How much does move-out cleaning cost in Singapore?

2 of the 20 listed companies that do move-out work publish a price: one starts at S$191 and runs to S$669 by floor area and cleaner count, the other starts at S$300. Another 2 sell one bundled price covering move-out, post-renovation and spring cleaning, from S$250 and from S$288. Everyone else quotes after a look at the unit.

Do I need professional move-out cleaning to get my deposit back?

Not always. The tenancy agreement sets the condition the unit has to come back in, and the agent inspects it against the move-in inventory. Whether you hire help is a judgement about the size of the unit, the state it is in, and how much of a day you have.

When should I schedule it?

After the furniture is out and before the final handover inspection. A day or two before you return the keys leaves room to fix anything the clean uncovers.

What do landlords inspect at handover?

They check against the move-in inventory: walls, floors, windows and tracks, kitchen, bathrooms, aircon servicing records where the agreement requires them, and any damage beyond fair wear and tear.

Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Singapore

Moving out of a Singapore rental comes down to one inspection. Return the unit in the condition it was handed to you and the deposit comes back. Deductions come from the places that are easy to miss and quick for an agent to check. Here is what to cover.

Before you start

Clean after the furniture and belongings are out. You cannot clean what is covered.
Find your move-in inventory list or condition report. That is the standard you are measured against.
Check the tenancy agreement for a clause requiring professional aircon servicing at handover.
Book the clean a day or two before the final inspection, not the morning of it.

Room-by-room move-out checklist

Kitchen

Degrease stovetop, hood and backsplash
Clean inside and outside of oven, microwave and fridge (defrost it if you are leaving it)
Wipe down all cabinets inside and out
Scrub the sink and polish taps, and clear any limescale
Clean the exhaust filter

Bathrooms

Descale and disinfect toilet, sink, shower and taps
Remove soap scum and mould from tiles, grout and glass
Clear and wipe cabinets and mirrors
Unclog and clean floor traps

Bedrooms and living areas

Wipe walls for marks, scuffs and fingerprints
Clean inside built-in wardrobes and shelving
Dust and wipe skirting, switches, door frames and ledges
Clean windows, tracks and grilles, which is a common deduction spot
Vacuum and mop all floors

Aircon and the rest

Arrange aircon servicing if the agreement requires it, and keep the receipt. The lists that price per unit run from S$16 to S$24 a unit.
Clean ceiling fans and light fittings
Wipe down the balcony, railings and floor included
Clear all rubbish and anything left behind

Doing it yourself, or hiring it out

An empty unit is heavy work. Windows and tracks, oven interiors, grout and wall marks are where the hours go, and they are the same places an agent checks first.

What hiring costs is published by only 2 of the 20 companies here that do this work: one from S$191, whose own rate card runs up to S$669 by floor area and cleaner count, and one from S$300. Another 2 fold move-out into a single bundled price with post-renovation and spring cleaning, from S$250 and from S$288. For comparison, a deep or spring clean on the same lists starts between S$198 and S$340. Everyone else quotes after seeing the unit, which for a job priced on condition is reasonable.

Ask for the price in writing against a named scope before the day, and ask in the same message what a return visit costs if the agent flags something afterwards. See the full price guide for how the rest of the market publishes.

Next: how to choose a cleaning company, or see the companies that do move-out work.

Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Singapore Rentals (Get Your Deposit Back)