Is your tenancy nearing its end? Securing your full security deposit often hinges on the condition of the property upon your departure. Consider enlisting a professional cleaning service to guarantee that everything is in top shape. If you're unfamiliar with what end of tenancy cleaning entails, you're not alone.
In this post, we offer a breakdown of a standard move out cleaning package in London to help you understand its importance.
There are several reasons to execute a move out clean before vacating your rental property.
A requirement in the tenancy agreement. These days, landlords and letting agents in the UK can no longer demand that tenants provide a professional clean at the end of their tenancy.
Despite that, some tenancy agreements may still render lessees responsible for the final cleaning. If this is in your tenancy agreement, there is no excuse for you not to hire a cleaning company. Failing to do so might have legal consequences
Maintaining a good landlord-tenant relationship. Just because you’re moving out, it doesn’t mean you should leave things on a bad note with your landlord. You have to show respect for the property and ensure it is immaculate. Not only will your landlord appreciate that but they can give you good references for future rental opportunities.
Security deposit. One of the primary reasons for giving your rental a thorough clean is to increase your chances of getting back your deposit. If the property is not returned to its original pre-let condition, the owners may make reasonable deductions from the tenant's deposit to cover the cleaning costs.
Legal obligations. In some areas, there are certain legal obligations for renters to fulfil before moving out. This often stipulates leaving the rental property in a sanitary condition. In some cases, you have to give the space a professional clean prior to vacating.
Property marketability. Sometimes the owners want to prepare the property for the next tenant as quickly as possible. That’s why having it cleaned by a professional can reduce the time between tenants and improve the landlord’s income.
Hygiene and health. Giving the premises a good clean removes dust, grime, and potentially harmful allergens or bacteria from all surfaces. Therefore, it contributes to the overall well-being of future dwellers.
Aesthetic appeal. There is no doubt that a clean flat or house is more attractive to prospective renters and buyers. When the space is well-maintained, it can be let out or sold at a higher price.
You may be interested in finding out how much is end of tenancy cleaning in UK.
Moving out is a tedious and time-consuming process that requires lots of energy. Having to do a detailed clean of the entire property on top of managing packing can be stressful and daunting.
Hiring professional end of tenancy cleaners comes with several benefits, making it a practical choice for most people. Let’s have a look at them.
Skilled and high-quality end of tenancy cleaning
Professional cleaners are trained and taught various cleaning techniques for different cleaning jobs. Not only do they have the required knowledge but they are armed with cutting-edge equipment that can overcome the biggest cleaning challenges. This ensures that the rooms are left in excellent condition.
Time efficiency
Cleaning the premises yourself can be physically demanding and time-consuming. Having the property professionally cleaned instead frees up your time and provides more energy for other tasks like packing and logistics. Imagine having to spend two days to get everything under control. A deep clean takes more than a couple of hours, bearing in mind that you have to cover parts of the property you don't normally clean.
Professional finish
Having your property cleaned by professionals improves the atmosphere so much so that it can leave a lasting impression on potential tenants and buyers.
Access to specialised equipment
A professional cleaner utilises specialised cleaning equipment and products that have proven to be more effective than what's already available to the average person. Essentially, this creates better results, especially when it comes to stain removal and carpet cleaning.
Less stress and hassle with a professional end of tenancy cleaning service
Without a doubt, moving is stressful. The added responsibility of an end of tenancy clean only makes things worse. Leaving the job to professionals eases this burden, allowing you to focus on other more important things.
Expertise in handling delicate surfaces
Professional cleaners know how to tackle various surfaces, textures, materials, and finishes without causing scratches or damage. This applies to end of tenancy cleaning, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and other cleaning services.
Comprehensive end of tenancy cleaning service
With professional cleaning, one typically gets a comprehensive package that covers the entire property, including hard-to-reach areas and spaces that are often overlooked.
Peace of mind
Knowing that your place is in the hands of experienced cleaning technicians gives you peace of mind. You can leave the job to experts who will take care of the cleaning from start to finish, helping you fulfil the requirements in your tenancy agreement.
While scheduling professional cleaning comes with a cost, the benefits, including the time and effort saved as well as the likelihood of a full security deposit refund, often outweigh the expenses. It's nothing but necessary to go with a reputable cleaning company to ensure the best results.
A professional end of tenancy cleaning service involves a number of cleaning jobs. You need to ask your preferred cleaning companies to provide you with a list of the cleaning tasks they carry out during the process. In order to achieve the effects that a deep clean yields, many often-neglected areas have to be handled.
The end of tenancy cleaners may check for items that need to be disposed of. This will be followed by emptying the garbage bins and taking the trash out as they walk out of the premises.
Once the team finishes cleaning, they will inspect the work for any missed spots and check for areas that need touch-ups. They will also put back any fixtures or light furniture that were moved during the cleaning.
