We’ve done over 4,000 end-of-tenancy cleans in Kent since 2005. We’ve worked alongside dozens of letting agencies. After 14 years of pattern-matching, three things determine whether the deposit comes back in full.
1. The kitchen is not “clean” — it’s inspection-clean
Tenancy inspection clean is a higher bar than living clean. Two examples that catch tenants out almost every time:
- The hob. Wipe-clean is not enough. The carbonised grease around gas rings, under the trivet, and in the seal between the hob and the worktop all need to come off.
- The oven. Inspectors open it. They check the door glass interior, the door seal, the racks, the floor of the oven, and the inside of the extractor hood.
2. Bathroom limescale is the second deposit-killer
Limescale builds gradually so you stop seeing it. An inspector who walks into 30 bathrooms a week notices instantly. Target zones: base of taps where they meet basin/bath, shower screen (especially lower 30cm), base of toilet where it meets the floor.
3. Carpets — the most expensive surprise
Half of all deposit deductions we see are for “professional carpet cleaning”. Read your tenancy agreement: if it specifies professional carpet cleaning at the end, you must do it. Vacuuming is not enough.
If you’re moving and want a quote for an end-of-tenancy clean across Kent or Medway, submit your details and we’ll come back within an hour with a fixed price.