Apartment Cleaning Checklist Before Handover

Before handing an apartment back to the landlord, separate cleaning tasks, maintenance issues and the final inspection. Start with a list of rooms and the areas included in your agreement. Arrange cleaning after packing and moving work where possible, so that new dust is not created immediately after the visit.

Prepare the empty property

Confirm that water and electricity are available and explain how the team can enter the building. Remove personal belongings and identify any remaining items that are not to be discarded. Report leaking fixtures, broken fittings or other maintenance concerns separately; cleaning does not repair a defect.

Kitchen checklist

• Agree whether empty cupboards are to be cleaned inside.
• Check worktops, splashbacks and accessible surfaces.
• List the appliances included and whether internal cleaning is requested.
• Explain stubborn grease or marks before the visit.
• Review floors and accessible edges without assuming heavy appliances will be moved.

Bathrooms and living areas

Check sanitary fixtures, accessible tiles, floors and cabinets. Different materials need suitable products, and permanent surface damage should be distinguished from removable deposits. In living areas, include doors, reachable switches and window surfaces that can be accessed safely. High exterior windows may require a separate service.

Floors, curtains and upholstered items

Describe the floor finish before selecting a cleaning method. Marble polishing is different from general floor cleaning, and carpet washing needs drying time. If furniture or curtains remain, list them separately. Do not assume specialist washing, removal or rehanging is part of a general apartment handover clean.

Final review

1. Walk through the agreed rooms and review the completed scope.
2. Record any remaining cleaning issue or separate repair.
3. Check that wet surfaces are safe before normal access.
4. Collect belongings and confirm the key arrangements.
5. Keep the handover requirements and inspection notes together.

A cleaning visit does not itself guarantee a deposit refund; the tenancy and the landlord’s inspection determine those arrangements. For the cleaning scope, review move-in and move-out cleaning in Qatar and contact Dar Al Mahara on WhatsApp with the apartment size, area, photographs and preferred date.