End of tenancy cleaning checklist: room by room to a smooth handover

In Switzerland, moving out ends with a handover inspection: the property management walks through the flat with you and checks it closely – often opening the oven, running a finger along the blinds and looking into the cellar. With the end of September a common moving date in many communes, this is the moment when an end of tenancy cleaning checklist is worth its weight in gold. Below you will find everything that is typically checked, room by room.

What the handover requires

Under Art. 267 of the Code of Obligations, you return the flat in the condition resulting from normal, contractual use. Normal wear and tear is not your responsibility, but dirt is. The homeowners' association HEV describes the landlord's expectation as a flat that is cleared and thoroughly cleaned, including windows, blinds and appliances.

The tenants' association points out that your lease is the starting point: where it contains no specific rules, the flat and its ancillary rooms must still be cleaned thoroughly, and a clause obliging you to hire a specialist company is not binding, according to its move-out cleaning leaflet. In short: you may clean yourself, but the result has to be convincing.

Kitchen: the most checked room

• Oven: inside walls, door glass (between the panes if removable), baking trays, racks and grill.
• Hob: ceramic or induction surface free of burnt-on residue and limescale.
• Extractor hood: grease filters degreased, housing inside and outside clean, carbon filter replaced if required.
• Fridge and freezer: defrosted, cleaned, dried, doors left ajar.
• Dishwasher: filter, spray arms and door seal clean.
• Cupboards and drawers: inside and out, including shelves and handles.
• Sink and tap: descaled, drain clean.
• Tiles and splashback: grease-free.

Bathroom and WC

• Limescale removed from tiles, shower walls, taps, shower head and aerators.
• Toilet clean inside and out, including under the rim and behind the seat hinges.
• Washbasin, overflow and drain free of residue.
• Mirror, mirror cabinet inside and out, and shelves.
• Silicone joints clean; mouldy joints reported or replaced by arrangement.
• Ventilation grille and extractor fan dusted.
• Bathtub and shower tray, including the drain cover.

Living rooms and bedrooms

• Built-in wardrobes inside and out, including rails and shelves.
• Doors, door frames, handles and light switches wiped.
• Radiators dusted, including between the fins.
• Skirting boards and sockets clean.
• Holes from nails and dowels dealt with according to the lease or property management's instructions.
• Floors cleaned to suit the material: parquet not wet, carpets vacuumed or shampooed as agreed.

Windows, blinds and balcony

Windows are one of the areas where handovers most often fail. Clean:

• Glass inside and outside, streak-free.
• Frames, fittings and the rebates where dirt collects.
• Window sills inside and outside.
• Blinds, roller shutters and fly screens – slats on both sides and guide rails. Our article on cleaning blinds as a tenant explains the details.
• Balcony floor, railing, drain and any glass panels.

Ancillary rooms and everything else

• Cellar and attic compartment empty and swept, cobwebs removed.
• Letterbox and parcel box empty and wiped.
• Garage or parking space cleared and swept.
• Laundry room: your own items removed.
• Built-in lights and lampshades clean.
• All keys ready for the handover.

Your end of tenancy cleaning checklist

Use this checklist to track your progress. Tick off each area when it is truly done – not "nearly".

Common handover mistakes

• Leaving cleaning to the last evening: Limescale and grease need soaking time you will not have.
• Forgetting the oven glass and extractor filters: Both are checked at almost every handover.
• Ignoring the blinds: They are cleaned less often than windows and are noticed straight away.
• Emptying the cellar at the last minute: Bulky waste and hazardous waste need time to dispose of properly.
• Using the wrong products: Acids on natural stone or a steam cleaner on parquet can cause damage that costs more than dirt.

If you are unsure what counts as clean enough, our article on the difference between broom clean and thoroughly cleaned explains the Swiss standard.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.