Cleaning before you move

The short answer

There is no legal requirement in Scotland to leave a property professionally cleaned, but it is common courtesy and often expected, particularly if missives referred to the property being left in a reasonable condition. A typical handover clean covers kitchens, bathrooms, floors and windows, with ovens and carpets sometimes charged separately by cleaning firms.

What's expected at handover

While there is no fixed legal standard, most sellers leave a property reasonably clean and clear of rubbish. Missives sometimes include specific conditions about fixtures and fittings remaining, so it is worth checking exactly what was agreed before the final clean.

What a professional clean covers

Standard end-of-tenancy or move-out cleans typically include kitchen surfaces and appliances, bathroom sanitary ware, floors throughout, skirting boards and windowsills, with oven deep-cleans and carpet cleaning usually quoted separately.

• Kitchen surfaces, cupboards inside and out, and appliance exteriors
• Bathroom sanitary ware, tiles and mirrors
• Floors vacuumed and mopped throughout
• Windows cleaned internally, skirting boards wiped down

Doing it yourself versus hiring a cleaner

A DIY clean is straightforward for a smaller property with time available, but a professional clean can be worthwhile when time is tight around a moving date, or for a larger property with an oven and carpets that benefit from specialist equipment.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Standard move-out clean, one-bedroom flat: roughly £70–£120
• Standard move-out clean, three-bedroom house: roughly £150–£280
• Oven deep clean as an add-on: typically £40–£70
• Carpet cleaning per room: roughly £25–£45

What to do, in order

1. 1Check missives for any conditions about the property's condition
2. 2Decide between a DIY clean and booking a professional firm
3. 3Book a cleaning firm to fit around your removal day
4. 4Clear all belongings before the clean begins
5. 5Take photos of the finished property for your own records
6. 6Leave meter readings and instructions for the new occupants if helpful

Local detail for the Lothians

• Cleaning firms across Edinburgh often bundle move-out cleans with carpet or oven cleaning as a package
• In tenement flats, communal stair cleaning is usually separate from your own flat's clean and is typically covered by the factor
• Booking a cleaner for the morning after your removal day, rather than the same day, avoids clashing with the removal van in narrow closes
• In smaller towns such as Linlithgow or Musselburgh, local independent cleaners are often available at short notice compared with peak-season demand in central Edinburgh

Common questions

Am I legally required to clean before handover?

No, there is no general legal requirement, though missives sometimes set expectations about the property's condition and fixtures.

When should I book the clean?

Once all belongings and furniture are out, ideally the day of or the day after your removal, before the new owners or tenants arrive.

Related pages

• House clearance

  Clearing unwanted furniture and belongings before a move, whether downsizing or handling an estate.

• Moving home checklist

  A week-by-week plan covering everything from instructing a solicitor to collecting the keys.

• Moving day timeline

  What a typical moving day looks like, hour by hour, from the removal van's arrival to the last box.