Room-by-room checklist to ensure you get your full deposit back. Includes kitchen, bathroom, living areas and those easily forgotten spots.
You've packed the last box, handed back the keys, and breathed a sigh of relief. But weeks later, a letter arrives: they're keeping £150 for "professional cleaning." If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. According to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, cleaning is the most common cause of deposit disputes – but it's also the most avoidable.
The difference between a full deposit return and a deduction often comes down to the little things: a greasy oven, limescale on the shower head, dust on top of the kitchen cupboards. Letting agents have a checklist, and if you miss even a few items, they'll note it down.
This guide covers everything – from the obvious (vacuuming) to the sneaky (inside the oven door, behind the fridge, under the toilet rim). Use it as your final walk-through, and you'll dramatically increase your chances of getting every penny back.
📸 Pro tip:
Take time-stamped photos after you finish each room. If there's a dispute, you'll have proof of the condition when you left.
🪑 Living Room & Hallway
🍽️ Kitchen
This is the room agents scrutinise most. Be thorough.
🚽 Bathroom
London's hard water means limescale is your biggest enemy.
🛏️ Bedrooms
🧹 General & Final Touches
🧠 The "Agent's Finger" Test
Before you lock up, do a final walk-through pretending you're the letting agent. Run your finger along the top of door frames, picture rails, and window sills. If it comes back dusty, clean it. Open every cupboard and look up – are there cobwebs? Check inside the oven again (agents do).
In Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth and across South London, letting agents are particularly strict about limescale and oven cleanliness – the hard water means they see a lot of it, and they know what to look for.
💡 Should You Just Hire a Professional?
Let's be honest – this list is long. Doing it all yourself takes a full day (or two) of hard labour, and if you miss something, it could cost you hundreds. That's why many tenants in Croydon, Bromley, and Greenwich choose to book a professional end of tenancy clean.
A professional team will:
- Follow a checklist exactly like this one (or even more detailed)
- Use industrial-grade products to tackle limescale and oven grime
- Provide a completion report and photos for your records
- Offer a 48-hour re-clean guarantee – if the agent finds anything, we come back free
And the cost? Usually less than a week's rent – and way less than losing your deposit.
Whether you DIY or call in the pros, using a checklist is the best way to protect your deposit. Bookmark this page, print it out, and tick off each item as you go. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.