If you rent in St Andrews, you’ll know how quickly the end of a tenancy creeps up. One minute you’re settling in, the next you’re boxing up your life and wondering how the oven got into that state. Whether you’re a student finishing for the summer or a family moving on, the last clean is usually what decides how smoothly your deposit comes back.
We cover St Andrews and the East Neuk regularly, and the same questions come up every time. So here’s a straightforward guide to getting it right.
Why The Final Clean Matters So Much
In Scotland your deposit sits with an approved tenancy deposit scheme, and at the end of the let your landlord or agent compares the property against the inventory from when you moved in. Cleaning is one of the most common reasons for money being held back. Fair wear and tear is expected, but grease, limescale and dust that weren’t there at the start usually aren’t.
It’s worth digging out your check in inventory and photos before you start. They’ll tell you exactly what standard you’re being measured against.
The Areas Landlords Check First
The Kitchen
Kitchens get the closest look. Inside the oven, the hob, the extractor hood, the fridge and freezer, cupboard fronts and insides, worktops, the sink and taps. Shared student kitchens in particular tend to build up grease in places nobody notices until move out day.
Bathrooms
Limescale on taps, shower screens and around the base of the toilet is the big one. Mouldy silicone and grubby grout are next. These take time and the right products, so dont leave them until the last afternoon.
Bedrooms And Living Areas
Skirting boards, light switches, door handles, window sills and the insides of wardrobes and drawers. Carpets matter too. If they were clean when you moved in, they’ll be expected to be clean when you leave.
Student Lets In St Andrews
Lots of flats in the town are shared between four, five or six students, and the end of term tends to mean everyone leaves within a few days of each other. That’s when things get missed. If one person cleans their room but nobody takes charge of the kitchen, the whole group can lose out.
A simple fix is to agree early who’s doing what, or to split the cost of a professional end of tenancy clean between you. Split several ways, it’s often less than people expect, and it takes the arguing out of it.
Should You Do It Yourself Or Book A Professional?
If the flat’s in good shape and you’ve kept on top of things, a thorough DIY clean can be enough. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. A proper end of tenancy clean of even a small flat can take a full day.
It’s worth booking help if the oven hasn’t been touched in a year, there’s built up limescale, the carpets need attention or you simply don’t have the time between exams, packing and travel. Our end of tenancy cleaning covers kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas, and we can add oven cleaning and carpet cleaning where they’re needed.
One honest note. No cleaning company can guarantee your deposit back, because the final decision always sits with the landlord or agent. What a professional clean does is give you the best possible chance.
A Quick Move Out Checklist
- Check your inventory and check in photos
- Clear out all your belongings, including food from the fridge and freezer
- Clean the oven, hob and extractor
- Descale taps, showers and toilets
- Wipe skirting boards, doors, switches and sills
- Vacuum and, if needed, clean the carpets
- Empty all bins and take rubbish away
- Take your own photos when you’re done
Booking A Clean In St Andrews
End of term and the end of the month are always our busiest times, so it pays to book early. We work across St Andrews and the surrounding area, and you can see the rest of the places we cover on our areas we cover page.
If you’d like a price, request a free quote or call us on 01592 214138 and tell us a bit about the property.
