Updated 22 October 2026 · Avenclear Cleaning
What the lease usually says
Leases commonly require the tenant to keep the premises clean during the term and to yield them up in good and clean condition at the end. Some set specific obligations, such as cleaning carpets or windows in the last months of the term. Check your lease for the exact wording.
How dilapidations claims work
At the end of a lease the landlord may serve a schedule of dilapidations listing breaches of the tenant's obligations, including cleaning. In England and Wales, the Pre-Action Protocol for Claims for Damages in relation to the Physical State of Commercial Property at Termination of a Tenancy sets out how claims should be made and answered.
Damages for breach of repairing covenants are generally capped by section 18(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 at the reduction in the value of the landlord's interest. Specialist advice from a surveyor or solicitor is worthwhile for any significant claim.
Why a professional clean helps
- It removes cleaning items from the schedule altogether
- Dated photos give evidence of the condition at handback
- Carpets and floors cleaned properly are less likely to be claimed for replacement
Timing
Book the clean after furniture and IT have been removed and any reinstatement works are finished, but before the handback inspection.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.