Is end-of-tenancy cleaning a must? When you rent a house, you care for and maintain the property. As a good tenant, you should ensure that you will look after the property until the end of your tenancy and ensure to hand over the property to the landlord in the condition you have entered into it. So it is a must for you to clean the house when you have decided to move to some other location.
Another reason to go for the end-of-tenancy cleaning services is to get the deposit as much as possible while moving out of the property. Cleaning the home effectively before the final inspection is the easiest way to reduce the deductions in the deposit.
If you do not have time or experience cleaning the home, hiring a professional cleaning service can be the best way to achieve the goal. They can help clean the house as much as possible before handing over the keys to the landlord.
Other reasons to clean the house before the end of the lease
You can get your full deposit refunded by ensuring the end-of-tenancy cleaning. Most disputes regarding the refund of the promise are caused due to lack of or insufficient cleaning at the end of the lease.
A tenant can organize house cleaning at his convenience, and the landlord cannot compel him/her to hire a cleaning service for this purpose
Though the level of cleanliness depends upon the will of the tenant still, the landlord can request him to give the hygienic level as described in the inventory report while moving in.
You should use the check-in inventory to guide you if you are performing end of lease cleaning yourself. It will help you schedule your house cleaning process to clean the property thoroughly.
If you are cleaning the house yourself, then you should arrange enough time for it as the end-of-tenancy cleaning is a time taking process.
The deposit and home cleaning dispute can be resolved quickly on the basis of inventor reports. In order to hand over the property in the cleanest condition, you can start cleaning it just before moving out of it.
If you have not cleaned the house before moving out even then, your landlord cannot charge you excessively in this regard.
It can be exhausting if you want to hire a professional cleaning service for end-of-lease cleaning. You should ensure that the service provider cleans the house sufficiently so that you can claim your full deposit from the landlord.
| Situation | Is End of Tenancy Cleaning a Must? | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Rental Agreement Stipulates Cleaning | Yes | It is a contractual obligation, breach of which could lead to deductions from the security deposit. |
| Property is Unusually Dirty or Messy | Yes | To avoid disputes over property condition and to ensure the return of your security deposit. |
| No Specific Clause in the Agreement | No, but recommended | A clean property leaves a good impression and ensures a positive landlord reference for future tenancies. |
| The Landlord/Agent is Flexible | No, but recommended | Keeping a good relationship with the landlord/agent may be beneficial for future dealings or references. |
Who is responsible for the end-of-tenancy cleaning?
The cleaning and maintenance of the rented property is the responsibility of the tenants. So they can be held responsible for increasing the risk of molds, pest infestation, and spreading hazardous diseases due to the lack of hygienic conditions in that property. So the bill for removing dangerous such conditions will be paid by the tenants even if it is a bit costly.
The tenants are also responsible for cleaning driveways, patios, and gardens as they are part of the property they use. So, they should ensure the cleanliness of the entire house in their possession before the check-in inspection of the landlord.
However, the landlord can be responsible for cleaning the entire area in a shredding building. In such conditions, the landlord must either do end-of-tenancy cleaning himself or hire a specialized cleaning service to clean his property.
Can the landlord compel the tenant to hire a professional cleaning service?
Though the responsibility of cleaning the house before the end of the tenancy is for the tenant, the landlord cannot compel them to hire a professional cleaner, if the level of hygiene is the same as described n the move-in inventory report. But if it is not up to the mark, then he can compel you for it otherwise, he can forfeit your deposit or cut cleaning charges from it.
| Benefits | End of Tenancy Cleaning |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective | ✔ Helps you get back your full deposit, which can be worth 1 – 3 months of your rental |
| Professional Quality | ✔ Professional cleaners have the experience and expertise to clean every corner of your rental property to a high standard |
| Saves Time and Effort | ✔ Saves you time and effort, allowing you to focus on your move-out process and other important tasks such as moving into a new home |
| Stress-Free | ✔ Takes the stress out of cleaning, which can be a significant source of stress and worry during the move-out process |
| Potential Consequence | ❌ Not hiring an end of tenancy cleaning service can result in a loss of part or all of your deposit due to inadequate cleaning |
Conclusion
If you are a responsible tenant and consider your rented property your home, you will always keep it clean as per inventory. In such a condition, you need not make special efforts for the end-of-tenancy cleaning before handing over the keys to the landlord when moving out of it.
Call us today if you want reliable end-of-tenancy cleaning services!