Do Tenants Have to Clean Carpets When Moving Out?

At the end of a tenancy, tenants are expected to return the property in the same condition as at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. For carpets, that usually means as clean as they were when you moved in – which is why the check-in inventory matters so much.

If the carpets were professionally cleaned before you moved in and the inventory says so, the landlord may reasonably expect them to be returned to a similar standard. If they were already worn or marked, you can't be asked to make them better than they were.

In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans most fees and payments for assured shorthold tenancies, including requiring tenants to pay for a professional cleaning service such as carpet cleaning. A clause that says you must have the carpets professionally cleaned, or pay for the landlord's chosen cleaner, is generally not enforceable for tenancies covered by the Act. Wales has similar rules under the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019.

What a landlord can do is claim from the deposit for the reasonable cost of cleaning if the carpets are left dirtier than at check-in, beyond fair wear and tear. So in practice, many tenants still book a carpet clean because it's the surest way to meet that standard. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own tenancy rules; check the guidance for your nation. Our guide to professional cleaning clauses explains this in more detail.

Deposit schemes and adjudicators distinguish between:

If there's a dispute, the deposit protection scheme's adjudicator compares the check-in and check-out reports and photos. They consider the length of the tenancy, the age and quality of the carpet at the start, and whether the landlord's claim is reasonable.

A landlord claiming for a full carpet replacement after a long tenancy is unlikely to succeed in full, because carpets have a limited useful life. A landlord claiming the reasonable cost of a professional clean for carpets that are clearly dirtier than at check-in usually will. See deposit deductions for cleaning for how evidence is weighed.

It's often worth it, especially if you've had pets, children, a long tenancy or the carpets were professionally cleaned at check-in. A professional clean is usually cheaper than a deduction for the landlord's own contractor, and the invoice is useful evidence. Hot water extraction is the standard method; see hot water extraction vs dry carpet cleaning.

If the carpets were in poor condition at the start and you've vacuumed regularly, thorough vacuuming and spot cleaning may be enough. Read the check-in report carefully before deciding.

If your tenancy allowed pets, landlords often expect carpets to be professionally cleaned and treated for fleas at the end. Under the Tenant Fees Act, they can't usually require you to pay a particular company, but they can deduct for pet-related cleaning or damage beyond wear and tear. Urine stains and odours are a common issue – see pet urine odour removal.

Most end of tenancy companies offer carpet cleaning as an add-on, priced per room or as a package. Booking both with the same firm means one visit and, often, one guarantee covering both. See our carpet cleaning service page and carpet cleaning prices for indicative costs.