Moving out of a London rental? Use this room-by-room checklist to make sure your property passes the inventory clerk's inspection — and get every penny of your deposit back.
The average deposit in London is between £1,800 and £2,400. Landlords and letting agents use detailed inventory checklists to find anything that hasn't been cleaned to the move-in standard — and even tiny oversights like limescale on taps or grease in the oven can cost you hundreds. Here's a room-by-room checklist of everything you need to cover before your checkout inspection.
Why Inventory Clerks Find So Much
Professional inventory clerks are trained to find dirt in places most tenants never think to clean. They'll open every cupboard, check inside the oven, run a finger along the tops of door frames, and inspect the seal on your fridge. They work from the original inventory report and will note every discrepancy. The good news is that if you clean to the same standard the property was in when you arrived, you have a strong case for your full deposit.
Kitchen — The Highest-Risk Room
The kitchen is where most deposit disputes start. Grease and food residue build up in places that are easy to overlook during a regular weekly clean.
- Inside the oven, grill, and microwave — including trays, racks, and the glass door
- Extractor fan filter (most tenants forget this entirely)
- Inside all cupboards and drawers — wipe shelves, remove crumbs
- Behind and under appliances if accessible
- Descale the kettle and clean inside the dishwasher filter and drum
- Clean the fridge inside and out, including the door seals and shelf beneath the salad drawer
- Wipe all worktops, splashbacks, and tiles
- Clean the sink and taps, removing limescale
- Mop the floor including any edges against units
Oven cleaning is the single most common reason for deposit deductions in London. If you don't have the right products and time, it's worth paying a professional to do this room alone.
Bathroom — Limescale is the Enemy
London has some of the hardest water in the UK, which means limescale builds up quickly on taps, showerheads, and tiles. Inventory clerks know this and will check for it specifically.
- Remove limescale from all taps, showerheads, and chrome fittings
- Clean the toilet including under the rim and around the base
- Scrub grout lines — mould in grout almost always results in a deduction
- Clean the bath or shower enclosure, including the door and any soap scum on glass
- Wipe the mirror, cabinet fronts, and any shelving
- Wash the shower curtain or replace if necessary
- Clean the extractor fan cover
- Wipe skirting boards and any tiles behind the toilet
Bedrooms and Living Areas
- Vacuum all carpets thoroughly and treat any visible stains
- Clean inside windows (and outside if you can safely reach)
- Dust and wipe blinds, or wash curtains if applicable
- Wipe skirting boards, door frames, and light switches
- Clean under and behind furniture where dust collects
- Wipe any marks from walls using a magic eraser
- Empty, wipe, and clean all wardrobes, drawers, and shelving
- Dust light fittings and remove any dead insects from inside shades
Hallways and Stairs
- Vacuum carpeted stairs including the edges where dirt accumulates
- Wipe bannisters and handrails
- Clean any mirrors or glass panels in the hallway
- Wipe the front door (inside and any panel glass)
- Clean storage cupboards or loft hatches if included in your tenancy
The Hidden Spots Inventory Clerks Always Check
These are the areas that trip up even the most conscientious tenants:
- Behind the toilet
- Inside kitchen cupboard hinges and corners
- The rubber seal on the fridge door
- Under the washing machine drum door seal (a common spot for mould)
- Tops of door frames
- Window sills and the tracks inside double-glazed frames
- Radiator sides and tops
- The cooker hood and any filters inside it
Should You DIY or Use a Professional?
End of tenancy cleaning is fundamentally different from a regular deep clean — it needs to meet the standard that a trained inventory clerk is looking for, and letting agents can tell the difference. If the property fails a checkout inspection, your landlord will arrange a professional clean and deduct the cost from your deposit at their own rates.
A professional end of tenancy clean from a service like Scrubbr typically costs £150–£320 depending on property size — far less than the average deposit deduction — and comes with a satisfaction guarantee. If your landlord isn't happy, we'll come back and put it right.
Moving out in SW London?
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