Move-Out Cleaning in Toronto: What Ontario Tenants and Landlords Should Know

In Toronto, a move-out clean isn't about protecting a damage deposit, because Ontario landlords aren't allowed to collect one. The only deposits permitted under the Residential Tenancies Act are a rent deposit (used for your last month) and a refundable key deposit. But Ontario tenants are still responsible for leaving the unit in a state of ordinary cleanliness, and a landlord can go after a former tenant for cleaning or damage costs through the Landlord and Tenant Board, so the clean still matters.

A lot of Toronto leases end on October 31 and November 30. Here is how the rules actually work, what landlords and property managers look at when they get the keys back, and what a proper move-out clean should cover.

The deposit rules in Ontario

Ontario is unusual compared with Alberta or BC. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006:

• Rent deposit only. A landlord can ask for a rent deposit of no more than one month's rent (or one rent period, if rent is paid weekly). It has to be applied to the last month of the tenancy. It can't be kept to cover cleaning, repairs or damage.
• Key deposit. A landlord may collect a refundable deposit for keys, fobs or remotes, limited to the cost of replacing them. It gets returned when the keys come back.
• Interest on the rent deposit. The landlord owes the tenant interest on the rent deposit every year, at the rate of the provincial rent increase guideline.
• No "cleaning deposit" or "damage deposit." If a lease asks for one, that part of the lease doesn't override the Act.

So when people search for "move out cleaning deposit Toronto", the honest answer is that there usually isn't a deposit on the line. What's on the line is a possible claim afterward, plus your relationship with the landlord (and the reference you'll want for your next rental).

What tenants are actually responsible for

Section 33 of the Act says the tenant is responsible for the ordinary cleanliness of the rental unit, unless the lease makes the landlord responsible for cleaning. Section 34 makes the tenant responsible for repairing undue damage caused by them, their guests or other occupants, whether on purpose or through negligence.

Normal wear and tear is not the tenant's problem. Faded paint, light scuffs in a hallway, carpet worn down along the usual walking path: those come with living somewhere. A greasy oven that hasn't been touched in two years, a fridge with spoiled food left in it, mould built up in a shower that was never cleaned, or garbage left on the balcony are a different story.

What a landlord can do after you move out

Since September 1, 2021, a landlord can file an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board against a former tenant (Form L10, Application to Collect Money Owed by a Former Tenant) for things like unpaid rent, utilities, or the cost of repairing damage. It has to be filed within one year after the tenant moved out. Landlords can also use Small Claims Court.

In practice, most small landlords won't go to the Board over a dirty stovetop. But condo owners who rent out a unit, and property managers who track turnover costs, do sometimes pursue the cost of a professional clean and repairs when a unit is left in bad shape. Photos taken on move-out day are the tenant's best protection in either case.

No mandatory inspection report, so make your own record

Unlike Alberta, Ontario doesn't require a formal move-in or move-out inspection report. Many landlords and property managers do a walk-through anyway, but if there was no written report at the start, it's your photos against their memory.

Before you hand back the keys:

• Take dated photos or a slow video of every room after the clean, including inside the oven, fridge, cabinets and bathroom.
• Get the inside of the appliances in frame. That's where disputes tend to start.
• Ask the landlord or manager to do the walk-through with you, and note anything they mention in an email afterward.
• Return all keys and fobs and ask for the key deposit back in writing.

What landlords and property managers check

Whether it's a downtown condo or a semi in the east end, the same spots get looked at:

• Kitchen: inside the oven and the oven racks, stovetop and range hood filter, inside and behind the fridge, inside cabinets and drawers, the sink and faucet, microwave interior.
• Bathrooms: toilet base and behind it, tub and shower grout, glass doors or tracks, the exhaust fan cover, inside the vanity.
• Every room: baseboards, light switches and outlets, door frames, window tracks and sills, closet shelves, light fixtures, vents and returns.
• Floors: under where furniture sat, which is often the dirtiest area in the unit.
• Condo extras: the balcony (Toronto balconies collect a lot of grime over a summer), the locker if you had one, and any items left in the parking spot.

A standard weekly clean skips most of this. That's the difference between a regular clean and a move-out clean. If you want to see the full list, our general guide to move-out cleaning and deposits in Canada walks through it room by room.

Moving out in late fall and winter

October and November moves come with their own mess. Salt and slush get tracked in on move day, so a clean done before the movers arrive can get undone by the afternoon. A few things help:

• Book the clean for after the furniture is out, not before.
• Lay down runners or cardboard at the entrance for move day.
• Leave time to wipe salt residue off the floors near the door, since it leaves a white film on hardwood and laminate.
• If your building has a booked elevator window for moving, make sure the cleaning crew's arrival doesn't clash with it. Some condo buildings also limit when contractors can work.

Typical cost of a move-out clean in Toronto

These are rough market ranges for the Toronto area, not a quote, and they move a lot with the condition of the unit:

• Studio or 1-bedroom condo: typically around $200 to $400
• 2-bedroom condo or apartment: typically around $300 to $550
• 3-bedroom house or townhouse: typically around $450 to $800, and more for larger homes

What pushes the price up or down:

• Condition. A unit that was kept reasonably clean is a very different job from one with years of oven grease, hard water buildup, or pet hair everywhere.
• Appliances. Heavily soiled ovens and fridges take real time.
• Add-ons. Carpet extraction, wall washing, and balcony cleaning are often priced separately.
• Access and timing. Parking downtown, condo contractor hours, and same-week bookings at the end of the month all play a part.

Get the scope in writing so you know whether the inside of the oven, fridge and cabinets are included. They should be.

Frequently asked questions

Can an Ontario landlord keep my last month's rent deposit for cleaning?

No. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, the rent deposit has to be applied to the last rent period of the tenancy. A landlord who wants to recover cleaning or repair costs has to ask the tenant for payment or file a claim, for example an L10 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Do I have to hire a professional cleaner when I move out in Toronto?

Not unless your lease says so, and even then the Act only requires ordinary cleanliness. Plenty of tenants do it themselves. People book a professional clean when they're short on time, the oven and bathroom need serious work, or they want a clear record of the unit's condition at handover.

Is a landlord allowed to charge a cleaning fee in Ontario?

A landlord can't collect a cleaning deposit up front or take cleaning costs out of the rent deposit. If a unit is left dirtier than ordinary cleanliness, the landlord can ask the former tenant to pay for cleaning and, if the tenant refuses, apply to the Board within one year of the move-out.

How long does a move-out clean take for a Toronto condo?

A one-bedroom condo in average condition usually takes a few hours for a small crew. A larger unit, or one with a heavily soiled kitchen and bathroom, can take most of a day. The written quote should give you an idea of timing based on the size and condition you describe.

Get a written quote

Moving out of a Toronto condo, apartment or house, or turning a unit over between tenants? Send the details through the quote form: unit size, move date, condition, and a few photos if you have them. You'll get the checklist and a written quote based on your place. More on our coverage is on the Toronto service page.