Renting private property instead of buying is becoming increasingly common in the UK and other areas of the world. But what do you need to do when end-of-tenancy cleaners come?
According to Statista, there were 4.43 million houses privately rented in the UK in 2021. This is likely to be due to the difficulty in getting together enough money for a deposit to purchase a home. But there are other factors too.
Many people simply prefer the flexibility of rented property, while others may rent because they have been assigned employment in an area away from their actual home.
Whatever the reason for renting, eventually, all tenancy agreements come to a close. When they do, many individuals choose to call in a cleaning service to leave the property behind in good shape.
Why should you use an end-of-tenancy cleaning firm?
One reason to use an end-of-tenancy cleaner is that it helps to maintain good relations with the landlord.
According to one study by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, more than half of tenant and landlord disputes are over cleaning or the standard of it. Therefore, it makes sense to use a professional service that understands what landlords are expecting to see.
How do you select one of these special cleaning services?
Ideally, you would have someone who could recommend a service, such as a friend or relative. Testimonials and online reviews are useful to gauge how a company performs its services too.
Look for a local firm. For instance, search for a moving out cleaners London service if you are in the capital. Ask your landlord too. They may have used a service, and then they can have no dispute with your cleaning.
What should you do before the cleaners arrive?
Although part of the reason for using a cleaning service is to save time, you will need to put in some effort yourself.
Before the cleaners come, you need to carry out a little work to make their lives easier and to help them give you the best service possible.
Declutter the rooms
Take all your belongings off the surfaces and floors and store them out of the way. Cleaners need to be able to move around, and if you impede them, the service will take longer, and they will have difficulty carrying out their work.
Wash up dishes
Clean all plates, cups, glasses, and cutlery, and remove them from the draining board. Your cleaners are here to perform an end-of-tenancy clean to leave the property in tip-top condition. They aren’t there to wash away the remains of last night’s dinner.
Remove any food waste and garbage.
Any takeaway boxes or leftover food on the sideboard needs to be removed. It isn’t necessary to empty the bins, but if you have excess garbage ready to go, put it outside.
Your goal is to make the end of tenancy clean as easy as possible for the team. They will perform a much better service if they aren’t moving your belongings around or having to take out dirty plates to get to the sink.
Convey any special requests and make sure you know the costs involved
End-of-tenancy cleans are priced depending on how many rooms are involved and which services are needed.
If you want your carpets cleaned, you may need to request this as an extra service. Discuss with the company your own needs and get a quotation upfront, so you understand the costs involved.
Remove your pets if necessary.
A goldfish bowl won’t pose too many concerns for a cleaning service but having a couple of puppies or cats around might. If you have a dog or a cat, then perhaps try to take them outside while the cleaning is going on.
A typical end-of-tenancy clean may take 2 to 4 hours. So, if you have a garden, let your pets outside for the duration.
Will an end-of-tenancy cleaning service help you obtain your deposit?
There are a few tips to help you clean your home in less than an hour, but when it comes to pleasing your landlord, this might not be enough.
At the end of your tenancy contract, you would ideally be given your full deposit back. This sometimes doesn’t happen due to disputes over damage or cleaning.
End-of-tenancy cleaning services understand what is expected of them by landlords and will certainly help with any inspection they carry out before returning your deposit.
Summary
Using one of these types of cleaning services can certainly help bring a property up to standard. A landlord will expect the return of their property in good condition and ready to rent out again quickly.
One of the steps to becoming a successful landlord is to offer a clean home so that landlords can use these services too. And if you don’t clean your rental home properly, they may have to pay out to do so.
This means that your deposit will face deductions, sometimes greater than if you had paid for a cleaning service yourself.
