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Move-in and move-out cleaning in Duncan, BC
Empty-unit cleans timed to your possession date, quoted as a flat price so you know the cost before it starts. Leave it spotless — or start fresh in one that already is.
For tenants: protecting your damage deposit
Under British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act, a tenant must leave a rental “reasonably clean” at the end of a tenancy. Cleanliness is one of the most common reasons landlords hold back part of a damage deposit — and disputes over it are among the most common at the Residential Tenancy Branch.
A thorough move-out clean removes that argument. On a one-bedroom apartment, the clean often costs less than the portion of a deposit typically withheld for it.
Ask for a dated receipt when the job is done. If your landlord later disputes the condition of the unit, a receipt from a professional clean carried out after you moved out is useful evidence. It cannot cover damage or unpaid rent — only cleanliness.
For landlords and property managers
A unit that shows well rents faster and attracts better applicants. Turnover cleans can be scheduled directly between tenancies, with the invoice going to you rather than the outgoing tenant. Regular turnover work across the Cowichan Valley is welcome.
For new owners
Moving into a house someone else lived in is not the same as moving into a clean one. A pre-move-in clean means your furniture goes into a home already scrubbed — and it is dramatically easier to do before the boxes arrive.
What is included
- Kitchen — inside the oven, inside the fridge and freezer, inside every cupboard and drawer, behind and under appliances that move, range hood and filter, sink and taps descaled
- Bathrooms — grout scrubbed, limescale removed, inside vanities and cabinets, extractor covers, behind and beneath the toilet
- Throughout — every baseboard washed by hand, door frames and doors, light fittings and switch plates, window sills, tracks and interior glass within reach, closets inside, vents and cobwebs
- Floors — vacuumed and washed everywhere, including inside closets and behind doors
- Final pass — a walk-through of the empty unit checking the places inspectors actually look


Full bathroom · Tub and vanity — real jobs in the Cowichan Valley
What it costs
Move-out cleans are quoted flat, not hourly. An empty unit can be assessed accurately in advance, so you get one number and it does not move.
| Unit | Typical flat quote |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom apartment | $250–375 |
| 2 bedroom apartment or townhouse | $350–500 |
| 3 bedroom house | $450–700 |
| 4+ bedroom house | From $625 |
Ranges reflect condition, not just size. Send a few photos with your enquiry and you can usually have a firm number the same day without anyone visiting.
Timing it right
The clean should happen after everything is out and before the final walk-through. Possession dates cluster at the end of the month across Duncan and the Valley, so those slots go first — book as early as you can. Short notice is often still workable, so call and ask.
Common questions
How much does a move-out clean cost in Duncan, BC?
Move-out cleans are quoted as a flat price rather than hourly, because an empty unit can be assessed accurately in advance. Most one-bedroom apartments in Duncan fall between $250 and $375, and three-bedroom homes between $450 and $700, depending on condition.
Will a move-out clean get my damage deposit back?
It removes the cleaning grounds a landlord can withhold against. Under British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act a tenant must leave the rental 'reasonably clean' at the end of a tenancy, and cleanliness is one of the most common reasons deposits are held. A documented professional clean is strong evidence you met that standard, though it cannot cover damage or unpaid rent.
When should the clean happen?
After everything is out and before the final walk-through with your landlord. An empty unit cleans far better and far faster, and it means nothing gets missed behind a box.
Do you clean inside the oven and fridge for a move-out?
Yes. Both are standard in every move-out clean, along with inside all cupboards, because they are the first places a landlord opens during an inspection.
How much notice do you need?
As much as possible, since possession dates cluster at month end and those slots fill first. Short-notice jobs are often still possible, so it is always worth calling.