What 20 London Renters Taught Us
We spoke to 20 recent movers across London about their end of tenancy cleaning experience. Here's what they told us — and what it means for renters.
Key Findings
1. Most renters try to do it themselves — and regret it
14 out of 20 respondents attempted to clean the property themselves before the final inspection. Of those, 11 said they would "definitely" or "probably" hire a professional next time. The most common reasons: they ran out of time, didn't have the right equipment, or missed areas they didn't realise needed cleaning.
2. The oven is the #1 cause of deposit deductions
9 out of 20 respondents said their landlord or agent specifically flagged the oven as an issue. The second most common issue was bathroom grout (7 mentions), followed by carpets (5 mentions). Kitchen extractor fans were mentioned by 4 respondents — an area many renters forget entirely.
3. Renters don't know what "professionally cleaned" actually means
8 respondents said their tenancy agreement required the property to be "professionally cleaned" but they weren't sure what that included. Several admitted they thought vacuuming and wiping surfaces was sufficient. Only 3 respondents had seen a detailed cleaning checklist before moving out.
4. Time pressure is the biggest factor
16 out of 20 respondents said they had less than a week between giving notice and the final inspection. Many described trying to clean the property while simultaneously packing, organising removals, and starting a new job. Only 2 respondents planned the clean more than two weeks in advance.
5. Those who hired professionals were overwhelmingly satisfied
All 6 respondents who hired a professional cleaning service said they got their full deposit back. 5 of the 6 said it was "worth every penny" and 4 said they would recommend it to other renters. The most common comment: "I wish I'd done it sooner."
What Areas Did Landlords Focus On?
About This Study
We surveyed 20 renters who had moved out of a London rental property in the previous 6 months. Participants were recruited through our client base and local letting agent partnerships. The survey was conducted between January and March 2026 via online questionnaire and phone interviews. All responses are anonymous. This is an exploratory study and results should be interpreted accordingly.
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