There are a few mistakes associated with end of tenancy cleaning. It’s vital to avoid them or else it can result in deposit deductions.
Forgetting to document the process. Regardless of whether you are hiring a company to clean your rented property or not, you should document the entire process and even take some before and after photos.
If you have any receipts, don’t toss them away. Keep a recording of the cleaning to show the effort made to bring it back to its former condition.
Rushing the cleaning process. Some people, not having used to providing a thorough clean, make the mistake of rushing the cleaning process. As a result, they miss certain spots and leave residue behind. Make sure to dedicate enough time to each cleaning job.
Insufficient or incorrect cleaning. If you use the wrong type of cleaning agents, you may damage the surfaces in the property. For example, if you want clean windows, you will not achieve the desired results with an oven degreaser. Carpet-wise, the stains should be treated with utmost care. It’s essential that you employ proper techniques and equipment to get the job done.
Lack of experience. Not having enough experience in cleaning different surfaces and fabrics might compromise the outcome.
Not booking a professional end of tenancy cleaning service. The majority of tenants prefer to perform any major cleaning tasks themselves so they can save money on professional cleaning. However, if you fail to clean the space to a high standard, this can lead to not getting your full deposit back. The most optimum results are obtained when hiring a professional cleaning company.
If you plan to do the cleaning yourself, you should be aware that some surfaces will be better off with a professional approach.
One such aspect is carpet and upholstery cleaning. Furniture fabric is more delicate; thus, it requires a gentler technique with specialised equipment and cleaning products. Professional cleaners have access to high-quality steam cleaning machines and environment-friendly agents that can loosen stains and freshen up the fibres.
While you can only vacuum your carpets and upholstered furniture, the experts will probably use shampoo and other products to get rid of dirt. Remember that carpets and furniture receive a lot of traffic on the daily. They are captors of dirt and bacteria which can translate into stubborn stains and bad odours. Using store-bought cleaning supplies might damage the fabric and ruin the entire item. It's not just about the deep clean, it's also about the right approach.
First things first, the cleaning experts should arrive at your property on time. They should follow the best cleaning practices and use high-end equipment.
Second, the technicians will clean your property from top to bottom. As mentioned above, move out cleaning is a more detailed and thorough job than regular cleaning or house cleaning. So it goes beyond hoovering, dusting, and mopping. In fact, the end of tenancy cleaning team will clean inside cupboards and cabinets.
They will also tackle kitchen appliances. On that note, as you book a service with a company of your choosing, they will provide you with a list of all the jobs they will do around the house. This will help you understand the extent of the end of tenancy cleaning service.
End of tenancy cleaning services involve some oven cleaning. However, carpets have to be booked as an additional service and if you bundle up services, you can get a discount.
While the end of tenancy cleaning technicians can still hoover your carpets, they won’t eliminate stains left behind by kids, pets, food, and beverages. It is important that you deal with stains before you leave since they don’t count as fair wear and tear.
Hence, your landlord might deduct cleaning costs from your secure deposit to have that issue fixed. This usually requires steam cleaning and the latter is not included in the standard move out cleaning package.
Absolutely. After all, it can help you get your deposit back. That being said, the end of tenancy cleaning services should be provided by a trained and experienced technician so it can meet the highest cleaning standards.
Yes, you are free to clean the property yourself if this isn’t a concern to you. You need to have the right equipment and some free time on your hands. The good news is that if you have a roommate or spouse, they can pitch in and help with the task. This will significantly reduce the time it takes to clean the entire flat or house from top to bottom.
However, you should be very systematic with your approach since end of tenancy cleaning is nothing like regular house cleaning. You may be used to vacuuming and mopping the place week in and week out but that’s not merely enough when it comes to end of tenancy cleaning. Besides, you may have to add carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning to the list of tasks.
If the property isn’t returned in the same condition in which it was received, your landlord can deduct a big chunk from your deposit. If the place was properly maintained throughout your tenancy period and it looks okay, you will not be expected to book a professional service.
But you should still provide thorough cleaning upon moving out that includes every area, cupboard, and rug, among other things. Even if your tenancy contract doesn't require you to resort to professional cleaning, you should still remove any dust and grime from all surfaces. Aside from the standard jobs, you should also wipe down light switches, vacuum skirting boards, clean windows, polish mirrors, and clean under furniture.
Both types are a form of detailed clean but they are carried out for different reasons. Deep cleaning is provided once every few months to revitalise the space while you are still living there.
Move out cleaning is a one-off service whose purpose is to restore the property to the cleanliness level it was when your tenancy began. It usually comes with a guarantee which warrants that the cleaners should come back to re-clean any areas you are not satisfied with. Deep cleaning does not have a guarantee.
Before a tenant moves out, they have to pay attention to carpets and rugs. Whether you choose to book a professional service or you are determined to do the cleaning yourself, it doesn't matter. If there are any stains, debris, pet dander, and bad smells, make sure to get rid of them.