End of Tenancy Cleaning for Student Accommodation

Assign specific tasks to each housemate in writing. Don’t just divide by room-divide by task type. One person handles all ovens and hobs, another takes all bathrooms. This prevents the “I thought someone else was doing that” problem.

Set a group deadline several days before the actual checkout. This gives you buffer time to fix anything that wasn’t done properly. Trust us on this one. Someone will forget or do a half-hearted job.

Pool money for shared supplies before everyone leaves. Buying one good oven cleaner and splitting the cost beats five people buying cheap products that don’t work.

All personal items removed completely. Not reduced-removed. They charge by the bag for anything left behind, and those fees add up fast. That broken lamp you planned to throw out? It needs to go with you.

Furniture returned to original positions as shown in your room guide. Staff check this against photos from September. Moving beds, desks, and wardrobes takes longer than you’d think, especially in narrow corridors.

Kitchen cupboards emptied and wiped. Food gets thrown away regardless of expiry dates. They won’t store your half-used bag of rice for the next tenant. Clear everything including spices and condiments.

The shared kitchen causes the most deposit disputes in student housing. Too many cooks and not enough cleaning creates problems nobody wants to own. But the landlord will make everyone pay equally.

Oven needs proper degreasing inside, outside, door glass, and all racks. Hob surfaces require scrubbing until they’re actually shiny. Check under the hob cover if it lifts-spills hide underneath.

Fridge and freezer must be defrosted, emptied, and cleaned including door seals. Bin area needs attention including inside the cupboard door. Empty cupboards and wipe all surfaces. Don’t forget the microwave inside and out.

Student bathrooms see heavy use. Multiple people showering daily means limescale and soap buildup happens faster. Mould grows quicker with all that moisture. Both need proper treatment.

Toilet bowl requires cleaning inside and underneath the rim. Shower screen needs descaling completely. Check grout lines for mould and scrub with appropriate cleaner or bleach solution.

Taps and showerhead should be descaled until they shine. Mirror edges collect spray residue. Floor behind the toilet hides dust and worse. Silicone seals may need mould treatment too.

Your bedroom reflects your individual responsibility. Unlike shared areas, any problems here fall squarely on you. The good news is you control the outcome without relying on housemates.

Pull furniture away from walls and vacuum behind everything. Dust skirting boards along the full length. Wipe down all surfaces including wardrobe tops and desk areas. Check for marks on walls.

Windows need cleaning inside with sills wiped. Light fixtures collect dust-wipe them down. Empty all drawers and wardrobes completely. Mattress should be checked if you didn’t use a protector.

Photograph everything after cleaning with your phone’s timestamp visible. Take wide shots of each room plus close-ups of potential problem areas. The oven deserves multiple angles.

If you hire professionals for move out cleaning, keep every receipt and email confirmation. This proof often settles disputes immediately. Landlords accept professional cleaning as meeting their standard.

Attend the checkout inspection if possible. Seeing issues firsthand lets you address them before they become formal claims. Some problems take five minutes to fix when spotted early.

Light fittings and ceiling fans collect dust all year. Inside bin cupboards smell and need cleaning. Radiator tops hide dust layers. Door handles get grimy from constant use.

Garden areas in student houses often get forgotten entirely. If you have outdoor access, basic tidying is expected. Remove any rubbish, sweep pathways, and clear anything you’ve left out there.