If you've rented with a pet, your end of tenancy clean needs to go further than usual: remove every trace of hair, neutralise odours rather than masking them, treat any urine or accident stains with an enzyme cleaner, and make sure there's no sign of fleas. Landlords and inventory clerks look closely at pet homes, so a methodical clean is the best way to protect your deposit.
The good news is that most pet-related mess is cleanable. Here's how to approach it.
What do landlords check in a home where a pet has lived?
Inventory clerks tend to focus on the same things in pet-friendly properties:
- Hair on carpets, soft furnishings, skirting boards and inside cupboards.
- Smells, especially in carpets, curtains and upholstered furniture.
- Stains from accidents, food bowls or muddy paws.
- Scratches on doors, frames and floors.
- Signs of fleas or other pests.
- The garden, if you have one: waste picked up and any holes filled.
Start by reading your check-in inventory so you know the condition you're being compared against.
How should you plan the clean around your pet?
Cleaning while an excited dog follows you around, or a cat sheds on freshly vacuumed carpet, is frustrating. If you can, arrange for your pet to stay with a friend, family member or sitter for the final day or two. Move their beds, blankets and toys out first so they don't redistribute hair.
Work from top to bottom and from the far end of each room towards the door, so you're never walking over areas you've already finished.
How do you get rid of pet hair properly?
Hair works its way into places you wouldn't expect. A thorough approach:
- Wipe skirting boards, window sills and door frames with a damp microfibre cloth, which grabs hair rather than scattering it.
- On carpets and rugs, run a damp rubber glove or a rubber broom across the surface to pull up embedded hair before you vacuum.
- Vacuum slowly, going over each area in two directions. Use the crevice tool along edges, under radiators and in stair corners.
- Check inside wardrobes, kitchen kickboards, air vents and behind white goods.
- For any furnished upholstery, use a lint roller or upholstery tool on cushions, seams and underneath.
Empty the vacuum often. A full bag or bin loses suction quickly with pet hair.
How do you deal with pet odours and urine stains?
Air fresheners only hide smells for a while, and an inspector will notice once the room has been closed up. Odours need to be removed at the source.
- Use an enzyme-based cleaner on urine, vomit and other organic stains. Enzymes break down the proteins that cause the smell.
- Blot, don't rub. Soak up as much as possible with kitchen roll, apply the cleaner, and leave it for the time stated on the label.
- Avoid ammonia-based products. They can smell similar to urine to animals and may encourage repeat marking. Never mix them with bleach.
- Hold off on heat such as steam or very hot water until the stain has been treated, as heat can make protein stains harder to remove.
- Patch-test first and keep the windows open while the area dries.
- Wash curtains if they're washable, following the care label, as they hold smells too.
What about fleas?
If your pet has had fleas during the tenancy, deal with it well before moving day. Treat your pet with a product recommended by your vet, vacuum thoroughly and often (flea eggs and larvae live in carpets and gaps between floorboards), and empty the vacuum outside each time. Keep records of any treatment. If fleas are still present when you leave, a landlord may be able to claim the reasonable cost of dealing with them.
What can a landlord deduct from your deposit for pet mess?
Your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme (DPS, TDS or mydeposits). At the end of the tenancy, a landlord can only deduct for losses they can justify, such as cleaning needed to bring the property back to its check-in standard, or damage beyond fair wear and tear.
- Cleaning: hair, smells and stains left behind can lead to a cleaning deduction. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, a landlord can't require you to pay for professional cleaning as a set charge, but they can claim the reasonable cost if the property is dirtier than when you moved in.
- Damage: chewed skirting, scratched doors or torn carpet count as damage, not wear and tear, and may be charged separately.
- Deposit limits: for most tenancies, deposits are capped at five weeks' rent, so there's no separate, extra pet deposit on top.
Since 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act has given tenants in England a right to ask for permission to keep a pet, and landlords can't unreasonably refuse. That makes it more important than ever to leave a pet home clean, so landlords stay open to the next pet owner.
If you disagree with a deduction, you can raise it through your deposit scheme's free dispute service. Dated photos of each room after cleaning are your best evidence.
Would a professional clean make sense?
Pet homes take longer, and hair and odours are easy to underestimate when you're also packing. Our end of tenancy cleaning for pet owners is carried out by our own trained, insured and DBS-checked cleaners using professional products and equipment. If the agent flags anything we've missed, we'll re-clean within 72 hours. Prices start from £179, and you can see yours by clicking Get a quote and entering your postcode and email.