Cleaning is the most common reason Florida landlords keep part of a security deposit, and it’s the easiest one to take off the table. This guide covers what a landlord or property manager checks at a move-out inspection, a room-by-room move out cleaning checklist, and what Florida law says about returning your deposit.
What Landlords Check
Inspections focus on the places a regular weekly clean never reaches: inside the oven and refrigerator, inside cabinets and drawers, behind appliances, baseboards, window and sliding door tracks, and bathroom grout. In South Florida rentals, sliding door tracks full of sand and a dirty balcony or lanai are usually the first things flagged.
Move-Out Cleaning Checklist
Kitchen
- Oven inside, racks and drip pans
- Refrigerator and freezer inside, shelves, drawers and door seals; pull it out and clean behind and underneath
- Inside every cabinet and drawer
- Range hood and filter
- Countertops, backsplash, sink and faucet
- Dishwasher door, seals and filter
Bathrooms
- Toilet inside and out, including the base
- Tub, shower, glass and grout
- Vanity inside and out, mirror and fixtures
- Exhaust fan cover
Every room
- Baseboards, door frames, doors and switch plates
- Scuffs and marks spot-cleaned on walls
- Window sills, tracks and blinds
- Closet shelves, rods and floors
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Floors wall to wall, including where furniture stood
Outside
- Sliding door tracks vacuumed and wiped
- Balcony or lanai floor and the glass facing it
- Garage swept, if the lease includes it
Timing
Book the clean for after the last box leaves and a few days before the inspection, so there’s time to fix anything the walkthrough turns up. The property needs to be empty: cleaning around boxes and furniture means those areas get missed. In condo buildings, book the service elevator for the move first, then the clean.
Take Photos
Once the clean is done, photograph every room, inside the appliances and cabinets, and the tracks. Date-stamped photos are your evidence if the deposit is disputed.
Florida Security Deposit Deadlines
Under Florida Statute 83.49, after you move out:
- If the landlord isn’t making a claim, the deposit must be returned within 15 days.
- If the landlord intends to make a claim, they must send written notice by certified mail within 30 days, stating the reason. If they miss that deadline, they lose the right to make a claim against the deposit.
- You then have 15 days from receiving the notice to object in writing.
Leave the landlord a forwarding address in writing, because the notice goes to your last known mailing address. Normal wear and tear is not a cleaning issue, and damage is separate from cleaning. This is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute, speak to a Florida attorney or your county’s legal aid office.
What Cleaning Doesn’t Cover
Carpet shampooing, wall painting and pressure washing are separate trades. If your lease requires any of them, book them separately and keep the receipts.
Move-Out Cleaning: Common Questions
Do I need to be there during the clean?
No. Most tenants leave a key or code, or arrange access through the property manager or front desk, and check the photos afterward.
Does the refrigerator need to be empty?
Yes, and unplugged only if the landlord asks. An empty refrigerator can be cleaned inside fully, including shelves, drawers and seals.
Is a move-out clean worth it if I’ve kept the place tidy?
Tidy and inspection-ready are different. The oven, behind the refrigerator, cabinet interiors and door tracks are where deductions come from, and those are rarely part of regular cleaning.
Booking a Move-Out Clean
We quote move-out cleans flat on bedroom count and square footage, agreed before we start, and cover everything on this checklist. See move-in and move-out cleaning in South Florida or the local pages for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and Stuart. Call 855-833-7665, or see all our cleaning guides.