Quick answer: Yes, but only to a normal standard. Ontario tenants must leave the unit in “ordinary or normal cleanliness” and pay for damage they cause. They don’t have to hire professional cleaners. A landlord can’t keep your rent deposit for cleaning, and lease terms that add fees the law doesn’t allow are void.
Moving out is stressful enough without a surprise cleaning bill. Here is what Ontario’s rules say and how to leave nothing to argue about. This is general information, not legal advice.
What do Ontario’s rules say about move-out cleaning?
- Cleanliness: the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) says a tenant must keep the unit clean “up to the standard that most people would consider ordinary or normal cleanliness”.
- Damage: you must repair or pay for damage caused by you, your guests or anyone living with you, whether on purpose or through carelessness.
- Deposits: a landlord can collect a rent deposit of up to one month’s rent (one week’s if you pay weekly). It can only be used as your last month’s rent, never for cleaning or repairs. Damage deposits and pet deposits are not allowed.
- Lease terms: Ontario’s guide to the standard lease says any extra term that takes away a right or responsibility under the Residential Tenancies Act is void, including terms that make you pay deposits, fees or penalties the Act doesn’t permit.
- Professional cleaning clauses: a staff lawyer at Parkdale Community Legal Services told NOW Toronto that landlords can ask, but can’t require tenants to pay for or provide professional cleaning if the unit is left in ordinary cleanliness.
- Claims after you leave: a landlord who says you owe money, for example for damage, can apply to the LTB with form L10. It must be filed within one year of the date you moved out.
Why do move-out cleaning disputes happen?
Most disagreements come from different ideas of “clean”. A landlord readying the unit for the next tenant may want it spotless, while the law only asks for ordinary cleanliness. Years of grease and soap scum make it worse, and in GTA condos, elevator bookings and tight move-out dates leave little time to clean.
It also helps to separate wear and tear from damage. Faded paint, small nail holes and floors worn by normal use are part of living somewhere. Large holes in walls, broken fixtures or stained carpet are damage, and that is what landlords can claim for.
How to clean a rental before you move out: step by step
You need all-purpose cleaner, a degreaser for the kitchen, a bathroom cleaner, microfibre cloths, a scrub brush, a vacuum, a mop and garbage bags. Plan for several hours for an apartment and longer for a house. Start once your furniture is out.
- Empty everything. Remove all belongings, food and garbage, including the balcony and locker.
- Work top to bottom. Dust shelves, fixtures and sills before the floors.
- Kitchen. Wipe inside and outside the cabinets, the counters and the backsplash. Clean the stovetop, the inside of the oven and the fridge, and leave the fridge door ajar if it is switched off.
- Bathrooms. Scrub the toilet, sink, tub and shower, remove soap scum, and wipe mirrors and the vanity inside and out.
- Walls and touch points. Spot-clean marks, light switches, door handles and baseboards. Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Floors last. Vacuum edge to edge, including inside closets, then mop hard floors.
- Document it. Take dated photos or a video of every room once you are done, and return all keys.
Safety: never mix bleach with other cleaning products, including vinegar or anything containing ammonia, because the mix can release toxic gases. Open windows or run the fan, and wear gloves.
What mistakes cost tenants money at move-out?
- Leaving things behind. Old furniture, food or garbage invite a dispute.
- Skipping the oven and fridge. Grease and spills inside appliances are what people notice first.
- No photos. Without dated pictures, it is your word against theirs.
- Paying a fee on the spot. If a landlord asks for a flat cleaning charge, ask what it is for in writing. You don’t have to agree to fees the law doesn’t allow.
- Harsh products. Abrasive pads can scratch finishes and turn cleaning into damage.
When should you hire a professional instead?
A professional move-out clean is worth it when:
- you are moving long distance or the new place needs your time on the same day;
- there is years of build-up in the kitchen or bathroom;
- it is a large house with several bathrooms;
Some problems need a different specialist. Leaks, pests or mould that keeps coming back should be reported to your landlord in writing, because the landlord is responsible for maintenance and repairs. If you are in a dispute about money, the LTB or a community legal clinic can explain your options.
How The Clean Leaf handles move-out cleans
Our move in / move out clean is built for empty homes, so we can reach every surface once the furniture is gone. Prices start at $280 for a studio or 1 bedroom, $330 for 2 bedrooms, $450 for 3 bedrooms and $560 for 4 bedrooms, before 13% HST. Larger homes get a custom quote. Tell us what your landlord expects and we confirm the exact price before we start. Tell us about any elevator booking or parking pass your building needs. Doing it yourself? Use our room-by-room move-out cleaning checklist.
We clean homes and condos in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, Barrie, Innisfil and Bradford. See all our services on the home page.
DIY vs professional move-out cleaning
| Do it yourself | Professional clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Several hours or more, on moving day | None of your time |
| Cost | Cleaning supplies | From $280 before 13% HST |
| Result | Good for a lightly used unit | Whole empty home, top to bottom |
| Best for | Small apartments and flexible move dates | Tight timelines, larger homes, heavy build-up |
How to prevent a cleaning dispute with your landlord
- Take dated photos of every room on move-in day and keep them until well after you leave.
- Wipe the stovetop and bathroom weekly so grease and soap scum never build up.
- Report leaks, mould and broken items to your landlord in writing as soon as you notice them.
- Ask for a walkthrough before you hand back the keys, and keep any notes in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Are tenants responsible for cleaning when moving out in Ontario?
Yes. Tenants must leave the unit in ordinary or normal cleanliness and pay for any damage they or their guests caused. They are not required to leave it professionally cleaned.
Can a landlord charge a cleaning fee in Ontario?
A lease term that makes you pay a deposit, fee or penalty the Residential Tenancies Act doesn’t permit is void. If a landlord believes you owe money, for example for damage, they can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year of your move-out.
Can my landlord keep my last month’s rent deposit for cleaning?
No. In Ontario the rent deposit can only be used as rent for the last month or week of the tenancy. It cannot be used for cleaning or repairs, and damage deposits are not allowed.
Can a landlord make me hire professional cleaners?
A landlord can ask, but a staff lawyer at a Toronto community legal clinic told NOW Toronto they cannot require it if you leave the unit in ordinary cleanliness.
What should I do if my landlord says the unit was dirty?
Ask for the details in writing, share your dated move-out photos, and keep every message. If they apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board, you can respond with your evidence.
Book your move-out clean
Want to hand back the keys without the stress? Book through our Get a Quote form or call (249) 468-7977. We clean Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.
Sources
- Landlord and Tenant Board: A Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act
- Landlord and Tenant Board: Information for New Tenants
- Ontario.ca: Guide to Ontario’s standard lease
- Landlord and Tenant Board: L10 instructions (money a former tenant owes)
- NOW Toronto: tenant rights and professional cleaning fees
- liv.rent: cleaning and damage rules when moving out in Ontario
- Health Canada: never mix bleach with other cleaning products
