Cleaning is the part of renting both tenants and landlords dislike the most. Cleaning a home at the end of your tenancy to prepare for a new tenant is an important part of maintaining your rental property. What is involved in this large-scale cleaning operation? Who is responsible and which areas should be cleaned thoroughly?
Who is Responsible for the Cleaning of a Rental Property?
Most tenants private rental homes will either clean their home themselves or hire a cleaning service to do it for them. This saves time and energy in bringing the house up to standard.
Since the implementation of Tenant fees Act 2019, landlords are not allowed to contractually require tenants to hire professional cleaning services at the end of tenancy cleaning in North Shore. A fine of up to PS5,000 can be imposed on a landlord who forces a tenant into hiring a professional cleaner.
The tenant is still responsible for the cleaning of the property. They can do it themselves if they want to save some money.
What is Fair Wear-and-Tear?
It is important to distinguish between the cleanliness of your property and the deterioration process that furniture and decor go through over time. This is called fair wear and tears, and it is not something you can charge your tenant for. Fair wear and tear includes:
- There are some scuffs on the walls.
- Paint that has chipped or peeled.
- Worn carpets.
- Faded curtains.
- Soft furnishings, such as couches and armchairs, that are frayed and worn.
These items are not dirty but rather “used”. You may wish to redecorate and replace soft furnishings if a tenant is living in your home for a long time. This will keep the property looking fresh and clean.
Cleaning Yourself vs Professional Cleaning Services
It is important for you to ensure that the house is thoroughly cleaned by the landlord before the new tenants move in. You may need to decide whether to hire a professional to clean the house for you or do all the cleaning yourself.
Hiring a professional cleaner has obvious benefits. You can expect high-quality work without putting in any effort. You will save time and effort during the transition period between tenants.
Cleaning Charges and Security Deposits
The cost of a cleaning service is not allowed to be deducted from the deposit of tenants who have already cleaned their property.
It is acceptable to stipulate in the tenancy contract that the tenant will clean the property “to a standard of professionalism” before they leave. It is usually understood that the tenant must return the property in the same condition or better than when they first arrived, allowing for normal wear and tear.
You can deduct the cost for a professional cleaning from the security deposit if the tenant has not cleaned the property before leaving and it is in a much dirtier condition than when they first arrived.
Checklist for Cleaning your Property
If you are cleaning your rental property before your new tenants arrive, here’s a list of tips that will help your property look pristine.
Bedrooms and living areas
You may need to clean a variety of soft furnishings, furniture and fittings in the bedrooms and living room depending on whether you are renting out your property as furnished or not. You should clean the following areas:
- Vacuum your carpets.
- Dust all furniture and hard surfaces.
- Move furniture so you can vacuum underneath.
- All soft furnishings, e.g. sofa covers, can be machine-washed. sofa covers.
- Wipe down the sills and interior of all windows.
- Dust on top and behind of chests of drawers and wardrobes.
- Picture frames should be cleaned with a damp cloth.
Kitchen
Kitchens are one of the rooms that get dirty the fastest. What is the best way to deep clean your kitchen?
- Use professional-grade cleaning products to clean the oven and its shelves.
- Scrub grout and all tiles.
- How to clean the inside of a microwave.
- How to clean the inside of a fridge.
- Clean the inside of your freezer after defrosting it.
- Remove the grease from the hobs.
- Clean and dust the extractor fan.
- All surfaces, including the inside of cabinets and drawers, should be cleaned.
- Unblock drains and remove limescale from sinks.
- Clean the sinks and polish taps.
- Clean the outside of all appliances.
Bathrooms
The bathroom’s biggest enemies are mildew and limescale. A thorough deep cleaning should include the following tasks:
- Remove limescale from the toilet, sink and bath.
- Cleaning the taps, basins and fittings.
- Radiators and towel rails should be cleaned and polished (especially if the chrome is present).
- Rinse and scrub the toilet thoroughly.
- Cleaning the plumbing behind the toilet is important (this area tends to collect dust and dirt).
- Remove water stains on the shower screen.
- Remove mildew and bath marks by scrubbing and rinsing.
- Check that the drains are not blocked.
- Polish mirrors, glass and other surfaces.
- How to remove limescale from taps and showerheads.
- Remove dust accumulation from extractor fans.
- Bathroom tiles should be cleaned and the grouting scuffed.
General cleaning
The following tips are applicable to all rooms in the house.
- Remove cobwebs from the ceilings using a broom.
- Cornices, curtain rails, and picture rails can be cleaned.
- Dust skirting boards, door frames and other surfaces.
- Wipe down the window sills and clean and polish all interior windows.
- Vacuum carpets with a carpet cleaner of professional quality.
Brands such as the clean sweep offer significant discounts if you hire the carpet cleaner for more than one day.
Use the time between tenants to inspect the paintwork. The decor may require a little touch-up or a complete redecoration to prepare for the new tenants.
Remember that you can’t charge the tenant for redecorating if the marks and scuffs on the walls are the result of normal wear and tear.