What's the difference between a regular clean and a deep clean?

A regular clean maintains a tidy home — it covers everyday surfaces, floors, and fixtures. A deep clean goes much further: behind appliances, inside windows, skirting boards, limescale removal, and a thorough bathroom and kitchen scrub. Most clients start with a deep clean and then move to regular maintenance.

How often should I book a regular clean?

That depends on your household. Families with children or pets often prefer weekly visits. Couples or single occupants typically find fortnightly or monthly works well. We're flexible and will work around whatever suits you best.

Does your end of tenancy clean guarantee my deposit back?

We are confident in our standards and clean to a professional level that satisfies landlord and letting agent expectations across Ayrshire and South Glasgow. If your landlord raises a cleaning issue after our visit, we will return and re-clean the relevant areas free of charge.

Do you bring your own equipment and products?

Yes — we bring everything. All our products are eco-friendly and safe for children and pets. You don't need to provide anything.

Are your staff vetted and insured?

Absolutely. All Couthy Clean staff are PVG checked and we carry full Public and Employers' Liability insurance. You can open your door with complete confidence.

Do you serve areas outside Ayrshire?

Yes. We also cover East Renfrewshire (Newton Mearns, Giffnock, Clarkston) and South Glasgow (Busby, Eaglesham and surrounding areas). Not sure if we cover your postcode? Just get in touch and we'll let you know.

Do you offer move in and move out cleaning?

Yes. Our end of tenancy cleaning service covers both move out cleans for tenants and move in cleans for those starting fresh in a new property. We clean everything top to bottom including oven, fridge, inside cabinets and walls.

End of Tenancy Cleaning: Landlord’s Guide to Deductions

Cleaning is the single most common reason for deposit disputes between landlords and tenants in Scotland — and also the most avoidable. Most disputes don’t come from genuine disagreement about whether a property is dirty; they come from unclear expectations set at the start of the tenancy. This guide covers what’s fair to deduct for, what isn’t, and how to avoid the argument altogether.

What Reasonable Deductions Look Like

A deduction should reflect the actual cost of bringing the property back to the condition it was in at check-in — not check-in “as new,” but as it genuinely was, accounting for fair wear and tear.

Reasonable grounds for a cleaning deduction typically include:

Visible grease and grime beyond normal use
Limescale build-up beyond what existed at check-in
Stains on carpets or furnishings not present in the original inventory
Uncleaned appliances (oven, fridge) left in a state requiring professional attention
Rubbish or belongings left behind requiring removal

What Isn’t Fair Wear and Tear vs What Is

Fair Wear and Tear (Not Deductible)	Genuine Cleanliness Issue (Deductible)
Faded carpet from sunlight over years	Carpet stains from spills, not cleaned
Minor scuff marks from furniture	Grease build-up in kitchen from months of non-cleaning
Small nail holes from picture hooks	Limescale far beyond original condition
Slight fading of paint over a long tenancy	Mould caused by lack of ventilation/cleaning, not damp issues

The distinction matters legally, not just practically — deposit protection schemes in Scotland will side with tenants where a deduction is really about normal ageing of the property rather than cleanliness.

The Inventory Is Everything

The single biggest factor in avoiding disputes is a thorough, dated, photographed inventory at check-in. Without one, “the property wasn’t this clean when they moved in” is unprovable either way — and adjudicators default to giving tenants the benefit of the doubt in the absence of evidence.

Photograph every room, including close-ups of appliances, carpets and any existing wear
Date-stamp photos and keep them alongside the written inventory
Have the tenant countersign or acknowledge the inventory at move-in

Setting Expectations at Move-In

Most disputes are avoidable simply by being explicit in the tenancy agreement about the cleaning standard expected at check-out — “professionally cleaned to the standard of the move-in inventory” is a stronger, more enforceable clause than a vague reference to “clean condition.”

What to Do If the Property Isn’t Clean Enough

Document the specific issues with photos immediately, before arranging any cleaning
Get 2–3 quotes for the necessary cleaning to establish a fair market cost
Communicate the issues and proposed deduction to the tenant with evidence attached
Only proceed to deposit scheme adjudication if agreement can’t be reached directly

FAQ

Can I charge tenants for a full professional clean regardless of condition? No — you can only recover the actual cost of bringing the property to the standard it was in at move-in, not an arbitrary “always professionally cleaned” charge unless this was explicitly agreed and reasonable given the property’s original condition.

What if I didn’t do a proper inventory at check-in? This significantly weakens your position in any dispute — adjudicators need evidence, and without a comparable check-in record, it’s difficult to prove the property’s condition has genuinely declined.

Is it reasonable to require tenants to use a specific cleaning company? Generally no, unless this was clearly agreed in the tenancy contract from the outset. Tenants are usually entitled to use any cleaner, professional or DIY, provided the result meets the required standard.

How much can I reasonably deduct for cleaning? Only the genuine, evidenced cost of professional cleaning required to address specific issues — get quotes and keep receipts, as arbitrary or estimated figures are the most commonly challenged and overturned in disputes.

Should I recommend a cleaning company to outgoing tenants? It’s good practice and reduces disputes — many landlords find that recommending (not mandating) a reliable local cleaner results in a smoother handover for both sides.

For Landlords and Letting Agents

If you manage multiple properties across Ayrshire or South Glasgow, our End of Tenancy Cleaning service is fully insured and consistently meets check-out inventory standards — get in touch about recurring arrangements between tenancies.