Cleaning Between Tenants: A Guide for Irish Landlords

Between tenancies, a landlord has two separate jobs: deciding fairly what the outgoing tenant should pay for, and getting the property clean, safe and compliant for the next one. The RTB's deposit guidance allows deductions for a property left unhygienic or damaged beyond normal wear and tear, but not for ordinary wear, and it does not require every tenant to buy a professional clean.

Even when a tenant has cleaned well, you may want a fuller clean before the next tenant moves in. Here is how to handle both sides.

Step 1: Inspect against the move-in record

Before you clean anything, inspect. Walk through with your move-in photos and inventory, and photograph the property as the tenant left it.

• Compare each room with the move-in photos, from the same angles
• Photograph the oven, hob, fridge, bathroom, floors and walls in close-up
• Note any rubbish or belongings left behind
• Note anything broken or missing against the inventory
• Record meter readings

The RTB expects tenants to leave the property clean and in a similar condition to when they arrived, allowing for normal wear and tear, and to remove belongings and rubbish. If the property falls short of that, you can deduct the reasonable cost of putting it right. If it does not, a blanket cleaning charge is open to challenge.

Return the deposit as soon as possible after the tenancy ends. You do not have to return it on the day, since inspection takes time, but do not let it drift. Any deduction can be challenged through the RTB dispute process, so keep your photos, receipts and quotes. Our tenant-side guide, getting your deposit back, shows what tenants are told to expect.

Step 2: Plan the turnover clean

Whether or not the tenant cleaned well, the next tenant will judge the property on day one. A turnover clean usually covers:

• inside every press, wardrobe and drawer
• oven, hob, extractor, fridge and freezer
• bathrooms descaled, including showers, taps and screens
• skirting boards, doors, switches and sockets
• windows inside, sills and tracks
• floors hoovered and mopped, and carpets cleaned if needed

Our end of tenancy cleaning checklist is written for tenants, but it works as a landlord's turnover checklist too.

What does a professional turnover clean cost?

Advertised end of tenancy prices we checked in October 2026, from one basic package and one broader package that includes the oven and exterior windows:

Size	Advertised price range
1 bed	€240 to €295
2 bed	€290 to €357
3 bed	€320 to €431
4 bed	€390 to €573
5 bed	€440 to €618

Common extras include oven cleaning at €55 to €80 for a single oven and carpet cleaning from about €35 for a single room. A VAT-registered cleaning business charges the reduced rate of 13.5% on cleaning private homes, so check whether quotes include it. Our end of tenancy cleaning costs guide explains how to compare quotes.

If you use a cleaning company, ask for evidence of current public liability insurance, and employers' liability where it employs staff, as insurer guidance for householders suggests for contractors.

Step 3: Check the minimum standards

A turnover is the natural time to check the property still meets the legal minimum standards for rented homes. The RTB says rented accommodation must be structurally sound and free from damp. Regulation 8 of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 requires:

• adequate ventilation in habitable rooms
• ventilation kept in working order
• adequate removal of water vapour from kitchens and bathrooms

So while the property is empty:

• Test the kitchen and bathroom extractor fans
• Check trickle vents and wall vents are open and clean
• Look for mould behind furniture, in wardrobes and around windows
• Check window seals and sealant around baths and showers

If you find mould, clean it, but also find the cause. Cleaning alone will not stop mould returning unless the moisture source is fixed; larger areas or hidden contamination call for a specialist. See our guide to mould and damp.

Step 4: Safety checks while it is empty

These are not cleaning jobs as such, but a turnover is the easiest time to do them.

Check	Guidance
Smoke alarms	Test weekly with the button and keep free of dust; replace standard batteries annually; replace sealed units at expiry (HSE)
Carbon monoxide alarms	Test weekly with the button and follow the manufacturer's instructions (Housing Agency)
Chimney	Sweep at least annually, ideally before the heating season; wood burners may need more often (Government advice, Meath Fire Service)
Gutters and downpipes	Clear leaves and check for blockages; use a contractor for work at height (guidance)

Our winter home checklist covers these in more detail.

Step 5: Clear what was left behind

Tenants sometimes leave old appliances, paint or cleaning products. Do not put them in the general bin:

• Electrical items can be recycled free at designated centres, and retailers must take back an equivalent old appliance when you buy a replacement.
• Leftover chemicals and paints belong at a civic amenity site or council hazardous-waste collection. Use the MyWaste locator and check the site accepts the item first.

Step 6: Record the condition for the next tenancy

Once the property is clean and checked, photograph it again room by room. These photos become the move-in record for the next tenancy, and the evidence you will rely on if there is a dispute when that tenancy ends. Share them with the new tenant and ask them to report any issues in writing within the first few days.

Find turnover cleaners

Browse end of tenancy cleaners or search by county, for example Dublin, Cork, Kildare or Galway. If you let for short stays instead, see our Airbnb and holiday let cleaning guide.