The Landlord's End of Tenancy Checklist: From Check-Out to Re-Let

When a tenant hands back the keys, the clock starts: the deposit needs settling within days, and every week the property sits empty costs you a week's rent. This checklist covers the legal steps and the practical turnaround, in the order that keeps the void as short as possible.

Before the tenant leaves

• Confirm the tenancy end date and key-return arrangements in writing
• Book the check-out inventory clerk — ideally the same firm that did the check-in, for consistency
• Send the tenant their check-in inventory and remind them of the standard expected — it reduces disputes dramatically
• Schedule viewings, an inventory refresh and any trades for the days immediately after checkout

The check-out inspection

The check-out report is your only real evidence if you need to propose deductions, so do it properly: room-by-room comparison against the check-in report, dated photographs of anything below standard, and meter readings. Remember you're comparing against the property as it was let, allowing for fair wear and tear over the length of the tenancy — not against a brand-new finish.

Deposit deadlines

1. 1Propose any deductions to the tenant promptly, itemised, with evidence and costs
2. 2Return the undisputed portion without delay — schemes expect release within about 10 days of agreement
3. 3If the tenant disputes a deduction, the contested amount stays protected until the scheme's free adjudication decides
4. 4Never delay the whole deposit over one contested item — release what's agreed

Cleaning between tenancies

A professionally cleaned property does two jobs at once: it photographs and views better (shorter void), and it sets a documented cleanliness benchmark for the next tenancy. If the check-in inventory records 'professionally cleaned' with an invoice behind it, your next check-out comparison becomes far easier to enforce. A full end of tenancy clean runs from £100 for a studio to £180 for a four-bed — see the complete price list — and a pre-tenancy clean of an already-empty property is the same room-based price.

• Oven, hob and extractor degreased — the first things prospective tenants open
• Bathrooms descaled and re-sealed where needed
• Carpets professionally cleaned if the outgoing tenancy left them tired (from £18 per room)
• Windows, sills and skirting done — dust here undoes an otherwise good viewing
• Keep the invoice and add 'professionally cleaned' to the new check-in inventory

Compliance before the next tenancy

• Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) in date, renewed annually
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — required at least every 5 years
• Energy Performance Certificate rated E or above (check current minimum standards)
• Smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms where required, tested on day one
• Deposit protected and prescribed information served within 30 days of receiving it
• Right to Rent checks completed for the incoming tenants (England)

One more perspective worth having: read our tenant-facing guides on cleaning charges and deposit returns — they're exactly what well-informed tenants will cite, so knowing the same rules keeps your deductions watertight.