In London, more people rent than own their own homes, which forecasts showing that this will continue to increase. And due to rising rent, Londoners already spend an average of up to 61 per cent on of their income on rent, with Brexit forecast to push rent costs up fast than house prices. So every penny counts, especially when moving out of your property. End of tenancy cleaning disputes account got 56% of tenancy deposit disputes, and some landlords or letting agents insist on professional cleaning as part of the renting agreement. But did you know that this is not just non-enforceable, but that from June this year they can’t have it in the agreement any more?
Tenancy Cleaning
End of tenancy cleaning should happen once the property is completely empty for ease, and it should be empty before handover to ensure all deposits are fully repaid. Cleaning is not a quick job to do it right, and expert equipment might make the job easier. To remove limescale, mould, and dirt can take hours of elbow grease. With vacant properties, the state of the carpets can be instantly obvious, and proper carpet cleaning requires hot water extraction cleaning and vacuuming.
Cleaning Company
Some landlords hire cleaning companies before tenants move in, setting a very high standard of state for the end of a tenancy. This, of course, sets an expectation for when the tenants move out. The inventory report will show this including in photos. If you plan on cleaning yourself, you will need to ensure this is to a high standard. From experience, while a DIY cleaning job is often suitable, sometimes only a professional carpet cleaning company will make the carpet look like new again and remove stubborn stains.
Letting Agent
Most properties in London are let through a letting agent rather than the landlord directly, acting on their behalf. Rules can be different for agents or agents rather than the property owner. Tenancy agreements may contain a clause requiring a tenant to use a professional cleaning service. But while this is not binding on the tenant, if the property is not clean at the end, then the landlord or agent can make a claim for the costs of cleaning as damages. But under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, which is relevant for all properties rented after 1 June 2019, it’s no longer legal for landlords to include clauses to have their property professionally cleaned. But, if signed before that date the landlord has until 31 May 2020 to charge or request you arrange a professional clean.
Wear And Tear
Fair wear and tear means that while the property has to be returned in the same condition as which it was found, some things may be considered fair wear and tear. For example, walking back and forth naturally wears away the fibres in carpets. But there are no precise rules on what is reasonably acceptable wear and tear, with carpets being responsible for 37% of cleaning disputes. But it can be hard to tell if the carpet is well used or stained, which is why a clean may solve a lot of hassle.