needing an end-of-tenancy clean, and it’s worth checking these specific requirements.

Hopefully, there’s an inventory or Schedule of Condition taken at the start of the lease that notes any existing problems, such as stained carpets or damaged items, that the tenant wouldn’t be expected to change during their tenancy.

The landlord may also hold a rent deposit, which should be held in a protected deposit scheme for residential properties. The main reason landlords don’t want to return all of this at the end is an issue with cleaning and the belief that the tenant hasn’t done it satisfactorily.

What Does an End-of-Tenancy Clean Include and Consist of?

As well as looking at what is explicitly stated in the lease and any inventory or Schedule of Condition, it is essential to remember the general principles of an end-of-tenancy clean.

Although a complete clean is needed, it allows for fair wear and tear by the tenant, reflecting everyday living and natural forces such as sunlight coming through the window and fading things.

So, if a tenant has been there for many years, carpets will get naturally worn, or scuff marks may appear on a solid floor. There may also be areas of painted walls or furniture that are fading over time.

Therefore, these sorts of things would not be expected to be improved by the tenant with residential properties, although they may do so with commercial property liabilities.

In terms of what is practically included in an end-of-tenancy cleaning and what it consists of, it’s basically a good form of spring cleaning.

All surfaces must be wiped appropriately, including removing cobwebs and areas at the ceiling level, skirting boards and picture or dado rails.

Dusting and polishing surfaces and furniture, like tables and sideboards, as well as windows, doors, and handles in the kitchen and bathroom areas, are essential.

And focus will be needed on taps and fittings, with a good scrub and disinfection, and on items like showers, baths, and toilets, which may even need built-up limescale and mould removed.

Plus any things like kettles, toasters, and microwaves.

Also, don’t forget other things like emptying and cleaning the bins and making sure the outside areas are swept and tidy and clarify whether you need to bring in any additional cleans, such as window clean, the whole carpet clean, and even an oven clean if it has been left in a bit of a state.

What to Do in an End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Task?

After you’ve looked at what’s included and the right end-of-tenancy clean specification for you, you can then get practical and start arranging this.

Start contacting local cleaning businesses to come in and do this, and make sure their quote is as accurate as possible based on your location, the size of the property, any extra services like carpet cleaning, and how far you need to go compared to your lease and actual inventory.

It is then worth an early dialogue with the landlord or tenant to try and come to an agreement of what would be expected before the actual lease end, ideally walking around the building with them and maybe even have a go at an end-of-tenancy clean yourself to see if they’re happy with or there are any specific items that you need to address yourself or with a cleaning company afterwards.

What is an End-of-Tenancy Clean for Yourself?

As you go through the above points, the starting point is to check an existing lease inventory and communication from the landlord-tenant or managing agent. Then start planning how and when you can carry this out before the lease, which can become more complicated when there are other moving-out plans.

It’s important to remember that this will all have to be done before you hand the keys back, as you won’t be able to get back into the property afterwards.

Then have a dialogue with the landlord to try to reach an agreement, and finally agree on a specification of what is included in an end-of-tenancy clean and what it consists of, so you can then crack on with it yourself or through a professional.