Move-out cleaning conversations usually focus entirely on the inside of a house — but for detached and semi-detached homes across the GTA, exterior spaces like the backyard, deck, and entryway are often part of what a landlord or buyer inspects at handover.
What Typically Gets Checked Outside
- Backyard condition — cleared of personal items, debris, and excessive yard waste
- Deck or patio surfaces, swept and free of buildup or mildew
- Exterior entryways and porches, since first impressions for buyers and inspectors often start here
- Any exterior storage (shed, side yard) cleared of leftover belongings
Seasonal Considerations
- Winter move-outs: Clearing snow and salting walkways is often a safety expectation, not just cleanliness, especially for landlords doing an in-person inspection
- Summer move-outs: Lawn maintenance (mowing before move-out) is a common lease requirement that gets overlooked amid packing
- Fall move-outs: Leaf cleanup on walkways and in gutters is worth addressing, particularly for homes with mature trees
What’s Typically the Tenant’s or Seller’s Responsibility
Most Ontario leases specify basic yard maintenance (mowing, weeding, general tidiness) as a tenant responsibility, while larger landscaping issues typically fall to the landlord — check your specific lease terms, since this varies by agreement.
Coordinating Exterior and Interior Cleaning
Scheduling exterior cleanup for the same window as your interior move-out clean means the whole property is handled in one coordinated effort, rather than treating outdoor spaces as a separate afterthought.
My Canada Cleaning can coordinate exterior cleanup alongside interior move-out cleaning for GTA houses, so the whole property — inside and out — is ready for inspection.