Ready for Every New Tenant to Walk Into a ‘Show-Home’ Standard?
Before You Hand Over the Keys
Getting a rental “ready” isn’t just about a quick hoover and a wipe-down.
For landlords and HMO owners, the details your cleaner misses are often the details your new tenants spot first.
Those small oversights can trigger complaints, bad reviews, or early move-outs that hurt your returns.
Below are seven areas that are easy to overlook but make a big difference to standards in single lets and HMOs alike.
1. Inside the shower drain
The shower tray might look clean, but lift the drain cover and you’ll often find hair, soap scum, and general gunk sitting out of sight.
Left alone, this can slow drainage and cause unpleasant smells that make a “freshly cleaned” bathroom feel anything but fresh.
Make sure the drain cover is lifted, the trap is cleared, and the area is properly rinsed before every new tenancy.
2. Skirting boards
Skirting boards are classic dust collectors, especially in high-traffic rental properties and HMOs where shoes, bags, and furniture constantly brush against them.
Run your finger along the top and you’ll quickly see whether they’ve really been cleaned or just ignored during a rushed visit.
A quick wipe-down around the whole room instantly lifts the overall standard.
3. Underneath the bed
Always look under every bed.
Tenants and previous occupiers love to “store” things here, and lazy cleaners love to pretend that area doesn’t exist.
In HMOs and shared houses, it’s common to find old socks, wrappers, dust and cobwebs hiding underneath.
Getting this area properly hoovered and cleared avoids that awkward moment when a new tenant looks under the bed on day one.
4. Inside the microwave and fridge
Appliances can look fine from the outside while being a disaster inside.
Microwaves with dried-on food and fridges with old spills or odours create an immediate bad impression, especially in shared HMO kitchens.
These items should be fully emptied, wiped, and reset to a genuinely clean state before move-in – it signals that you take hygiene and standards seriously.
5. Behind the toilet seat
Bathrooms are where a lot of shortcuts get taken.
One of the worst offenders is behind and around the toilet seat, where urine stains, dust and grime can build up over time.
This is particularly important in busy HMOs and multi-let properties where multiple tenants share facilities.
Lifting the seat and thoroughly cleaning behind and around the hinges is essential if you want to maintain a high standard.
6. Inside cupboards and drawers
A shiny worktop means nothing if the cupboards and drawers are sticky inside.
Old food stains, crumbs, and marks left by previous tenants are a quick way to make a “clean” kitchen feel neglected.
Open every door and drawer, check the internal surfaces, and make sure they’ve been wiped down properly.
This should be standard practice for you or any cleaning team you use.
7. Boiler rooms and hidden service spaces
Boilers and meters are often tucked away in small rooms, cupboards or basements that no one thinks to clean.
Over time they collect dust, cobwebs and general debris.
Even though these aren’t living spaces, tenants and contractors still need to access them to use the heating or check systems.
Giving these areas a basic clean keeps the whole property feeling well looked after and reduces that “forgotten corner” vibe.
Why These Checks Matter for Your Rental or HMO:
These small details are exactly why you – or a trusted assistant or managing agent – should personally spot-check standards before you allow viewings or a new tenancy to start.
A strong first impression sets the tone for how tenants treat the property and how long they stay.
High standards help maximise tenant satisfaction, reduce complaints, and protect your asset over the long term.
Never rely on photos alone – an in-person check is essential if you want your property to genuinely match the standard you think you’re offering.