Broom clean, in German besenrein, means you hand back the flat empty, swept and free of coarse dirt. It is a basic standard, not a deep clean. Floors are swept, rubbish and belongings are gone, and nothing obviously dirty is left behind. Freshly cleaned windows or a descaled shower are usually not expected unless your lease says so.
This broom clean checklist explains what besenrein usually covers, room by room. It also shows where your rental contract might ask for more and how to prepare for the handover so the talk about your deposit stays short. If you are new to renting in Germany, the term can be confusing. It sounds stricter than it usually is, yet many landlords expect a little more than the word suggests.
What besenrein usually means in practice
The word comes from Besen, the broom. The idea is simple. The flat should look as if someone swept through it after the furniture left. In everyday practice that tends to mean the following.
- All furniture, boxes and personal items are gone, including the cellar, any storage room and the balcony.
- Floors are swept or vacuumed, with no dust, crumbs or packing material lying around.
- Coarse dirt is removed, for example spilled food in kitchen cupboards or soil on the balcony.
- Rubbish is disposed of properly, not left in the hallway or next to the bins.
What besenrein usually does not mean is wiping every surface, cleaning inside the oven or removing limescale. Still, “usually” is the key word here. The standard you actually owe is the one in your lease and in anything you agree with your landlord. Read your contract before you plan your last week in the flat.
When your lease asks for more than broom clean
Many contracts simply say the flat must be returned besenrein. Others go further and ask for a cleaned flat, sometimes naming the windows, the kitchen or the bathroom. Some landlords also mention their own expectations at a pre-inspection, even when the contract is vague.
A few things are worth checking in your paperwork.
- Does the contract mention cleaning at all, and which word does it use?
- Are there separate clauses about painting or small repairs? That is a different topic from cleaning, and whether such a clause applies depends on how your contract is written.
- Did you get a handover record (Übergabeprotokoll) when you moved in that shows the condition back then?
- Do the fitted kitchen or any appliances belong to the landlord?
If something is unclear, ask your landlord or property manager in writing before the handover and keep the answer. For legal questions, for example whether a clause is valid, a tenants’ association (Mieterverein) or a lawyer is the right contact. This post describes common practice, not your rights in a specific case.
Imagine you rent a two-room flat in Pempelfort and your lease only says besenrein. The kitchen belongs to the landlord and stays in the flat. The contract does not mention cleaning the kitchen, but a greasy hob and a fridge with old food inside will likely lead to a discussion. That is why many tenants clean a bit more than the minimum. It is often easier than arguing at the handover.
The broom clean checklist, room by room
The table below separates what broom clean usually covers from what leases or landlords often ask for on top. Treat the middle column as your minimum and the right column as a list to compare with your own contract.
| Area | Broom clean (usual minimum) | Often expected on top (check your lease) |
|---|---|---|
| Floors in all rooms | Swept or vacuumed, no coarse dirt | Mopped, stains on tiles or parquet removed |
| Kitchen | Cupboards and fridge empty, no food left, crumbs removed | Hob, oven, extractor hood, fridge and sink wiped and degreased |
| Bathroom and toilet | Personal items and rubbish gone, no visible dirt | Toilet, shower, bath and tiles cleaned, limescale removed from taps |
| Windows and glass doors | Your own stickers or decorations removed | Glass, frames and sills cleaned |
| Balcony or terrace | Plants, furniture and rubbish removed, floor swept | Floor washed, railing wiped |
| Cellar and storage room | Completely emptied and swept | Usually nothing more, check the house rules |
| Doors, radiators, light switches | No coarse dirt | Dust and fingerprints wiped off |
| Rubbish and bulky items | Disposed of properly, nothing left in the building | No leftovers in shared areas such as the bike room |
A sensible order for the last days
- Empty everything first, including cellar, balcony and storage room.
- Plan bulky waste collection or a trip to the recycling centre in good time.
- Clean from top to bottom and from the back rooms towards the front door.
- Do the final sweep or vacuum after the movers are gone, ideally the day before the handover.
