At the end of a tenancy, the landlord, letting agent or inventory clerk will usually compare the property’s condition against the original check-in inventory. They may look at cleanliness, damage, missing items, appliances and fittings, keys and other recorded aspects of the property, while allowing for normal wear and tear.
The exact check-out process varies between landlords, agents and properties. A final inspection is normally intended to record the condition in which the property was returned and provide evidence if there is later a disagreement about the tenancy deposit.
Use this checklist before handing the property back. Work through it alongside your original check-in inventory and photographs so you can compare the condition of each room before the final inspection.
Want a copy to take around the property? Download our printable two-page checklist and tick each item off as you prepare for check-out.
A check-out inspection commonly focuses on whether the property is reasonably comparable with its recorded condition at the start of the tenancy. Typical areas include:
Not every landlord or inventory clerk will test every item in exactly the same way. The signed inventory, check-in report and any photographs taken at the beginning of the tenancy are particularly important because they provide the baseline for comparison.
Cleanliness is one of the main things checked at the end of a tenancy. The inspection may look at floors, skirting boards, doors, surfaces, cupboards, windows, fixtures and other areas recorded in the original inventory.
For cleaning purposes, the important comparison is normally the condition recorded when the tenant moved in. Shelter England advises tenants to clean the property to the same standard as when they moved in and to keep evidence of the condition when they leave.
For a room-by-room breakdown, see our end of tenancy cleaning checklist.
The kitchen often receives close attention because grease, food residue and appliance interiors can be easy to compare against the original inventory photographs.
The inspection may also record whether supplied appliances or fittings appear damaged or missing. This is separate from the question of whether they have simply been left dirty.
Bathrooms are commonly checked for visible cleanliness and condition, including:
Damage, leaks or maintenance problems may also be recorded during a check-out, but responsibility for those issues depends on their cause and the tenancy circumstances. Cleaning and property damage should not automatically be treated as the same thing.
The check-out report may compare carpets, hard floors, rugs and supplied furniture with their recorded condition at check-in. The inspector may note visible dirt, staining, burns, tears, scratches or other changes.
Ordinary deterioration from normal use should be distinguished from cleaning problems or damage. A landlord should not treat normal wear and tear as tenant-caused damage simply because an item is older or more worn at the end of the tenancy.
Walls, doors, windows and fixtures may also be compared with the inventory. The report may record things such as significant new marks, broken fittings, cracked glass, missing handles or other obvious differences from the original condition.
For cleaning specifically, internal glass, frames, sills, doors, handles, skirting boards and other accessible surfaces are often part of an end of tenancy clean. Exterior or inaccessible windows may require a separate service.
The inventory may be checked to confirm that supplied furniture, appliances, fixtures and other recorded items are still present. Tenants should also remove their own belongings and rubbish before the property is returned.
Keys, access fobs or similar items may also need to be returned at the end of the tenancy. Shelter England notes that tenants will often hand their keys back at the end of the final check-out inspection.
The check-in inventory provides the baseline against which the final condition can be compared. A good inventory may record the contents, cleanliness and condition of rooms, furnishings, flooring, kitchen and bathroom fittings and other supplied items.
If a disagreement later arises about cleaning or damage, the check-in inventory, check-out report and photographs can become important evidence. Where there is little or no evidence of the property’s starting condition, it may be more difficult to establish that a tenant caused a particular change.
Normal wear and tear is different from dirt or tenant-caused damage. For example, gradual ageing and ordinary use should not automatically be treated in the same way as a new stain, broken fitting or property returned materially less clean than at check-in.
A check-out report should therefore be read alongside the starting inventory rather than treated as a standalone list of imperfections.
Useful evidence can include:
Shelter England recommends taking photographs or video when moving out and comparing the check-out report with the original inventory if a deposit deduction is disputed.
If the property is returned less clean than its recorded starting condition, a landlord may seek a reasonable cleaning deduction from the tenancy deposit where the evidence supports the claim.
That is different from automatically requiring tenants to purchase a professional cleaning service. In England, the Tenant Fees Act restricts the payments and service contracts that landlords and agents can require as part of a tenancy.
For a detailed explanation, see our guide to landlord cleaning charges and deposit deductions.
A thorough clean before the final inspection can reduce the risk of avoidable cleaning disputes. Tenants can clean the property themselves or choose to hire a cleaning company, provided the required standard is achieved.
Properly Services provides end of tenancy cleaning for tenants, landlords and letting agents, with the cleaning scope agreed before the booking.
You may also find these resources useful:
This guide combines Properly Services’ practical end of tenancy cleaning experience with current tenancy and deposit guidance. Exact inspection procedures vary between landlords, letting agents, inventory clerks and properties.