Move-out cleaning checklist for HDB & condo handover

Handing back your HDB flat or condo and want your deposit back in full? This move-out cleaning checklist covers exactly what to clean, room by room, before a Singapore handover — plus the part most people miss. A clean unit alone often isn't enough: agents and landlords also check that walls are patched and repainted and that nothing is broken. RK E&C handles both the cleaning and the contractor side in one trip, so you don't fail an inspection on a scuffed wall after paying for a spotless floor.

What landlords and agents actually check at handover

A handover inspection compares the unit against its condition at the start of the tenancy, usually using the inventory list and move-in photos. For owners selling an HDB flat, the buyer and HDB also expect the unit in reasonable, clean condition at completion. The recurring sticking points are nearly always the same:

• Cleanliness — kitchen grease, bathroom scale and mould, dusty grilles and dirty floors.
• Walls — nail holes, mounting holes, scuff marks and bold paint colours the tenant added.
• Aircon — most tenancy agreements require the units serviced before handover.
• Damage — broken fittings, loose door handles, cracked tiles, faulty lights.
• Leftover items — furniture, appliances and rubbish the tenant didn't clear.

Notice that only the first item is cleaning. The rest are handyman and contractor work — and they are where deposits quietly disappear. A handover inspection is rarely about whether the floor shines; it's about whether the unit looks the way it did on day one. That distinction trips up a lot of tenants who book a cleaning crew, walk through a spotless flat, and assume they are covered.

It also helps to know the standard. The unit should be "restored", not "perfect" — normal fair wear and tear is accepted, but holes, scuffs, grime and broken fittings are not.

Cleaning vs make-good: why the difference matters

This is the trap. People book an "end of tenancy cleaning", the unit looks spotless, and they still get a deposit deduction — because cleaning and make-good are two different jobs.

Cleaning

Restoring the unit to a clean state: scrubbing, degreasing, descaling, dusting and mopping. A cleaning crew leaves a sparkling but otherwise unchanged unit — the nail holes and scuffs stay exactly where they are.

Make-good / reinstatement

Restoring the unit to its original handover condition: patching holes, repainting walls back to neutral, fixing damaged fittings and removing anything the tenant installed. For rented units this is often called reinstatement, and it's the contractor's domain — see our guide on painting and make-good costs for what repainting typically involves.

A clean flat with twenty unpatched holes and a feature wall in dark green can still fail an inspection. You need both jobs done, and that's exactly where hiring a cleaner-only company leaves a gap.

Why one team is cheaper and faster

Most cleaning companies only clean. When you need patching and repainting too, they tell you to find a contractor — so you end up booking two vendors, paying two trip charges, and coordinating two schedules around your handover date.

RK E&C is a one-stop handover service: cleaning and the contractor side — repainting, patching and make-good, reinstatement, minor fixing and repairs, plus a normal aircon cleaning and servicing — all in one visit. That matters for three reasons:

1. One trip, one price. A combined job spreads a single mobilisation across everything, instead of paying a cleaner and a contractor separately.
2. Right order, no waiting. Patch and paint first, clean last — so you don't clean a wall, then dirty it patching, then pay to clean it again.
3. One point of accountability. If the inspection flags something, you call one team, not two who blame each other.

Room-by-room move-out cleaning checklist

Work top to bottom in each room — ceilings and grilles first, floors last — so dust settles before the final mop. The table below is the cleaning scope; make-good items are flagged in the third column where they usually crop up. Use it as a tick-list as you go through the unit.

Area	Cleaning tasks	Often needs make-good
Living & bedrooms	Dust fans, lights & skirting; wipe windows, grilles & tracks; vacuum and mop floors	Patch nail/mounting holes, repaint walls
Kitchen	Degrease hood, hob, tiles & cabinets; clean sink & appliances inside-out	Reseal silicone, fix loose handles
Bathrooms	Descale taps & glass; remove mould; scrub toilet, basin & floor traps	Re-grout, replace cracked accessories
Aircon	Wipe casings & covers	Normal aircon cleaning & servicing of fan coil and filters
Whole unit	Wipe doors, switches & built-ins; clear cobwebs; final floor clean	Touch-up paint, fix faulty lights, clear leftover items

A few details people miss

• Window tracks and grille slats hold years of dust and are checked closely in HDB flats.
• Behind and under appliances — fridge, washer, oven — where grease and grime collect out of sight.
• Inside cabinets and wardrobes, not just the doors; agents open them during the walk-through.
• Floor traps and balcony drains, which are an easy callback if left clogged or smelly.
• Light fittings and switch plates, often skipped because they look clean from a distance.

