Preparing for Checkout: The End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Guide

A cleaning checklist can help you prepare for checkout and document the condition you leave the property in. Compare it with your inventory and discuss any specific requirements before booking.

We clean to the agreed checkout checklist and provide photos of the work. We cannot guarantee a tenancy deposit refund: the landlord or agent's decision also depends on the tenancy, inventory and any issues beyond cleaning. Our re-clean guarantee covers missed work within the agreed scope; see our Terms for details.

What Letting Agents Actually Check

Letting agents don't just do a quick walk-through. A professional inventory check-out is thorough. Here's what they look for:

• Oven (including grill pan, trays, and door glass)
• Extractor fan and filter
• Fridge and freezer (including seals and underneath)
• All bathroom surfaces — tiles, grouting, sealant, taps, and showerhead
• Limescale on taps, shower screens, and toilets
• Skirting boards and door frames
• Inside windows and window sills
• Light switches and plug sockets
• Carpets (vacuumed and stain-free)
• Marks on walls (especially near light switches)
• Bins (cleaned and emptied)
• Garden or outdoor areas if applicable

The Most Common Deduction Reasons

Pay particular attention to these areas when checking the property against your inventory:

Why DIY Often Isn't Enough

Most tenants underestimate how much time and effort a true letting-agency-standard clean takes. Ovens alone can take 1–2 hours. Bathroom grouting requires specialist products. What looks clean to the naked eye won't necessarily pass a professional inspection.

Common DIY mistakes include:

• – Using the wrong products (leaving streaks or residue)
• – Missing hidden areas (behind appliances, inside cupboards)
• – Not defrosting the freezer fully
• – Not treating limescale properly — wiping doesn't remove it

How J&M Helps You Prepare for Checkout

Our end-of-tenancy service is specifically designed to meet letting agency standards. Here's what sets us apart:

• Photo documentation of the clean
• An agreed checklist based on your checkout requirements
• Bathroom and kitchen cleaning within the agreed scope
• Oven and fridge interior cleaning are an optional bundle at £60, adding 1 hour to the schedule. They are not included in the base deep-clean or end-of-tenancy price. The bundle price does not change with your loyalty tier.
• Urgent slots subject to availability
• Report missed work within 24 hours; our Terms explain the re-clean guarantee and exclusions

New-customer regular cleaning is £20/hour with a 2-hour minimum. Deep and end-of-tenancy cleaning use £30/hour: 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms start at £90, £150, £225 and £300. Oven and fridge interiors are an optional £60 bundle. These are estimates for the selected scope; any additional work and price must be agreed before it begins. There is no automatic condition surcharge. Get a current estimate at jmcleaning.uk/#instant-quote or book at jmcleaning.uk/book.

Get a current J&M estimate.