020 8077 1782
When moving homes there are quite a few things that you need to look after. The way you approach your end of tenancy cleaning is definitely an important task – one you should not take lightly. After all, the return of your rental deposit depends on it. So, let’s check out the basic things that you must be careful about when it comes to sanitising the property you have lived in recently.
Steps to a successful end of tenancy cleaning
There are a few things that you should have in mind before you start planning the clean up:
- First and foremost, check your contract. In most cases rental contracts state that the end of tenancy cleaning should be taken care of by you (the tenant). Some however might state specifically that curtains and/or carpets should receive treatment by a professional cleaning company.
- If you are all about the DIY approach you should have in mind one vital thing. Cleaning take up a lot of time and effort. If you are a good planner and have a flexible schedule this should not be such a big problem, but know that a relocation, no matter how small it looks is a pretty strenuous endeavour. So you should be realistic about whether or not you can actually take care of the job you will be undertaking or it would be better to search for help.
- When you were moving in, there should have been an inventory report about the state of hygiene and the pieces of furniture that were on the property. Naturally, the landlord would require that everything is returned in the same condition as stated in the report. So, find the thing and make sure that you do whatever is asked so that you can be certain you will be getting a refund on your deposit.
Extra charges (or retaining the deposit) cannot be made by the landlord or the estate agent unless the tenant has already vacated the premises – that’s the law!- In case you have rented the property via an agent, it is their duty to settle any dispute you can potentially have with the landlord. So if you have any problems or the owner of the place has demands you do not agree with, just ring up the estate agent.
- Know that in case you do not receive the agreed upon return of your deposit on time, or you do not get all the money, you have the right to challenge the landlord in court. The same goes for the scenario in which the deductions made are not described in the contract.
And in conclusion
These are the most basic things to consider in regard of your end of tenancy cleaning. As you can see there are no cleaning tips included, or the case for or against hiring professional cleaners is explored in depth. This is actually the next step. But once you know your rights and obligations, those are not as hard as they seem.
