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Tenants tips: Leaving a property at the end of lease.

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 30 August 2017 05:37

Tenants tips: Leaving a property at the end of lease.

Start your end of tenancy cleaning at least two weeks before you have to move out! A move out clean is far more complicated than handling average domestic chores!

If done by a single person it would take 3, 4 hours per day for a week!

In order to receive your FULL deposit, the rental property has to meet its initial condition prior to you moving in, of course - with some fair wear and tear applied, but generally - as if you've never been there. Although your landlord CAN NOT bully you to hire a professional company, some will try to mislead you in order to guarantee themselves a clean property, they can afterwards immediately list it back for rent.

Depending on how big the property is, we would advise you to start a good two weeks ahead, so you don't rush and push yourself too hard.

Prepare a detailed cleaning checklist. Make sure to maintain your focus!

There are quite a few checklists out there but many are scarce.. My advice would be to invest a good half an hour and make sure you're fully aware of what you have ahead.

What and where?

  1. Hallways are crucial! First impressions count the most! Look out for stains, fingerprints and marks

  2. Kitchens are really tricky! You'll definitely need more than hot water. Focus on kitchen sinks/wet areas, any countertops or work areas (usually full of smear and dirty spots), appliances (mark my words - good oven cleaning is a lot of scrubbing), you should also wipe all furnishing inside and out (cupboards, drawers, including TOP of units)

  3. Bathrooms are next! Grout, grease, MOULD - there should not be even the tiniest of signs that any of these ever being present! Mirrors should be wiped perfectly, including frames and tops. The same applies to any shelving or cupboards, inside and out, etc.

  4. The living room - Make sure to properly wipe all furnishing as well as carpet cleaning.

  5. Bedrooms are literally where we spend most of our time at home. Make sure to properly remove cobwebs, mop beneath and above furnishing

  7. These are just a few of the important areas, but you get the point.The whole property has to be as clean as if "you've never been there".

Search for your move-in inventory report (if you have one/save it).

In order to avoid tenancy disputes, landlords and tenants are highly advised to make an initial inventory inspection before renters move in, so there are no arguments afterwards. You could either use an independent third party company, which will issue an eligible report, (which WILL hold as proof in court, in case you end up in a legal dispute), or make one yourself (which in many cases might not do the job in case of a legal dispute).

The other DIY way is for tenants to literally film the newly rented property top to bottom via a smartphone or a camera and thus ensure proof of its condition prior to the renter/s moving in.

“If you really put the time and effort into doing everything yourself, make sure everything is well-documented, or in other words - ensure a clean and steady picture of furnishing condition, carpet condition, bathroom and etc.”
- Dmtry Kara / Fantastic Cleaners (London)

"An important tip is that fact, that in case you have to - you CAN provide a 2hr video as proof! No time limitations for your check-in video report, so make sure you do it conscientiously."

- Ruth Sovoie / CleanerConfessions.com

There should be no reason for anybody to question nor neglect that.

* Note:

Bare in mind that it is in your landlord's interest to have the best property condition possible!

Tips & Inventory reports: The inexperienced renter has to know:

It is your responsibility (as a renter) to ensure that the property is returned in an acceptable condition before moving out. More than half of deposit disputes (56%) are lead for insufficient, or have cleaning as part of a more complex dispute.

  • First and most importantly - a DIY inventory inspection might not hold in court! The purpose of independent inventory clerks is to provide both sides of the tenancy agreement a peace of mind and legal grounds in case of court disputes.
  • The point of having inventory inspections is to prove damage or theft. If you decide to handle inventory on your own, make sure you document the property conditions as detailed as possible!
  • Use technology! There are quite a few great apps out there! Some come with great templates for you to only fill and print! It’s pointless to hand over a deposit to your landlord without a thorough inventory to back it up. This way tenants are left at the mercy of landlords, which often ends up with a dispute.
  • Know what is "fair wear and tear"! There are one too many rogue landlords and being informed is the best type of precaution. Fair wear and tear can range from damaged furnishing to cracked windows. Either of these will cause an inventory inspection to flag up and thus allow landlords to plead for deposit deductions. However, there are a few other types of damage, that only a few inexperienced tenants would recognise and properly note via video or photos - dirty or damaged flooring, damage to kitchen tops, clogged drains, plaster and electrical fittings damage.
  • Write things down in a clear and easy to understand way. Regardless if you're about to use it in court or simply hand your check-in report to a team of post-tenancy cleaners, make sure you've described your property condition in a simple and clear way. This is one of the downsides of DIY inventory reports because tenants often fail at being precise.
  • Label everything! Rooms, units and even boxes!

How to carry an property inventory:

Start from the entrance and slowly walk in the property

Handle one room at a time.

Record the overall property condition as well as decorative order.

List down all furnishing units and add a brief description of their post-tenancy condition.

Try to make your photos as clear and descriptive as possible. Try to change you point of view / angle of shot at least 3 times per task.

Bare in mind that you have to focus on what is valuable, i.e. appliances, TV's and etc.

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Arrange a thorough end of tenancy cleaning

A professional end of tenancy clean is done by cleaning technicians, rather than regular domestic cleaners. This means that professionals come with high-end steamers, vacuum cleaners, cleaning detergents and etc. all unavailable to the wide public.

If you want to clean yourself, we would highly advise you to hire proper steam and vacuum gear. Otherwise you could not achieve proper upholstery & carpet cleaning results, especially with average household vacuuming (and you can bet landlords will be as picky as possible).

How to find a conscientious company?

Make sure to always, always, always take your time and research before you choose your cleaning company. Reviews, insurance and guarantees are what set reputable providers apart. Carefully read what companies say for themselves and compare to what clients have on their end. Make sure to look for social media reviews and forum threads. Although there are a ton of fake reviews (both positive and negative), it is still possible to see who's conscientious and who isn't.

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Dmitri Kara

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