What Is Included in End of Tenancy Cleaning? (Full Scope)

When you book an end of tenancy clean, you are paying for a defined scope of work — not just a few hours of tidying. Knowing exactly what is included, and what is not, is how you compare quotes fairly, avoid paying twice for the same job, and make sure the clean actually meets the inventory check-out standard your deposit depends on. This guide sets out what a professional end of tenancy clean covers as standard across Berkshire and Surrey, which jobs are usually priced as add-ons, what falls outside cleaning altogether, and how the service differs from a regular domestic clean.

What's included as standard

An end of tenancy clean is priced and delivered against a room-by-room specification that mirrors the inventory clerk's check-out. Every provider words it slightly differently, but a proper move-out clean should always cover the following as standard.

Kitchen

• Oven fully degreased inside — racks, trays and door glass where accessible
• Hob, extractor hood and filter degreased; splashback and tiles cleaned
• All cupboards and drawers cleaned inside and out, including handles
• Fridge and freezer defrosted and cleaned inside and out (where left in place)
• Washing machine and dishwasher — drum, door seal, detergent drawer and filter
• Sink and taps descaled and polished; worktops and floor washed, including behind and beneath appliances where they can be reached

Bathrooms and en-suites

• Toilet, basin, bath and shower descaled, sanitised and polished
• Tiles and grout cleaned; shower screens and glass descaled to clear
• Mirrors, cabinets, extractor vents and radiators wiped
• Limescale removed from taps, showerheads and surrounds
• Floors washed into corners and along the edges

Bedrooms, living areas and throughout

• Full dusting of every surface, shelf, skirting board and picture rail
• Doors, frames, handles, light switches and sockets wiped
• Fitted wardrobes and cupboards cleaned inside and out
• Cobwebs removed; radiators, vents and extractor points cleaned
• Internal windows, sills and ledges cleaned

Floors, glass and finishing detail

• All hard floors vacuumed and mopped; carpets vacuumed throughout
• Internal glass and mirrors cleaned streak-free
• Skirting, edges and hard-to-reach corners detailed
• Bins emptied and cleaned; obvious marks spot-cleaned from paintwork

For a printable, tick-box version of the full specification, use our room-by-room end of tenancy cleaning checklist — it is the exact list a professional clean works to.

Common add-ons (usually priced separately)

Some jobs are genuinely optional or not needed in every property, so they are quoted as clearly-priced add-ons rather than bundled into the base price. Being charged separately for these is normal — the point is that they are listed and priced up front, not sprung on you later.

• Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning — hot-water extraction, often required by the tenancy agreement (see our carpet & upholstery cleaning service and carpet cleaning cost guide)
• External window cleaning — the inside of windows is standard; the outside is usually extra
• Wall washing and spot-cleaning beyond light marks
• Garages, balconies, conservatories and outbuildings
• Mattress cleaning where furniture is left in place

Because these vary so much by property, an end of tenancy clean should be quoted as a fixed price by property size and condition, with any add-ons itemised — see our end of tenancy cleaning cost guide for Berkshire for realistic 2026 ranges.

What's not included

An end of tenancy clean restores the property to a clean, inventory-standard condition. It does not fix things that go beyond cleaning, and no clean can compensate for damage or wear. The following are normally outside the scope of any move-out clean:

• Repairs, redecorating, filling holes or touching up paint
• Removing tenant belongings, rubbish or bulky waste — the property should be empty first
• Garden, patio, decking or driveway work
• Treating damp, structural mould or pest problems — these are maintenance issues for the landlord, not cleaning
• Moving heavy or fixed furniture and white goods that cannot be shifted safely

If any of these are flagged on your inventory, they are separate from the clean — but a good end of tenancy service will point them out so nothing is a surprise at check-out.

How end of tenancy cleaning differs from a regular clean

The scope above is far wider than a regular domestic visit. A weekly clean maintains an occupied home; an end of tenancy clean returns an empty property to a documented standard. That difference shows up in what is included, how it is priced, and how it is judged.

A deep clean sits between the two — more intensive than a regular clean, but without the inventory-standard, deposit-focused finish of an end of tenancy clean. Our deep clean cost guide explains where each one fits.

How to check the scope matches your tenancy

1. Ask for the specification in writing, with the room-by-room scope and any add-ons itemised.
2. Match it to your inventory check-in report so the clean targets exactly what will be inspected.
3. Check your tenancy agreement for a professional carpet-cleaning clause before you book — many Berkshire and Surrey tenancies require it.
4. Confirm there is a re-clean guarantee with a clear window, so a flagged cleaning point is put right free.
5. Book the clean for after your belongings are out, so every surface can be reached and cleaned to standard.

The Berkshire EcoClean approach

We deliver end of tenancy cleaning across Berkshire and Surrey to the full standard specification above, priced as a fixed job by property size and condition with any add-ons itemised up front. Carpet and upholstery extraction is available as a clearly-priced option, and every clean is backed by a 72-hour re-clean guarantee and finished with plant-based products that are safe for the next occupants. For an exact figure, request a free fixed quote or check availability and book online.

Written by the Berkshire EcoClean team from hands-on operational experience across Berkshire & Surrey. Pricing figures cite published UK sources and are reviewed every six months.