Move-out cleaning checklist for Dubai apartments

What landlords check at handover

At handover the landlord or agent usually inspects the apartment with you and compares it with its condition when you moved in. Lawyers commenting on Dubai tenancy law note that the tenant must return the unit in the condition it was received, normal wear and tear excepted, and that the security deposit is held to cover maintenance, with the balance refunded when the tenancy ends.

Your tenancy contract may say more, for example that the unit must be professionally cleaned before handover, so read it before you book.

• Kitchen appliances, cabinets and worktops are clean and free of grease.
• Bathrooms are free of limescale, mould and stains.
• Floors, walls, windows and balcony are clean, with no marks beyond normal wear.
• AC vents are clean, if your contract requires it.
• All keys, access cards, parking cards and remote controls are returned.
• Electricity, water and cooling bills are settled, with final bills or clearance where required.

Kitchen

• Inside and outside the oven, racks, trays and hob.
• Inside the fridge and freezer: empty, defrost if needed, wipe shelves and seals.
• Inside and outside every cabinet and drawer.
• Extractor hood and filter.
• Sink, taps, tiles and grout.

Bathrooms

• Descale taps, shower heads, glass screens and tiles.
• Scrub grout and silicone, and deal with any mould.
• Toilet, basin and bath, including behind and underneath.
• Mirrors, cabinets and extractor fans.

Bedrooms and living areas

• Inside wardrobes and built-in cupboards.
• Interior windows, sills and sliding-door tracks, where sand collects.
• AC vents, light fittings and switches.
• Skirting boards, doors and door handles.
• Vacuum and mop every floor, including where furniture stood.

Balcony

• Sweep and wash the floor.
• Wipe railings and glass.
• Clear sand from corners and the drain.

Getting your security deposit back

• Clean after the movers have left, so the clean is not undone.
• Take dated photos or a video of every room once the clean is finished, and keep your move-in photos or inspection report.
• Fix small things such as loose handles or blown bulbs before the inspection.
• Get a signed handover form, key receipt or email confirming the handover.
• Settle electricity, water and cooling bills and keep the final bills or clearance.
• If the landlord will not refund the deposit, tenants can file a claim with the Dubai Rental Disputes Centre.

How many hours to book

A move-out clean is a deep clean of an empty home, so it takes roughly one and a half to two times as long as a regular clean. Book more time if the home has not been deep cleaned in a while.

• Studio or 1-bedroom apartment: 4 to 5 hours.
• 2-bedroom apartment: 5 to 6 hours.
• 3-bedroom apartment: 6 to 8 hours.
• Villa: book two visits.

Booking a move-out clean on paolt

On paolt you choose a verified agency that covers your area, pick a date, a start time and 1 to 8 hours, and add the extras the agency offers: oven, fridge, windows and balcony matter most at move-out. The booking page shows the full price, including the flat AED 5.99 booking fee, before you confirm. You follow the job live, chat with the agency in the app, and the after-clean photo report gives you a record of the finished apartment. Payment is made in-app and held until the job is done.