Cleaning
End of tenancy cleaning
Whether this needs a licence in Ireland
No licence required
Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer
End of tenancy cleaning: what the job involves
A thorough top-to-bottom clean of a rented home when a tenancy ends, done to the standard a landlord or letting agent checks against the inventory and the photos from the start. It is the best protection a tenant has against cleaning deductions from the deposit.
Also asked for as: end of lease clean · move out cleaning · deposit cleaning · move in cleaning · deep clean before moving out
How the job is usually done
- Agree the list against the inventory or check-in photos, including extras such as oven and carpets
- Start high: cobwebs, light fittings, tops of wardrobes and presses
- Kitchen: inside the oven, hob, extractor, fridge, freezer, cupboards and drawers, then the floor
- Bathrooms: limescale off taps, showers, screens and tiles, mould in grout and silicone
- Wipe doors, frames, switches, sockets, skirting and window sills; clean inside windows
- Vacuum and wash all floors, and clean any balcony or patio
- Walk through with the tenant or agent and touch up anything missed
End of tenancy cleaning: what is included
Usually included
- Inside all kitchen presses, drawers and appliances
- Descaling bathrooms and kitchen taps
- Skirting, doors, switches and sills
- Inside windows and sills
- Floors throughout
Usually not included — agree it separately
- Carpet shampooing, unless added
- Outside windows above the ground floor
- Removing rubbish or left furniture — that needs a permitted waste collector
- Repairs, painting or filling holes
- Mould remediation where there is an underlying damp problem
Materials and who supplies them
- Degreasers, descalers and oven cleaning products — the cleaner’s
- Vacuum, mops, ladders and steamers — the cleaner’s
- Carpet extraction machine, if carpets are included
How long it takes
Four to eight hours for an apartment; a family house usually takes a full day for two people, more if the oven, carpets or heavy limescale are included.
When to book
Book early for the end of the month and the end of August, when student and college lets turn over and cleaners are fully booked.
End of tenancy cleaning: the rules in Ireland
What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.
A landlord must return the deposit promptly at the end of a tenancy and may deduct only for rent arrears, unpaid bills, damage beyond normal wear and tear, or insufficient notice. The property should be left reasonably clean, in a similar condition to the start of the tenancy apart from normal wear and tear; disputes go to the Residential Tenancies Board.
Applies to: the tenant and the landlord
Residential Tenancies Board — Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended · rtb.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Normal wear and tear — worn flooring in walkways, faded paint, elements worn by ordinary cooking — cannot be charged to the tenant, and what counts as normal depends on how long the tenancy lasted and how many people lived there.
Applies to: the landlord deciding on deductions
Residential Tenancies Board · rtb.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Anybody who takes waste away from your home for payment must hold a waste collection permit, and you are responsible for giving your waste only to a permitted collector. Collectors must show the permit number on their vehicle; you can check it with the National Waste Collection Permit Office.
Applies to: the cleaner who removes rubbish, and the householder who hands it over
Waste Management Act 1996 and Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations; local authorities and the NWCPO · sdcc.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
What end of tenancy cleaning costs, and why
What jobs on Talqero came to
Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.
What affects the price
- Size of the property and number of bathrooms
- Condition: grease, limescale, mould and how long since the last deep clean
- Extras: oven, carpets, inside windows, balcony
- Whether the property is empty of furniture and belongings
- How soon it is needed — the last day of a tenancy is in demand
Paperwork to ask for at the end
- An invoice listing what was cleaned — useful evidence if a deduction is disputed
- Dated photographs of each room after the clean
Safety
- Oven and limescale products are strong; ventilate and do not mix products
- Do not let anybody stand on worktops or baths to reach high presses — use steps
- Make sure the electricity is still on for the clean before the meter is read or the account closed
End of tenancy cleaning: before you hire
Questions to ask a tradesperson
- Do you work to the inventory, and will you come back if the agent finds something missed?
- Are the oven and carpets included?
- Will you send photos after the clean?
- If you take rubbish away, what is your waste collection permit number?
What you can do yourself
A tenant who has kept the place clean can manage most of it; the oven, limescale and carpets are where a professional makes the difference to a deposit.
What to put in your task
- What kind of property is it?
- How many bathrooms and toilets?
- Will it be empty when the cleaner arrives?
- Which extras do you need?
- How would you describe the condition?
- When do you hand back the keys?
Photos that help
- The oven inside and the hob
- Each bathroom, including the shower screen and grout
- The kitchen, with the presses open
- Carpets and any stains
- Any problem areas: mould, heavy limescale, grease on the extractor
End of tenancy cleaning by county
Choose your county for end of tenancy cleaning close to home.
- End of tenancy cleaning in Dublin
- End of tenancy cleaning in Cork
- End of tenancy cleaning in Galway
- End of tenancy cleaning in Kildare
- End of tenancy cleaning in Limerick
- End of tenancy cleaning in Meath
- End of tenancy cleaning in Tipperary
- End of tenancy cleaning in Donegal
- End of tenancy cleaning in Wexford
- End of tenancy cleaning in Kerry
- End of tenancy cleaning in Wicklow
- End of tenancy cleaning in Mayo
- End of tenancy cleaning in Louth
- End of tenancy cleaning in Waterford
- End of tenancy cleaning in Clare
- End of tenancy cleaning in Kilkenny
- End of tenancy cleaning in Westmeath
- End of tenancy cleaning in Laois
- End of tenancy cleaning in Cavan
- End of tenancy cleaning in Offaly
- End of tenancy cleaning in Sligo
- End of tenancy cleaning in Roscommon
- End of tenancy cleaning in Monaghan
- End of tenancy cleaning in Carlow
- End of tenancy cleaning in Longford
- End of tenancy cleaning in Leitrim
Cleaning
Need end of tenancy cleaning? Describe the job.
Post it once, free. Professionals near you reply with their own price and when they could start. You choose, and pay them directly.
Questions about end of tenancy cleaning
Does end of tenancy cleaning need a licence in Ireland?
No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.
Can my landlord take money from my deposit for cleaning?
Deductions are allowed for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the home should be left reasonably clean, in a similar condition to the start. A landlord should justify deductions with evidence. If you disagree you can open a dispute with the Residential Tenancies Board.
What do agents check most?
The oven, the fridge and freezer, limescale in bathrooms, inside presses, skirting and carpets. Mould on silicone and grout is also commonly noted.
Should I photograph the property after the clean?
Yes. Dated photos of each room, with the invoice for the clean, are the best evidence if the deposit is disputed, especially if they match the check-in photos.