End-of-Tenancy Cleaning & Getting Your Deposit Back (Singapore)

The end of a tenancy is where deposits are won or lost. Do the move-out properly and you get your money back with no fuss; skip the details and you can lose hundreds to cleaning and repair deductions. The good news is that getting your deposit back is almost entirely within your control — it comes down to returning the unit as you found it, and having the evidence to prove you did. Here’s how.

The principle: return it as you got it

Your obligation at the end of a lease is to return the unit in the condition you received it, fair wear and tear excepted. “Fair wear and tear” covers the natural ageing that happens with normal use — slight scuffs, faded paint, a worn floor finish. What it doesn’t cover is damage (a hole in the wall, a stained carpet, a broken fixture) or dirt you leave behind. Understand that distinction and you can see exactly what you need to fix and clean before handover — and what you can reasonably push back on if a landlord tries to deduct for normal ageing.

Why move-in photos matter so much

The single best thing you can do for your deposit happens at the start of the tenancy: photograph the unit thoroughly on move-in day, including existing defects, and get them acknowledged in writing. Those photos are your evidence. At move-out, they let you prove what was already there and resist deductions for pre-existing damage. If you didn’t take them, all is not lost — but you’re negotiating from a weaker position. Either way, photograph the unit again at handover so you have a record of the condition you left it in.

The move-out clean

Landlords expect the unit returned clean, and “clean” at move-out means more than a regular tidy. An empty-unit deep clean covers the inside of cupboards and drawers, the oven and hob, the fridge, bathroom scale and grout, windows and grilles, skirting and fans — everywhere that accumulates grime over a tenancy. You can do it yourself if you’re thorough and have the time, but many people hire a professional move-out clean. It costs more than a routine clean (there’s simply more to do on an empty unit), typically a few hundred dollars for a whole flat depending on size — compare that to a cleaning deduction and it’s often worth it. See our guide to cleaner costs for rates.

Don’t forget the aircon

A very common deduction is aircon servicing. Many tenancies require the tenant to hand back the aircon serviced, and if you don’t, the landlord will service it and bill you — often at a marked-up rate. Book a service before the final inspection, keep the receipt, and check your tenancy agreement for the exact requirement. Our aircon servicing guide covers what it should cost.

Fix the small stuff first

Walk the unit before the inspection and handle the minor items yourself, where doing so is cheaper than a landlord’s deduction: patch and touch up small wall marks, replace any dead light bulbs, re-fix a loose fitting, and repair anything you clearly damaged. Under most tenancies, minor repairs up to a stated amount are your responsibility anyway. Handling them in advance is almost always cheaper — and less stressful — than having them deducted at inflated rates.

The final inspection and handover

Do a joint inspection with the landlord or agent at handover if you can, walking through together so any concerns are raised on the spot rather than after you’ve left. Bring your move-in photos. Return all keys, access cards and remotes, provide final utility readings, and settle any outstanding bills so nothing is deducted for them. Get written confirmation of the condition and, ideally, agreement on the deposit return.

If there’s a dispute

If a landlord withholds part of your deposit unreasonably, ask for an itemised breakdown of the deductions with receipts or quotes. Deductions should reflect the actual cost to restore the unit to handover condition — not an upgrade, and not fair wear and tear. Your photos and records are your leverage here; present them calmly and factually. Most disputes are resolved once both sides look at the evidence together. To make the whole move-out smoother, pair this with our moving costs and checklist, and get a move-out cleaning quote below.

A room-by-room move-out checklist

A methodical pass stops you missing the spots landlords check. Work room by room:

• Kitchen: degrease the hob and oven, clean inside cabinets and the fridge, descale the sink, wipe surfaces and clear the rubbish.
• Bathrooms: descale taps and shower, clean grout and the toilet, polish mirrors, clear any mould.
• Bedrooms & living: wipe inside wardrobes and drawers, dust fans and fittings, clean windows and grilles, and sweep and mop floors.
• Throughout: patch small wall marks, replace dead bulbs, and clean skirting and door tracks.
• Aircon: book a service and keep the receipt.

Doing this yourself takes a day or two; a professional move-out clean does it faster and to the standard landlords expect.

Timing it with your move-out

Sequence matters. Clean after your furniture and belongings are out, so you’re cleaning an empty unit and not working around boxes. That usually means moving your things first, then cleaning (or having the cleaners in), then the final joint inspection and handover on the last day. Book the aircon service and any professional clean a few days ahead so they’re not a last-minute scramble. Pairing this with our moving costs and checklist keeps the whole exit organised, and gets you to a full deposit return with the least stress. Get a move-out cleaning quote below.

The mindset that gets your deposit back

Getting your full deposit back isn’t about luck — it’s about evidence and effort. Document the unit’s condition at move-in and move-out, return it genuinely clean, service the aircon, fix the minor stuff you’re responsible for, and hand it over in the state you received it. Landlords deduct for dirt, damage and unmet obligations, not for fair wear and tear — so if you’ve done your part and kept the records to prove it, unreasonable deductions are easy to push back on. Treat the move-out with the same care you’d want as a landlord, and the deposit almost always comes back in full.

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