Moving out of a rented property? Cleaning disputes are the single biggest cause of deposit deductions in the UK , accounting for more than half of all Tenancy Deposit Scheme cases every year. This is the exact room-by-room checklist used by XS Clean Services on every professional end of tenancy clean across Richmond, Twickenham, Kingston, Wimbledon, Putney and South West London.

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General Areas , All Bedrooms, Living Room, Hallways & Stairs

Dusting & Surfaces

  • Dust all ceilings, walls and cornicing
  • Clean all light fittings and lampshades
  • Wipe all light switches and electrical sockets
  • Dust dado rails, skirting boards, spindles and banisters
  • Wipe curtain rails and poles
  • Clean all wall pictures and mirrors
  • Wipe fire surround inside and out
  • Dust and wipe all radiators , front and back
  • Remove all cobwebs from ceilings, corners and behind furniture
  • Wipe all wooden furniture carefully clear of dust

Glass & Windows

  • All glass surfaces cleaned and polished , furniture tops, mirrors, picture frames
  • Windows cleaned internally throughout the property
  • All windowsills wiped down
📎 Add-on available: External window cleaning , recommended for tenancies of 12 months or more.

Floors

  • Carpets professionally shampoo cleaned using hot water extraction
  • All hard floors , wood, laminate, vinyl and tile , thoroughly washed and dried

Soft Furnishings & Upholstery

  • Curtains vacuumed on site; condition noted for property management records
  • All upholstered furniture vacuumed, cushions lifted and cleaned underneath
💡 Pro tipCurtain rails, lampshades and the tops of door frames are checked in most inventory reports but are consistently overlooked in DIY cleans , among the most common sources of deposit disputes.
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Kitchen

Appliances

  • Oven, cooker and hob , fully degreased inside and out, including door glass
  • Extractor fan and filter , degreased and cleaned
  • Refrigerator and freezer , fully cleaned, defrosted and dried
  • Dishwasher , filter, spray arms, door seal and interior cleaned
  • Washing machine , soap drawer removed and cleaned, rubber door seal cleaned, drum wiped

Cupboards, Drawers & Surfaces

  • All kitchen cupboards cleaned inside and out , shelves, doors and handles
  • All drawers cleaned inside and out
  • All work surfaces cleaned and disinfected

Tiles & Sink

  • All wall tiles and splashbacks washed and polished
  • Sink descaled, cleaned and polished
  • Taps fully descaled and polished
⚠️ London hard waterSouth West London has some of the hardest water in England. Limescale builds rapidly on taps, sinks and tiles. Standard household products cannot remove established deposits , professional-grade descalers are required to pass an inventory inspection.
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Bathroom

  • Toilet , descaled inside bowl, cistern wiped, full exterior polished
  • Bath , descaled, cleaned and polished including overflow and plug
  • Shower screen or bath screen , descaled, cleaned and polished to streak-free finish
  • Sink and basin , descaled, cleaned and polished
  • All taps , fully descaled and polished
  • All mirrors , descaled, cleaned and polished
  • All tiles , descaled, washed and polished including grout lines
  • Bathroom floor , cleaned and dried
💡 On groutGrout lines are specifically checked in inventory reports. Discoloured or mouldy grout that was clean at check-in is a deductible item. Professional tile and grout cleaning can restore most grout to its original colour.
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8 Areas Most Often Missed, and Most Often Deducted

These are the areas inventory clerks check first, and the ones most consistently found uncleaned in DIY cleans:

  1. 1
    Inside the oven , The most common single failure point. A proper clean takes 45–90 minutes with specialist degreasing products.
  2. 2
    The extractor fan , Grease accumulates inside the filter and is clearly visible during inspection.
  3. 3
    Inside kitchen cupboards and drawers , Crumbs, spills and residue inside storage are checked as standard.
  4. 4
    Washing machine rubber door seal , Mould and detergent residue here is frequently missed.
  5. 5
    Skirting boards , Dust and scuff marks are inspected in every room.
  6. 6
    Taps and shower screens , Limescale deposits are very common in South West London properties.
  7. 7
    Light fittings and lampshades , Easily overlooked from floor level but always checked.
  8. 8
    Behind and underneath white goods , Dust behind fridges and washing machines is checked at checkout.

XS Clean Services , Deposit-Back Guarantee

Every end of tenancy clean we carry out is backed by our deposit-back guarantee. If your checkout report flags any area related to our cleaning, we return to fix it free of charge. We work with letting agents and landlords across Richmond, Twickenham, Kingston, Wimbledon, Putney, Barnes, Hammersmith, Chiswick and throughout South West London.

Ready to Book Your End of Tenancy Clean?

Call us for a free, no-obligation quote , or use the contact form on this website.

Get a Free Quote

📞 020 3488 7559  ·  Mon–Sat 8am–7pm  ·  Richmond & South West London

Frequently Asked Questions

What is end of tenancy cleaning?

End of tenancy cleaning is a professional deep clean of a rented property when a tenant moves out. It covers every surface, appliance and fitting and is designed to return the property to the same standard of cleanliness recorded in the original inventory report.

Can my landlord insist on professional cleaning?

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords in England cannot require tenants to use a specific professional cleaning company. However, if the property is not returned in the same state as at check-in (allowing for fair wear and tear), the landlord is entitled to deduct cleaning costs from the deposit.

Does end of tenancy cleaning include carpet cleaning?

Carpet cleaning is available as an add-on service charged separately. It is strongly recommended for tenancies of 12 months or more. XS Clean Services uses hot water extraction. The most effective professional method.

How long does an end of tenancy clean take?

A one-bedroom flat typically takes 3–5 hours. A two-bedroom property takes 5–7 hours. Larger or heavily soiled properties take longer. We always schedule enough time to complete every item on the checklist properly.

How much does end of tenancy cleaning cost in London?

Typically £150 for a studio flat to £400+ for a three-bedroom house, depending on size and condition. Call us on 020 3488 7559 for a no-obligation quote tailored to your property.

Ready to Get a Quote?

Call us, message us on WhatsApp or use our contact form. We usually come back to you the same day.

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