MovePlanEnd of tenancy checklist
Deposit disputes are won on evidence, not on how clean the oven is. Here’s what to do, and what to photograph.
Most tenants approach the end of a tenancy as a cleaning problem. It's really an evidence problem. Deposit deductions are decided by comparing the property's condition at check-out against its condition at check-in, and the tenant who can show both usually wins.
The concept that decides most disputes
Fair wear and tear. A landlord cannot charge you to restore the property to its condition at the start — only to put right damage beyond what normal living causes over the length of your tenancy.
| Usually fair wear and tear | Usually chargeable damage |
|---|---|
| Carpet flattened or worn in traffic areas after several years | A burn, a large stain, or a tear in the carpet |
| Paintwork scuffed and marked with age | Holes from unapproved fixings, or a wall repainted a colour without permission |
| Curtains faded by sunlight | Curtains torn, or the rail pulled out of the wall |
| Worktops lightly scratched from ordinary use | A cut or burn mark from a knife or a hot pan |
| Grout discoloured over time | Mould from never ventilating, where there is no building fault |
Landlords also cannot generally charge the full replacement cost of an item that was already part-worn — the value is apportioned for its age and expected life. If you're quoted a brand-new price for a seven-year-old carpet, that's worth challenging.
Two months out
Notice and preparation
- 2 monthsCheck your agreement for the notice period and how notice must be given
- 2 monthsGive notice in writing, and keep proof it was sent and received
- 2 monthsFind your check-in inventory and the photos from when you moved in
- 6 weeksConfirm which scheme protects your deposit, and how its dispute process works
- 6 weeksAsk the landlord or agent in writing what their check-out expects
Find the check-in inventory now, not the week you leave. If you never received one, or never signed it, say so in writing before check-out — an unsigned or missing inventory substantially weakens a landlord's ability to prove the original condition.
The last fortnight
- Fix what you can genuinely fix. Fill and touch up small holes; replace blown bulbs; put back anything you removed, including shelves and the original shower head.
- Deal with the garden if you had one. It's a common and easily-avoided deduction.
- Clean to the standard you received it, not to a hotel standard. That's the actual test.
- Check the tenancy for a professional cleaning clause. A blanket requirement to pay for professional cleaning is generally not enforceable in England under the Tenant Fees Act, but the property must still be returned as clean as it was — so read what yours says.
- Don't leave anything behind, including in the loft, the shed and the bins. Removal of abandoned items is chargeable and expensive.
Check-out day: the part that matters
- 1
Photograph everything, dated, after cleaning
Every room wide, then close-ups of anything already marked or damaged. Include the oven, the fridge seals, the carpets and the garden. This is the single highest-value half hour of the whole tenancy.
- 2
Take and photograph meter readings
Gas, electric and water, with the serial numbers visible. Photograph the meters themselves, not just a note of the numbers.
- 3
Attend the check-out if you possibly can
You can point out pre-existing damage as it's recorded and query anything at the time. Disputing a report weeks later from memory is much harder.
- 4
Don't sign anything you disagree with
You can sign to confirm you attended while noting that you disagree with specific items. Say so in writing on the day.
- 5
Return every key, and get a receipt
Including window keys, garage, shed and any fobs. Missing keys sometimes means a chargeable lock change.
The rest of the move
Ending a tenancy adds to a normal move rather than replacing it. Council tax, the electoral roll and the DVLA all still apply, and the DVLA items carry a fine of up to £1,000 — the full who-to-notify list covers the lot.
Renting-specific extras
- 2 monthsGive written notice, keeping proof
- 4 weeksTell the council you're leaving, so the council tax account closes on the right date
- 2 weeksCancel or transfer contents insurance to start at the new address
- Check-outPhotograph everything, take meter readings, return all keys
- Week afterChase the deposit — schemes have deadlines for the landlord to respond
MovePlan builds these into one dated plan from your move date and drafts your address-change letters filled in with your details. £14.99 once, for 90 days.