When the final days of a tenancy draw near, both landlords and tenants are often preoccupied with the logistics of moving in and out, making it easy to overlook the significance of thorough end-of-tenancy cleaning. However, understanding the importance of this process can have implications for both parties involved.
The Importance of End of Tenancy Cleaning
It is important to understand the importance of cleaning a property at the end of a tenancy. For landlords, failing to get a property into an acceptable condition for new tenants may impact upon your ability to quickly and easily let your property out in the future, while it might even store up future problems with the property itself of which you might otherwise remain unaware. For tenants, the stakes may be even higher; you could face deductions from your deposit for cleaning – in fact, cleaning charges are the number one reason for deposit deductions.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Landlords
Tenancies are governed by contract law which is binding on both parties; the landlord and the tenant, and the central legislation which governs them is the Landlord and Tenants Act 2019. But this isn’t the only piece of law which comes into play. Tenant deposits, for example, are covered by both the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and the Tenant Fees Act 2019, while the condition of rental properties is covered by the and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
In legal circles, it is common to talk of the ‘spirit’ and the ‘letter’ of the law. Laws are written down because we need precise definitions of what falls in and outside of them, but every law also carries the broader connotation of what we want it to achieve. Similarly, there are not just legal reasons why we should take this subject seriously. We should aspire to be good landlords and good tenants. Ensuring that a property is in good condition at the end of a tenancy is both an ethical and a legal question.
Legal responsibility for the condition of a property at the end of a contract rests with the tenant. Should they not return the property in the same condition as documented on the ingoing inventory report (less fair wear and tear), landlords are perfectly entitled to withhold sufficient money from their tenants’ deposits to cover the costs of setting it straight themselves. This is clearly outlined in the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and will be enforced by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
Do Landlords Have To Clean Before New Tenants Move In?
Landlords in the UK are not legally required to clean between tenancies, but the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 does enshrine tenants’ rights to receive a clean and hygienic property upon commencement of a new tenancy contract and for this property to be maintained in a reasonable condition for the entire duration of their agreement.
It does remain legal to state in your tenancy agreement that the tenant must clean the property “to a professional standard” before leaving. This is generally accepted to mean that they return the property to the same or a better state of cleanliness than when they arrived, as documented in the inventory.
Benefits of Thorough End of Tenancy Cleaning
There are plenty of benefits to conducting a comprehensive end of tenancy cleaning before a new tenant moves in yourself, even if one has already been carried out by your previous tenant. Primarily, it creates a positive first impression for new tenants. You only get one opportunity to set the rent for the first period of your contract, and spending a few hundred pounds on making your property looks perfect will be to your benefit if it means you can let out the property quicker.
Hiring Professional Cleaning Services for Rental Properties
Of course, you can try to do it all yourself by spending a couple of days there doing all this cleaning yourself. But again, this leaves you open to the possibility of more false economy.
There are several advantages to using a professional cleaning service. Firstly, they know what they’re doing. A reputable cleaning company—and there are plenty who specialise in this sort of cleaning alone—will already know exactly what they need to do, will already have all the cleaning materials required to do the job properly, and will be able to give you peace of mind that your property is in the best condition that it can be for prospective new tenants.
Of course, if you’re going to spend money, you want to make sure that you’re dealing with a reputable firm. Check whether they already have a detailed checklist for this type of clean. Tenants can ask for an end of tenancy cleaning guarantee, which ensures that the clean will meet with the letting agents standards. Find out whether they will offer something similar to you. Find out what their criteria for pricing are, because some will charge by the amount of time it takes, while others may charge by the size of the property. Find out whether they offer insurance—again, reputable companies should do—to cover accidental damage caused while carrying out their work. If you’re checking review websites, be aware that ‘astroturfing’—that’s to say, the practice of leaving false positive reviews to increase business—can be absolutely rife, so approach them with caution. Choosing a company that’s used by letting agents to conduct and end of tenancy cleaning is a great way to not only choose a reliable company, but one that meets their expectations.
Meeting Tenant Expectations for Cleanliness
For landlords, while there may be no legal obligation specifically to rent out a property which is clear, unless you’re in a position to prove that a property was clean when it was rented out and that the tenant accepted moving into one in that condition and with a contractual undertaking to improve it, you will not be able to insist that tenants leave a property in a clean state when they vacate.
And tenants have reasonable expectations of hygiene and cleanliness when they move into a property. If you expect them to look after a property to the standard that you expect, it’s not unreasonable that it should be presented to them in the best condition it can be. There are numerous landlord checklists available online so that you can do your own checks. It’s in your interests to do this, as this sort of positive experience will likely impact on how long the tenant stays in the property.
How Does Property Cleanliness Affect Tenant Retention?
The single biggest factor behind whether a tenant decides to stay in your property will likely be its condition. If your property is in great condition, with no major repairs required, your tenants are more likely to be fulfilled and stay longer. Tenants also appreciate properties that are well-maintained and clean. If you consistently take care of small maintenance issues and keep the property neat, your tenants will likely be more satisfied and stay longer.
It’s easy to want to cut corners at the end of a tenancy agreement. All the tenant wants is to move on, and all the landlord wants is to move someone in. But whether through rushing, penny-pinching or otherwise saving a few pennies which cost a few pounds further down the line, both landlords and tenants can do with a reminder that a clean house is both one that landlords will want to let and tenants will want to rent. By engaging with companies like ourselves, who specialise in exactly this sort of specialist deep clean, tenants can keep those glowing references and their deposit money, while landlords can ensure that their properties are at their absolute best when their new tenants move in.
If you’re looking for an end of tenancy cleaning company, you’re in the right place. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs.