How this protects your deposit

Your deposit is one of the few things still in your control on the way out. To give yourself the strongest position:

• Get the unit cleaned and made good before the inspection, not after a deduction is raised.
• Take before-and-after photos and keep the service receipt as evidence the work was done.
• Match the work to the inventory and move-in photos — restore, don't over-improve.
• Clear all leftover items; an uncleared bulky item is an easy, avoidable deduction.
• For HDB sellers, present the flat clean and intact for the buyer's final inspection — see HDB's guidance on selling and handing over a flat.

Clearing leftover and bulky items

Don't leave old furniture, mattresses or appliances at the void deck or in the unit — both cause problems at handover. Bulky waste should go through your town council's collection or be disposed of properly; NEA's guidance on waste disposal explains the correct channels. A one-stop handover service can clear and dispose of these items as part of the same job, so the unit is genuinely empty and clean when the agent walks through.

Indicative cost

As a rough market guide for 2026, end-of-tenancy cleaning for a typical HDB or condo unit runs from around $250 for a smaller flat to $500+ for larger or unfurnished units. Make-good work — patching and repainting, minor repairs and aircon servicing — is quoted on the unit's condition. A combined cleaning-plus-make-good booking is usually more competitive than paying a cleaner and a contractor separately. For a bigger reinstatement or renovation job, our guide on choosing a renovation contractor in Singapore is worth a read.

Getting it done by RK E&C

RK E&C is a Singapore-registered renovation and cleaning company (UEN 202442767D) that handles move-out and handover for HDB flats and condos island-wide — cleaning, repainting, patching and make-good, reinstatement, minor repairs and aircon servicing in one trip, one quote, one team. We also publish more home guides if you're prepping for a move.

Send a photo of your unit and your postal code and we'll quote you — usually the same day.

Frequently asked questions

How much does move-out cleaning cost in Singapore?

End-of-tenancy cleaning for a typical HDB or condo unit usually runs from about $250 for a smaller flat to $500 or more for larger or unfurnished units, depending on size, condition and add-ons like aircon servicing. When repainting or minor repairs are also needed, bundling the cleaning and contractor work into one booking is normally cheaper than hiring a cleaner and a contractor separately.

What is the difference between move-out cleaning and reinstatement?

Cleaning restores the unit to a clean state — scrubbing, degreasing, descaling and dusting. Reinstatement, or make-good, restores the unit to its original handover condition: patching holes, repainting walls, fixing damage and removing anything the tenant added. A clean flat with unpatched holes and scuffed walls can still fail a handover inspection, which is why many tenants need both.

Why hire one team for both cleaning and repairs?

Most cleaning companies only clean and will tell you to call a contractor for patching, painting and repairs. Booking one team that does cleaning plus the make-good work means a single trip, one schedule and usually a lower combined price than paying two separate trip charges and coordinating between two vendors yourself.

Will move-out cleaning help me get my deposit back?

It is the main thing within your control. Landlords and agents inspect the unit against the inventory and handover condition. A unit that is cleaned, patched and repainted where needed removes the easy reasons for deposit deductions. Keep before-and-after photos and the cleaning receipt as evidence.

Do I need to clean the aircon before handing over the unit?

Most tenancy agreements require the air-conditioners to be serviced before handover, and an unserviced unit is a common deduction. A normal aircon cleaning and servicing of the fan coil and filters is usually expected; confirm the exact requirement in your tenancy agreement.

How do I dispose of bulky items left behind at move-out?

Bulky items such as old furniture and mattresses should not be dumped at the void deck. You can arrange free bulky-waste removal through your town council or refer to NEA guidance on proper disposal. A handover service can also clear and dispose of leftover items as part of the job.