Moving office involves two very different cleans, at two ends of the move: getting your old space back to lease standard so you recover your deposit, and getting the new one spotless before your team walks in. Miss either and it costs you — in dilapidations charges at one end, or a poor first day at the other.
Whether you’re downsizing, upgrading or consolidating sites, planning both cleans early keeps the move smooth. Here’s what each one involves.
The move-out clean (end of lease / dilapidations)
Most commercial leases require you to return the space clean and in good condition. A thorough end-of-lease clean helps you meet dilapidations obligations and protects your deposit.
- Full clean of floors, carpets, walls, glass, kitchens and washrooms.
- Removal of marks, scuffs and build-up left after desks and partitions come out.
- Internal windows, frames, vents and light fittings.
- A deep clean of kitchens and washrooms to handover standard.
- Optional post-strip-out clean if fit-out or partitions were removed — close to an after-builders clean.
The move-in clean (pre-occupation)
Before your team arrives, the new space should feel genuinely fresh — not just “handed over”. Even a newly fitted office collects dust, fingerprints and packaging debris.
- Sparkle clean of all surfaces, desks, glass and fittings.
- Dust removal from high and hard-to-reach areas.
- Sanitised, stocked washrooms and kitchens ready for day one.
- Floors washed or vacuumed; protective film and stickers removed.
Office move cleaning — plan ahead
- Book both cleans as soon as move dates are set.
- Schedule the move-out after furniture and IT are removed.
- Schedule the move-in before staff arrive — ideally the day before.
- Check your lease for the exact handover cleaning standard.
- Agree who pays — often the outgoing tenant for move-out, you for move-in.
Timing and who pays
The move-out clean is usually the outgoing tenant’s responsibility under the lease; the move-in clean is yours to arrange for the new premises. Coordinating both with one provider keeps standards and scheduling simple — and means one point of contact across the whole move.
How Crystal helps with office moves
We handle both ends of a relocation — a lease-standard office clean on the way out and a sparkle clean on the way in — scheduled around your move, out of hours if needed, by DBS-checked, insured teams. One clear quote, one team, no last-minute scramble.
Moving office soon? Get one clear quote for the move-out and move-in cleans, scheduled around your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for office move-out cleaning?
Usually the outgoing tenant, because most commercial leases require the space to be returned clean and in good condition. A proper end-of-lease clean helps meet dilapidations obligations and protect your deposit.
When should the move-in clean happen?
Ideally the day before your team arrives, so the new office is fresh, sanitised and fully stocked for day one — even a newly fitted space needs a pre-occupation clean.
Is a move-out clean the same as an after-builders clean?
They overlap if partitions or fit-out were stripped out — that’s closer to an after-builders clean. A standard move-out is an intensive deep clean to lease-handover standard.
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