Moving
Move-Out Cleaning in Sharjah: Hand Back Your Flat and Get Your Deposit
When you leave a rented flat or villa in Sharjah, the condition you hand it back in can decide how much of your security deposit you get back. A proper move-out clean is one of the simplest ways to avoid deductions, and one of the easiest things to leave too late in a busy move.
Why move-out cleaning matters
Landlords and property managers usually inspect the property at handover and compare it with its condition when you moved in. Dirt, grease and limescale are easy to spot and easy to deduct for. A thorough clean doesn't fix damage, but it removes the most common reasons for "cleaning charges".
Check your tenancy contract. Some contracts state the condition the property must be returned in, and some landlords require professional cleaning. Read it before you book, so the clean covers what's actually required.
What landlords typically check
- Kitchen: grease on the hob and hood, inside cupboards, the sink and the splashback
- Bathrooms: limescale on taps and glass, grout, the toilet and the drains
- Floors: marks, stains, dust along the edges and in corners
- Walls, doors and switches: fingerprints and scuffs
- Windows and balcony: glass, frames and tracks, which collect sand quickly in the UAE
- Inside wardrobes and cabinets, which should be empty and clean
- AC grilles, where dust shows clearly
Move-out cleaning checklist
An empty home is the best time to clean, because nothing is in the way. A full move-out clean should include:
- Inside and outside every cabinet, drawer and wardrobe
- Kitchen degreased: hob, hood, splashback, sink and appliance exteriors
- Bathrooms descaled and sanitised, including glass, grout and fittings
- Interior windows, frames, sills and tracks
- Doors, frames, skirting and switches wiped
- Floors cleaned in detail, edge to edge
- Balcony swept and washed
- AC grilles wiped
For a room-by-room version you can print, use our move-out cleaning checklist for Sharjah tenants. If you had pets, add pet-odour treatment for carpets or soft furnishings. If there are carpets or curtains that belong to the landlord, ask whether they need professional cleaning too.
When to book
Book the clean for after the movers have left and before the handover inspection. Cleaning while boxes and furniture are still in place means missed spots and a second visit. If your schedule is tight, book early: move-out dates often cluster around the end of the month.
How long it takes
Most apartments take about 3–6 hours depending on size and condition; larger villas can take most of a day. Tip Top sends a team sized to the property, so the job is done in one visit.
What it costs
Move-out cleaning is priced like a deep clean, by property size and condition. As a guide, Tip Top's deep cleaning starts from around AED 199 for a studio, roughly AED 299–599 for a 1–2 bedroom apartment and AED 999+ for villas. Extras such as sofa, carpet or pet-odour treatment are priced per item. We confirm the final price after a quick on-site or photo-based assessment.
Moving in? Clean before you unpack
The same logic works in reverse. A deep clean of your new home before your furniture arrives is far easier than cleaning around boxes, and you know exactly what you're starting with. Many people book a move-out clean for the old place and a move-in clean for the new one in the same week. See why you should deep clean before you unpack.
Tips for a smooth handover
- Take dated photos of every room after the clean.
- Be present at the inspection if you can, and ask the landlord to point out any issue on the spot.
- Keep your cleaning invoice in case cleaning charges are disputed.
- Return all keys and access cards at the same time.