AB-92 handover guide: The 15 points your landlord checks — and how to pass them all

AB-92 is the industry standard Danish landlords and housing associations use to judge whether a move-out cleaning is satisfactory. It's not an opinion — it's a checklist of 15 concrete points. Here's the full list, in the order your landlord typically checks them.

Why AB-92 matters for you

If the apartment doesn't meet AB-92, the landlord can deduct from your deposit to have it re-cleaned. Typically 2,500-5,000 DKK is deducted — sometimes more. Money you need for your new place. This guide is built to save it.

The 15 points

1. Floors

Vacuumed, washed, dry before the landlord arrives. Parquet with original finish cleaned with a lightly damp cloth — never wet. Stains from furniture (now removed) gently treated.

2. Windows — frames and sills only

AB-92 requires sills and frames dust-free and mark-free. The glass itself isn't typically part of standard cleaning (it's a window cleaner's job) — but check specifically in your lease.

3. Radiators — including behind

Dust and cobwebs behind and between fins. The classic failure point — 80% of badly-done handovers fail here.

4. Skirting and baseboards

Both on top and at floor level. Dust accumulated over time must be gone.

5. Outlets, switches, door handles

Finger grease settles here. Wiped with mild soap, never aggressive cleaner (the arrow on the plastic disappears).

6. Oven — interior

Trays, racks, behind the glass, the bottom. Professional oven cleaner is the safe route. Oven uncleaned for a year requires 2-3 hours alone.

7. Fridge and freezer

Emptied, wiped inside, defrosted. If the landlord takes over appliances, they should look new — not just empty.

8. Cabinets — inside and on top

All shelves, drawers, behind and on top. Empty = not enough. Must be wiped.

9. Bathroom — grouting and limescale

Grouting scrubbed, tiles descaled, shower enclosure clean without mould traces. Requires steam cleaner or acid-based cleaner to be properly done.

10. Toilet — under the rim

The bowl must be clean — including under the horizontal rim, which people forget. The rim edge and behind the toilet corner are always checked.

11. Doors and ventilation grilles

Doors wiped all the way around, including frames. Ventilation grilles unscrewed and cleaned of dust and grease.

12. Kitchen — hood and tiles

Extractor hood, grease filter, tiles behind the stove. Grease layer removed with degreaser. If the filter comes out, clean it separately.

13. Drains

Sink, kitchen sink, shower, floor drain — hair-free and not clogged. Landlord checks by letting water run.

14. Ceilings and walls

Checked for stains, cobwebs in corners, cooking splatter in kitchen. If a wall has specific marks, agreed specifically — but normal stains are wiped.

15. Basement room or storage

If you had one, it must be fully emptied and swept. Landlord checks this — often missed, leading to surprise deposit deductions.

How to prepare — the day before

1. Empty the apartment fully. Nothing left — prerequisite for AB-92 cleaning.
2. Defrost the freezer the day before. Takes 8-12 hours.
3. Cancel electricity, water, internet from the move-out date.
4. Take photos of the apartment right after cleaning as documentation.
5. Meet the landlord at the agreed time — walk through together and get the report in writing.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between AB-92 and a normal clean apartment?

AB-92 is a specific standard with concrete requirements for all 15 points. Normal cleaning means in practice that it looks clean — AB-92 means it IS clean on the points the landlord checks.

Can I complain if the landlord deducts too much?

Yes. You can complain to the Rent Board (Huslejenævnet) within 4 weeks if you believe the deduction is unjustified. Documentation (photos, cleaning company receipt) is crucial.

How long does the landlord have to reject the cleaning?

At the latest by the handover report. Subsequent claims without documentation rarely hold at the Rent Board.

Should I do it myself or hire a company?

Honestly: for a 70 m² apartment, proper cleaning takes 6-8 hours. If you have time and inclination, go ahead. If you have a new job, kids, or moving chaos — 3,000 DKK to a company with deposit guarantee is usually good insurance.