End of tenancy carpet cleaning: tenant & landlord guide

Check your tenancy agreement, keep the dated invoice, and take photographs. Documentation is usually what settles a deposit dispute.

4 min read · Updated

Do tenants have to have carpets professionally cleaned?

It depends entirely on your agreement. Many UK tenancies require carpets to be professionally cleaned at the end of the term, or require them returned to the condition recorded in the check-in inventory allowing for fair wear and tear.

A landlord generally cannot deduct for normal wear, but can for actual soiling, pet damage or staining. A dated professional invoice is the simplest way to show you met the obligation.

Protecting your deposit

Do these in order and disputes usually don't get off the ground.

  • Re-read the cleaning clause in your tenancy agreement
  • Book the clean after furniture is out, before the final inspection
  • Photograph each room after cleaning, with the date visible
  • Keep the invoice showing the address and rooms cleaned
  • Flag pre-existing damage from your check-in inventory in writing

For landlords and letting agents

Void days are the real cost, not the clean. Booking the carpets for the morning after check-out — with key-safe or agent access so nobody has to be present — usually means the property is photographable and re-lettable the same day, since walk-on drying takes an hour or two.

We invoice rather than take payment on the day, and we can hold a repeat schedule for portfolios.

Frequently asked

How much does end of tenancy carpet cleaning cost?
It's priced per room, with whole-property rates for empty flats and houses. Empty properties are quicker because there's no furniture to work around, and that's reflected in the price.
Do you provide a receipt for the letting agent?
Yes — every job gets a dated invoice listing the property address and rooms cleaned, which is what agents and deposit schemes ask for.
Can the clean happen without me being there?
Yes. Key-safe, agent access or a neighbour all work, and we confirm by message before and after.

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