Moving out of a rental in Newmarket is stressful enough without losing part of your deposit to a cleaning dispute. The Ontario Residential Tenancies Act allows landlords to deduct cleaning costs from your deposit if the unit isn't returned in a reasonable state of cleanliness — and 'reasonable' in practice means cleaner than you might expect.
This checklist covers everything that landlords and property managers in Newmarket and York Region look at during a move-out inspection. Follow it and you maximize your chances of a full deposit return.
Before you start
Two things to do before you start cleaning:
- Take photos of every room once your belongings are out — timestamped photos before the clean and after protect you if there's a dispute about the property's condition
- Review your original move-in inspection report if you have one — you're only responsible for cleanliness, not for damage or wear that was noted when you moved in
Kitchen
- Clean oven interior thoroughly — this is one of the most common deduction points
- Remove oven racks, soak and scrub
- Clean inside the microwave if provided
- Clean inside the refrigerator — all shelves, drawers, and door compartments — and unplug and defrost if required
- Degrease range hood and clean or replace the filter
- Clean inside all cabinets and drawers
- Wipe down all cabinet exteriors and handles
- Clean countertops and backsplash
- Clean and descale sink and faucet
- Clean dishwasher interior if provided
- Mop floor and clean grout
- Wipe down baseboards in kitchen
Bathrooms
- Scrub toilet thoroughly — bowl interior, under rim, exterior, base
- Clean shower and tub — grout, fixtures, glass if applicable
- Descale showerhead and faucets
- Clean vanity inside and out
- Clean mirror
- Mop floor
- Clean exhaust fan
- Ensure no mould is present — address any mould with a proper mould remover
All rooms
- Vacuum or mop all floors
- Clean inside all closets — floor, shelves, and rod
- Wipe down all baseboards
- Clean all windows — glass, sill, and tracks
- Clean window blinds if provided
- Wipe down all light switches and outlet covers
- Wipe down doors and door frames
- Remove any nails, screws, or hooks from walls — fill nail holes with spackle
- Wipe walls where marks or scuffs are visible
- Clean ceiling fans if present
- Vacuum air vents
Entryway and laundry
- Clean entryway floor thoroughly
- Wipe down coat closet interior
- Clean washer and dryer interior if provided
- Wipe down laundry room surfaces
Outdoor and common areas (if applicable)
- Clean balcony or patio — sweep and wash
- Clean parking space if applicable
- Return all keys, fobs, and remotes
The most common deduction points in Newmarket rentals
Based on our experience with move-out cleans in the Newmarket area, these are the areas most likely to result in deductions if missed:
- Oven interior — baked-on grease is the single most common deduction
- Fridge interior — particularly the vegetable drawers and door shelves
- Bathroom grout — mould and soap scum that has built up over the tenancy
- Walls — marks, scuffs, and small holes
- Floors — particularly if there are stains on carpet
- Blinds — dusty or bent blinds are frequently cited in Newmarket inspections
Should you do it yourself or hire a professional?
Professional move-out cleaning has a strong return on investment if your deposit is significant. A professional move-out clean in Newmarket costs $300–$500 for a standard 2-3 bedroom unit. If your deposit is $2,000–$3,000 — common in the current Newmarket rental market — protecting it is clearly worth the investment. We also offer our professional move-in & move-out cleaning service in Aurora.
Professional cleaners also know exactly what landlords and property managers look for, cover every item on this list systematically, and can complete the job in 3–5 hours while you're managing the rest of your move.
Mayfair Home Cleaning handles move-out cleaning in Newmarket, Aurora, and Bradford. We can often accommodate short-notice bookings and are familiar with the local rental market inspection standards.
Ready to book? Get an instant quote and book online at mayfairhomecleaning.com or call us at (289) 201-1873.
Published by Mayfair Home Cleaning — Aurora's locally owned residential cleaning service serving Aurora, Newmarket, and Bradford.