End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist Edinburgh: What Agents Actually Check

The kitchen accounts for more deposit deductions than any other room in Edinburgh properties. Agents check inside the oven first — this is the single most commonly flagged item. They inspect the door glass (including between the panes), racks, grill pan, and oven interior walls. Clean the hob surface and all burner surrounds. Inside the fridge-freezer including door seals — Edinburgh agents open every door and check every shelf.

Edinburgh tenement kitchens often have limited ventilation, which means grease builds up faster on extractor hoods and splashbacks. Clean the extractor fan filter (remove and soak it if possible). Wipe inside every cupboard — remove crumbs and wipe shelves. Clean the worktops, splashback, sink, taps and drain cover. Mop the floor including behind the fridge and washing machine — Edinburgh agents routinely pull appliances forward to check behind them.

Edinburgh water is hard. Limescale builds up on taps, showerheads, shower screens and around plug holes faster than almost anywhere else in Scotland. Letting agents know this and they check specifically for it. Descale every fitting thoroughly. Clean the toilet bowl, seat, cistern and base — including behind the toilet where dust and grime accumulate against the wall.

Scrub the shower tray, tiles and grout. If grout has discoloured, agents may note it but typically will not deduct if the tiles themselves are clean. Check the silicone sealant around the bath and shower — if it is mouldy, agents may require resealing (which is a separate cost, not a cleaning issue). Wipe the mirror, extractor fan grille, towel rail and all surfaces. Mop the floor including around the toilet pedestal.

Edinburgh agents run a finger along the top edge of skirting boards — this is a classic Edinburgh inspection move. Dust every skirting board in the property. Clean window sills, frames and tracks — Edinburgh sash windows accumulate significant dust and dead insects in the runners, and agents check them specifically.

Vacuum the carpet edge to edge, including under furniture and in corners. If the property has hard floors (common in Edinburgh tenement hallways and living rooms), mop them streak-free. Dust all light fittings, door frames and socket plates. Inside fitted wardrobes — wipe shelves, hanging rails and the base. Behind radiators — Edinburgh tenements often have column radiators that trap dust between the columns.

Clean the front door frame and threshold. Edinburgh tenement hallways often have original tiled or stone floors — mop and dry them properly. If the property includes a private staircase (maisonettes), clean the banisters, risers and treads. Check the meter cupboard and airing cupboard — agents open these and expect them clean and accessible.

Some Edinburgh letting agents check the condition of the communal stair immediately outside the flat. While you are not responsible for cleaning the full stair, sweeping and mopping the landing immediately outside your front door demonstrates good practice. If the property factor (James Gibb, Charles White, Trinity Factors) has flagged stair-cleaning issues during your tenancy, addressing them before inspection shows the agent you have been a responsible tenant.

Photograph every room after cleaning, including inside the oven, inside the fridge, inside cupboards and the bathroom fittings. Keep your professional cleaning receipt. Edinburgh deposits are protected through SafeDeposits Scotland — if there is a dispute, photographic evidence and a professional cleaning receipt are your strongest assets.

If you want to ensure everything passes first time, our end of tenancy cleaning in Edinburgh is designed specifically to meet the inspection standards of DJ Alexander, Gilson Gray, Rettie, Coulters and all other Edinburgh letting agents. We provide a completion report with timestamped photos of every room, which you can submit directly to your agent or SafeDeposits Scotland if needed.

Book your clean for the day after your furniture removal, when the flat is empty and every surface is accessible. Edinburgh tenancy end dates cluster around the 28th of each month and the traditional Scottish quarter days. Cleaning slots fill up fast during these peak periods — book at least two weeks in advance.

Student tenancies in Marchmont, Newington, Bruntsfield and Tollcross typically end in late June and mid-September when University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier terms finish. If you are in a student HMO, coordinate with your flatmates to have everything removed before the cleaning team arrives. Our Edinburgh end of tenancy service includes a re-clean guarantee — if the agent flags any item, we return at no extra cost.