Portsmouth has one of the highest concentrations of student rental properties in the South of England - thousands of houses and flats around Southsea, Fratton, Milton and the roads near Portsmouth University turn over every June and July. And every year, thousands of students lose part or all of their deposit over cleaning.
This guide covers exactly what to do, and when, to give yourself the best chance of a full deposit return.
Start Earlier Than You Think
Most students start thinking about the end of tenancy in the final week. By then, you are exhausted from exams and moving, you have left cleaning for last, and you are trying to do everything in 48 hours. This is when mistakes happen and deposits get lost.
Start the process four weeks before your tenancy ends. That gives you time to do it properly.
Get Your Check-In Inventory
Your landlord or letting agent should have given you a check-in inventory at the start of your tenancy - a document recording the condition of every room, surface, appliance and piece of furniture when you moved in. Find this document. It is the benchmark your check-out will be judged against.
If you never received one, photograph every room thoroughly before you start cleaning - this protects you if there is a dispute.
What Portsmouth Landlords and Agents Actually Check
Based on the most common deposit deduction reasons in Portsmouth student lets:
The Kitchen
- The oven inside - including back wall, door glass, racks and the grill pan. This is the single most common reason for deductions.
- Inside all cupboards and drawers - crumbs, grease, sticky residue
- Behind and under the fridge and washing machine
- The extractor fan filter - grease build-up is easy to spot
- Sink and taps - limescale and soap scum
The Bathroom
- Shower screen or bath - soap scum, limescale and mould in silicone seals (very common in Portsmouth due to hard water and coastal humidity)
- Toilet - under the rim and behind the cistern
- Tile grout - mould discolouration
- Extractor fan cover
All Rooms
- Carpets - stains and odours, compared against the check-in record
- Walls - marks and scuffs beyond fair wear and tear
- Skirting boards and door frames - dust and marks
- Windows inside - smears and frames
- Light fittings - dead bulbs and dust
Splitting the Cost With Housemates
If you live in a shared house - common in streets around Portsmouth University - agree early how to split the cleaning cost. A professional end of tenancy clean for a typical 4-bed student house in Southsea or Fratton runs to £180-£280 split between housemates. That is usually £45-£70 each - far less than losing your portion of a £400-£600 deposit.
Book the professional clean for the day before or the morning of your check-out inspection. Do not book it a week before and then cook and live in the property afterwards.
What Counts as Fair Wear and Tear
Landlords cannot charge you for normal wear and tear - minor scuffs on walls, slight fading, small marks from everyday use. They can charge for damage, heavy soiling, staining and anything that goes beyond what you would expect from reasonable use over the tenancy period.
If in doubt: if you would notice it walking into the property for the first time, it is probably something you should address.
VS Group Ltd End of Tenancy Cleaning for Portsmouth Students
We clean hundreds of student properties across Portsmouth every summer. Our end of tenancy cleans start from £150 and are specifically priced for student houses and flats around Southsea (PO4, PO5), Fratton (PO1), North End (PO2) and Cosham (PO6).
Every clean includes the oven as standard. We provide a dated invoice most Portsmouth letting agents accept as proof of professional cleaning, and we offer a free re-clean guarantee within 72 hours if your landlord raises any concerns.
Book early - June and July are our busiest months and slots fill up fast. Book online or get a quote for your property. We often have next-day availability outside peak season.