Student end of tenancy cleaning in Durham — the June rush, explained

Every June, Durham experiences something that's pretty unique to university cities: hundreds of student houses across the city change hands in roughly the same fortnight. Tenancies end on the same dates, new tenancies start on the same dates, and in between there's a desperate scramble of end of tenancy cleaning, inspections, deposit deductions and frantic last-minute fixes.

If you're a student tenant in Durham — or a parent helping one out — this is the guide nobody tells you.

How student tenancy deposit deductions work

Most student housing in Durham is now governed by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Your deposit (typically £400–£600 for a room, sometimes more) is held by a third party. When you move out, your landlord submits a list of deductions, and you can either agree or dispute them.

According to the deposit protection schemes, the single most common reason for deductions year after year is cleaning. Not damage. Cleaning. Specifically:

• Kitchens not cleaned to inventory standard (oven, hob, extractor, inside cupboards)
• Bathrooms with limescale, mould, or grime around taps and tiles
• Carpets not vacuumed or steam-cleaned
• Inside windows, sills and behind radiators left dusty
• Skirting boards, doors and door frames left grubby

If your tenancy agreement says "professionally cleaned to inventory standard" — and most Durham student tenancies now do — you'll need a receipt from a professional cleaning company. DIY cleaning, no matter how thorough, won't satisfy the clause.

The full student end of tenancy cleaning checklist

This is the checklist we work to on every student end of tenancy clean. It's also pretty much identical to what letting agents in Durham use during their move-out inspections.

Kitchen — where 60% of deposits are lost

The kitchen is hands-down the biggest source of deductions in student houses. Pay it disproportionate attention.

• Oven — racks, trays, side panels, door glass (inside and out), seals. This alone is a 90-minute job done properly.
• Hob — under the burners, splash plate, extractor hood and especially the extractor filters (a frequent miss).
• Fridge and freezer — defrosted, interior wiped, drip tray cleared, doors propped open, switched off.
• Inside every cupboard and drawer — shelves wiped, corners cleared of crumbs, handles polished.
• Sink — drainage hole, overflow, taps descaled.
• Washing machine — drum, detergent drawer (remove and clean), door seal, filter.
• Worktops, splashbacks, tiles, grout.

Bathrooms — limescale is the killer

• Toilet — bowl, seat (both sides), hinges, base, behind, cistern.
• Shower — head descaled, glass screen polished both sides, tiles and grout scrubbed.
• Bath — including around taps and overflow.
• Basin — taps polished and descaled.
• Mirror, light fittings, extractor grille.
• Floor including behind toilet.

Living areas and bedrooms

• Windows — inside surfaces, frames, sills.
• Skirting boards in every room (inspectors literally run a finger along the top).
• Doors, frames, handles.
• Switches, sockets, light fittings.
• Carpets vacuumed thoroughly. Steam cleaning is often mandatory — check your tenancy agreement.
• Inside wardrobes and built-in storage.
• On top of wardrobes and door frames — dust accumulates here.
• Radiators — front, behind, on top.

The spots students always miss

After years of professional end of tenancy cleans in Durham student houses, these are the spots that get flagged time and again:

1. Inside the oven door glass. The bit you can't see when the door is shut. Open it fully and inspect the inside surface — that's what the agent will do.
2. Extractor hood filters. Greasy and invisible from below but obvious when pulled out. Soak in degreaser or replace (replacements cost £5–10 from any kitchen supplier).
3. Limescale on shower glass, taps and shower heads. Use a proper descaler — leave for 20 minutes, then scrub. White vinegar works in a pinch.
4. Skirting board tops. Run your finger along the top edge — that's literally what the inspector does.
5. Inside the washing machine drawer. Pull it right out — there's almost always mould behind.
6. Behind the toilet including the pipework.
7. Top of kitchen cupboards if there's a gap above.

Hiring a professional cleaning company — what to expect to pay

A professional end of tenancy clean of a typical Durham student house (4–6 bedrooms) usually runs £200–£350 depending on size and condition. Split between housemates, that's £40–£70 per person. Set against an average £500 deposit, the maths is straightforward — pay £60 for the clean, save £200 in deductions.

What you should expect from a proper cleaning company:

• A fixed-price quote up front, not "from £X" or hourly billing
• A detailed checklist of what's covered
• A receipt for the tenancy paperwork
• A re-clean guarantee (ours is 48 hours) if your landlord flags anything
• Confirmation of insurance and DBS-checking

If you're doing it yourself

It's perfectly doable, just be realistic about time. A proper end of tenancy clean of a 5-bed student house in Durham is honestly a full day for two people working hard. The kitchen alone is 3–4 hours done thoroughly. Plan accordingly, get the oven cleaning paste on first thing so it can work while you do other rooms, and don't underestimate how much rubbish you'll need to take to the tip.

Most student tenancy deductions in Durham are cleaning deductions. The maths nearly always favours paying for a professional end of tenancy clean over losing it from your deposit.

Booking ahead for the June rush

One practical note: if you're in a student tenancy ending in late June or early July, book your end of tenancy cleaning company in April. We get booked solid for the late-June fortnight every single year by mid-May, and we have to turn away dozens of last-minute requests. Most other Durham cleaning companies are the same. Book early.

We cover end of tenancy cleaning across all of Durham — Viaduct, Crossgate, Gilesgate, Hild Bede, Claypath, Neville's Cross, the colleges — and work to the same inventory-standard checklist your letting agent uses. 48-hour re-clean guarantee on every job.