Your Move-Out Cleaning Checklist for Moving Day in Quebec

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Every July 1st, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 households move at the same time across the Montreal area, because most Quebec leases run on the same annual date. If you’re one of them, or you’re moving in any other month, here’s the move-out cleaning checklist that actually protects you, plus the one thing most moving guides get wrong about Quebec: there’s no damage deposit to lose here in the first place.

Quebec Doesn’t Have Damage Deposits, So What’s Actually at Risk

Under Quebec’s Civil Code, landlords cannot collect a damage deposit, a cleaning deposit, a key deposit, or a pet deposit. The only thing a landlord can legally require in advance is the first month’s rent. So if you’ve read that a professional move-out clean is “the fastest way to get your deposit back,” that’s not quite how it works here.

What’s actually at risk is different, but just as real. You’re required to return the apartment in the same general condition it was in when you moved in, minus normal wear and tear. If you don’t, your landlord can’t simply deduct cleaning costs from anything, since there’s no deposit to deduct from. Instead, they document the condition with photos and can file a claim against you with the Tribunal administratif du logement (Quebec’s housing tribunal) to recover legitimate cleaning or damage costs. That’s a slower, more visible process than losing a deposit, and it’s worth avoiding.

What Counts as Normal Wear and Tear

You’re not responsible for the normal aging of a home: faded paint, worn flooring, or minor marks from years of daily living. You are responsible for anything caused by negligence: grease buildup left in the oven, a bathroom that hasn’t been wiped down in months, or trash and debris left behind. The line between the two is exactly why a lot of tenants choose to have the apartment professionally cleaned before the final walkthrough, it removes the argument entirely.

The Move-Out Cleaning Checklist

This is the same scope our crews follow on every Move In/Move Out Clean, so it’s a good checklist to compare against if you’re doing it yourself.

Kitchen

• Sweep and mop the floor, remove cobwebs
• Sinks, fixtures, and counters cleaned and disinfected
• Fridge, oven, and microwave cleaned inside and out
• Cabinets and drawers cleaned inside and out
• Stove top, burners, drip pans, and knobs cleaned, stainless steel polished
• Exterior of the range hood cleaned
• Switch plates and doorknobs cleaned and disinfected

Bathrooms

• Counters, sinks, showers, bathtubs, and fixtures cleaned and disinfected
• Toilets cleaned and disinfected, floors cleaned and disinfected
• Mirrors cleaned, cabinets and drawers cleaned inside and out
• Switch plates and doorknobs cleaned and disinfected

Living Areas, Bedrooms, and All Rooms

• Vacuum, sweep, and mop all flooring
• Dust all surfaces, ceiling fans, and light fixtures
• Wipe down window sills, vents, and blinds (thin metal or plastic blinds are dusted only, not deep cleaned)
• Wipe down baseboards, door facings, and door frames, spot-clean walls where possible

Garage and Patio

• Sweep floors, remove cobwebs

The home needs to be completely empty before the cleaning starts, with no other movers or tradespeople working in the space at the same time, and electricity and water still connected. If the apartment hasn’t had a professional clean recently and is in rougher shape, a First Time Clean may need to be added alongside the Move In/Move Out Clean to give the crew enough time to do it properly.

DIY or Professional: What Actually Changes

Booking Around July 1st

Because so much of Montreal moves on the same day, cleaning crews and moving companies both get booked up fast in the weeks around July 1st. If your move date is fixed, book your cleaning as early as you can rather than waiting until the last week of June. The same applies in reverse: if you’re moving into a home on Moving Day, booking a First Time Clean ahead of your arrival means it’s ready before the boxes show up, not after.

FAQ

Does Quebec have a damage deposit like other provinces?

No. Quebec’s Civil Code prohibits landlords from collecting a damage, cleaning, key, or pet deposit. The only advance payment a landlord can legally require is the first month’s rent.

Can my landlord still charge me for cleaning after I move out?

Yes, but not by deducting it from a deposit, since none exists. If the unit isn’t returned in reasonably clean condition, the landlord has to document it and file a claim with the Tribunal administratif du logement to recover the cost.

What’s the difference between normal wear and tear and something I’d be charged for?

Normal wear and tear is the expected aging of a home over time, like worn flooring or faded paint. You’d be responsible for anything caused by neglect, like a kitchen that wasn’t cleaned before you left.

Does the apartment need to be empty before your crew arrives?

Yes. We need the home fully empty, with no other movers or tradespeople on site, and the power and water still connected.

Should I book a Move In/Move Out Clean or a First Time Clean?

Move In/Move Out Clean is for an empty home at the start or end of a lease. First Time Clean is for an occupied home getting its first professional clean, or one that hasn’t been cleaned professionally in the last month. If a move-out apartment is in particularly rough shape, both may be needed together.

Moving around July 1st, or any other date? Book your Move In/Move Out Clean online and get an instant price based on your home’s size. For more on our other services, see our Montreal cleaning services overview.