Secure your full deposit back. A room-by-room move-out cleaning checklist aligned with German Wohnungsübergabe standards, plus when to hire a professional in Berlin.
What landlords in Berlin actually expect
Most Berlin tenancy agreements require the flat to be returned "besenrein" (broom-clean) at minimum, but in practice landlords and their handover protocol (Wohnungsübergabeprotokoll) expect a genuinely clean, ready-to-relet apartment. Limescale in the bathroom, a greasy oven or marks on the walls are the most common reasons deposits are partly withheld.
A thorough move-out clean is the cheapest insurance for your deposit — and it removes friction at the handover, which matters when you are juggling a move across the city.
Kitchen
The kitchen is inspected most closely. Make sure to cover:
- Oven, racks and tray degreased inside and out
- Extractor hood and grease filter cleaned
- Fridge/freezer defrosted, wiped and left open
- Inside all cabinets and drawers wiped
- Tiles, splashback and sink descaled
Bathroom
Limescale and mould are the deal-breakers here:
- Toilet, sink, shower and tub descaled and disinfected
- Tile grout scrubbed, silicone joints checked for mould
- Mirrors, fittings and chrome polished
- Drains cleared and odour-free
Living spaces, floors & windows
Finish with the surfaces the inspector sees first:
- Walls and light switches spot-cleaned, nail holes filled if agreed
- Skirting boards, door frames and radiators dusted
- Floors vacuumed and mopped; carpets shampooed if needed
- Windows cleaned inside and out, including frames and sills
When to hire a professional
If the handover date is tight, the flat is large, or you simply want guaranteed acceptance, a professional move-out clean is worth it. We work to the Wohnungsübergabe standard across Berlin — Friedrichshain, Neukölln, Charlottenburg, Spandau, Köpenick and beyond — and into Brandenburg towns like Potsdam and Falkensee, and we re-clean free if your landlord flags anything.