Moving out? Here's what letting agents in London actually check – and how to finally get your full deposit back.
So, you've done the big clean. The floors are vacuumed, the surfaces are wiped, and you're feeling pretty good about getting your full deposit back. You hand over the keys, breathe a sigh of relief… and then, a few weeks later, the email arrives. They're keeping £150 for "professional cleaning."
If this has ever happened to you, you're not alone. The truth is, letting agents and landlords have a checklist of sneaky spots that most renters completely miss. And in a city like London, with its hard water and busy rental market, the bar is set high.
We've been inside hundreds of South London properties after tenants have moved out. We've seen what passes inspection and what gets money deducted. Here's the inside scoop on what agents are actually looking for – and how you can stop them from keeping your cash.
The One Thing That Guarantees a Deduction (Hint: It's the Oven)
If you only deep-clean one thing, make it the oven. Agents will pull out the racks, check the grill pan, and peer into the glass door. If they see baked-on grease or burnt-on food, they'll note it down. It's that simple.
A quick wipe with a sponge won't cut it here. Oven grime is stubborn, and it's the number one reason tenants lose part of their deposit. If you're doing it yourself, you'll need a heavy-duty degreaser and a lot of patience. Or, you can save yourself the stress and bring in a professional end of tenancy cleaning team who know exactly what inspectors want to see.
London's Hard Water Nightmare: Limescale
If you live anywhere in South London, you know the struggle with limescale. That white, chalky build-up on your shower head, taps, and glass screen? Agents hate it.
Here's the thing: limescale isn't just considered "dirt" – it's seen as damage if it's been left too long. It can etch glass and ruin chrome fixtures. Before your inspection, give your bathroom a serious once-over. Use a proper limescale remover on taps, scrub the shower screen, and don't forget to check under the toilet rim. In a city with water as hard as ours, this step is non-negotiable.
The Fridge, Freezer, and the Defrost Dilemma
This is such an easy one to get right, yet it's missed all the time. Agents will open your fridge and freezer. If there's any leftover food, spills, or – worst of all – a freezer caked in ice, they'll flag it.
You need to defrost your freezer completely. Like, 24 hours before the inspection, completely. A freezer full of ice tells the agent you didn't put the effort in. Also, wipe down every shelf in the fridge and make sure it's dry and smell-free.
Where the Dust Bunnies Hide
You've cleaned the obvious stuff, but have you checked the skirting boards? The tops of kitchen cupboards? Behind the fridge? Agents run a finger along these surfaces. If it comes back dusty, they'll know you skipped the details.
Here's a quick checklist of spots that are easy to overlook:
- Inside kitchen cupboards and drawers (especially the tops of the doors)
- Light switches and door frames (greasy fingerprints show up here)
- The extractor fan filter in the kitchen – it's probably greasy – clean it or soak it
- Behind and under appliances – pull things out if you can
💡 Pro tip:
Take time-stamped photos after your clean. If there's a dispute, you'll have proof.
So, How Do You Actually Pass?
The best way to protect your deposit is to think like an inspector. Before you hand over the keys, do a walk-through with a torch. Get low and look at the skirting boards. Look up at the corners of the ceiling for cobwebs. Open every cupboard.
And if the thought of scrubbing an oven and de-scaling a shower makes you want to cry, that's totally fair. That's why a lot of tenants in places like Clapham, Brixton, and Peckham choose to book a professional end of tenancy clean. It's an upfront cost, sure, but it's way cheaper than losing your whole deposit.
At Dalyan Rose, we clean properties across South London every single day. We know exactly what letting agents in Lambeth, Southwark, and Wandsworth are looking for because we've been doing this for years. We follow a strict checklist to make sure your place is spotless – from the oven glass to the bathroom grout.