End of tenancy cleaning London
A question that gets asked frequently when looking to move properties. One more thing to worry about when you don’t know whether you’re liable for organising a cleaning before you leave. Well fret not as we are here to help you confirm whether you are liable or not. There are a few ways you can check to find out whether you need to organise the end of tenancy clean or whether it is the landlord’s task to do so, these factors are important to check not just when leaving a property but also when moving into a new property. Always remember to complete the following:
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Checking the Lease Agreement before moving in:
The lease agreement is the heart and sole of a tenancy agreement, this agreement will cover everything you need to know about your time in the property. All the dos and don’ts. All the ins and outs. This is why it’s of the utmost importance to read the agreement word for word. once , twice, three times to ensure you know exactly what you’re signing up for. If you miss anything it may become an issue later on and could end up costing you money. Within the tenancy agreement you will find information regarding Who is responsible for any damages that may occur in the property, who is responsible for the maintenance of the exterior of the property including and driveway cleaning, window cleaning and Garden maintenance. It can include information regarding your security deposit and whether this is to be returned to you if the property is left in acceptable condition. It may be that a percentage of that security deposit is returned depending on the level of cleanliness once you’ve moved out. There may be rules and regulations regarding interior decoration, Can you lay different flooring? Can you paint the walls a different colour? If the property comes furnished can you switch out furnishings or not? So many important things will be in the agreement including a report of how the property was given to you. This is important to read as if there are any damages before you move in that have not been noticed by the landlord in his previous end of tenancy checklist you will want to make them aware before you sign to say you’re happy to take the property. All of this is why it’s extremely important to read the tenancy agreement and ensure you’re 100 percent happy with the property before signing the lease.
Is it the tenants responsibility to have the property professionally cleaned when moving out?
In short Yes, most often it is the tenants sole responsibility to ensure that the entire property has a complete End of Tenancy clean before vacating the property. It’s actually very uncommon for a landlord not to have this clearly started in the agreement. It usually states that the tenant has to have the property professionally cleaned or cleaned to a professional standard before leaving (you could clean the property yourself if you believe you can get it clean enough to pass inspection) of course you run the risk of putting in all the effort and then having to pay for professionals anyway if the landlord isn’t happy with it. The reason you pay a security deposit at the beginning of the tenancy (some take this as double a months rent in the first month) this is so if the landlord isn’t happy with the cleaning you’ve had completed they can use a part or full amount of the deposit to have the cleaning completed to the standard they expect. If however you have completed a professional clean and the landlord is happy they should return your security deposit in full after you have vacated the property.
What is usually expected by Landlords for an End of Tenancy Clean?
When landlords come to do the End of Tenancy inspection they will usually have a checklist with them this checklist will consort of some of the following:
- Full cleaning of all flooring inside the property, this will include vacuuming, mopping and professional steam cleaning of the carpets.
- Full sanitization of the bathrooms and toilets, descaling of all toilets, shower heads, shower screens, disinfection of all tiles, mirrors and surfaces.
- Deep cleaning of all appliances big and small, inside and out. Washing machine, oven, microwave ect.
- Dusting, disinfecting and wipe down of all walls, skirting, shelving, light fittings, switches, plug sockets and furniture that is staying in the property.
- Steam cleaning of any upholstery that may be staying in the property Curtains, Sofas, Chairs.
- Windows, usually only interior ensuring they are dirt and smudge free. Check the agreement to ensure that it only includes interior and not exterior also.
These are usually the main things that they will check for however they could require even more including the wear and tear on the property itself also. General wear and tear such as natural deterioration that occurs over time when a property has been in regular use as well as the usual aging of the property. Damages that could have been avoided on the other hand such as holes in walls from hanging pictures or heavy stains on walls or furnishings that cannot be removed would be up to the tenant to fix or pay for before leaving the property.
What to Remember if you are going to complete the clean yourself?
If you are going to attempt to complete the cleaning yourself just remember to do a thorough job, purchase well known branded cleaning products, keeping them eco friendly where possible. Ensure to check every inch of the property even places where you wouldn’t think to get dirty. Behind appliances, down the back of furniture, on top of the doorframes. Dust and dirt will get everywhere. Once you’ve cleaned, be sure to go over everything again. Check that a clean cloth remains clean when wiping over a surface you’ve already cleaned previously. Completing an End of Tenancy clean isn’t for the weak hearted, it’s repetitive, tedious and exhausting which is why so many people just hire professionals to take on the daunting task.