If your fridge stays in the flat, switch it off, defrost the freezer compartment, wipe it dry and leave the door slightly open. A closed, switched-off fridge can start to smell or grow mould within days, and that is one of the first things a landlord opens.
Common mistakes before the handover
The most common mistake is cleaning too early. Movers carry boxes through the flat, tape gets stuck to the floor and cardboard dust ends up in every corner. Clean the bulk of the flat while it is empty, then do a quick last round at the very end.
The second one is forgetting the rooms you rarely visit. The cellar compartment, a shared attic space or the area behind the washing machine are easy to overlook. Landlords tend to check exactly these places, because that is where old items get left behind.
Leaving things for the next tenant is another trap. A shelf, curtain rails or a lamp may seem useful to you, but without agreement they count as items you did not remove. If you want to leave something, ask your landlord or the next tenant and get the answer in writing.
Finally, watch your cleaning products. Scouring sponges can scratch stainless steel and ceramic hobs, and acidic limescale removers can damage natural stone or some sealed floors. A surface damaged during the final clean creates a new problem that was not there before. When in doubt, test on a small hidden spot first.
The handover appointment and your deposit
At the handover (Wohnungsübergabe) you usually walk through the flat together with the landlord or property manager. The condition of each room is noted in a handover record, meter readings are written down and you return all keys. It is a normal process, and in most cases it is calm and quick.
A little preparation helps. Take dated photos of every room once you have finished cleaning, including the inside of cupboards and the fridge. Note the meter readings yourself before the appointment. Read the handover record carefully before you sign it. If you disagree with a point, ask for your view to be written down as well. Keep a copy.
As for the deposit, the usual practice is that the landlord checks the condition of the flat and any open costs before paying it back. How much is returned and when depends on your contract and your situation, for example whether a utility bill is still due. Check your lease, and if there is a dispute, a tenants’ association can tell you where you stand.
For example, picture a young couple moving out of a flat in Bilk on a Saturday. They clean on Friday evening, take photos and arrive at the handover with their meter readings ready. The landlord points out a dusty extractor hood, they wipe it on the spot and the record shows no open issues. Small details like that make the difference between a short appointment and a long email exchange afterwards.
When professional move-out cleaning makes sense
For a small flat with a simple besenrein clause, many people do the cleaning themselves in an afternoon. Professional help is worth considering when the lease asks for more than broom clean or when you have renovated before moving out. It also helps when the handover is a few days after your move and you are already busy with a new home or job. Families with small children and people moving abroad often fall into this group too.
At Spotless we do move-out and move-in cleaning in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area, for example in Neuss, Ratingen or Duisburg. Our insured team brings its own products, with eco-friendly ones on request. Appointments can be early, late or at the weekend, so they fit between the movers and the handover. Move-out cleaning is priced by individual quote based on your details and photos, and we give a handover guarantee that runs until the flat is handed over.
Whether you clean yourself or get help, the main point stays the same. Know what your lease asks for, use the checklist above as your minimum, and arrive at the handover with photos and meter readings. If you would like the cleaning taken off your list, have a look at our move-out cleaning in Düsseldorf page. Send us a short description and a few photos through the quote request and you get a free, non-binding quote with a final price. You can reach us Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 16:00.
Questions about broom clean and move-out
Does broom clean mean I have to clean the windows?
Usually not. Besenrein normally means empty and swept. Window cleaning is only expected if your lease or an agreement with your landlord asks for it.
Is broom clean the same as a final cleaning?
No. A final cleaning (Endreinigung) is usually more thorough and includes wiping surfaces, kitchen and bathroom. Which one you owe depends on your contract.
Do I have to clean the cellar and storage room?
In most cases they need to be completely empty and swept. Check your lease and the house rules in case they say more.
Should I clean before or after the movers come?
Do the main cleaning once the flat is empty and a quick final sweep after the movers have left. Cleaning earlier often means doing it twice.
What if the landlord says the flat is not clean enough at the handover?
Ask exactly what is missing, note it in the handover record and offer to fix it. If you disagree, write your view into the record and contact a tenants’ association for advice.