There are many questions surrounding end of tenancy cleans. They are one of the most thorough cleaning services that you can have, and most cleaning companies have very strict rules when it comes to end of tenancy cleaning.
Below, we’re looking at end of tenancy cleans, what they are, why they are so strict, and the additional cleaning services you can add to an end of tenancy clean to ensure you get the most out of this cleaning service.
Why are end of tenancy cleaning services so strict?
If you’ve ever used a cleaning service before, you’ll know that most services can be tailored to suit your needs. Even, in many cases, things like deep cleans. Which aren’t too far off of what an end of tenancy clean is.
So, you may wonder why end of tenancy cleans are so precise and strict, even from cleaning companies that are normally happy to customize their services for you.
The reason end of tenancy cleans are one of the most strict cleaning services available is that landlords and estate agents across the UK use checklists during the handover. These checklists help them identify any damage or any areas of the rented property that haven’t been cleaned correctly.
Any good cleaning company uses these checklists as well. That’s why end of tenancy cleans are so strict. They are designed to clean every single area of a rented property, and the checklists help the cleaners achieve this.
So, end of tenancy cleans cannot be customized or changed because if they are, the cleaning may not be done correctly. You can add additional cleaning services to an end of tenancy clean, though, but more on those in a moment.
Is an end of tenancy clean legally required?
At the moment, end of tenancy cleans are not a legal requirement. Your landlord cannot legally make you hire a professional cleaning company to clean their property. However, it is within your landlord’s right to charge you if they deem that the property hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned.
Can I be charged for not having a rented property professionally cleaned?
Yes, you could be charged for not having a rented property professionally cleaned. However, the cleaning checklists we mentioned above are widely available online if you wish to try and clean a property yourself.
It is one of the most detailed and intense cleans anyone will ever do. Many have tried to do end of tenancy cleans themselves, given up very quickly, and hired professionals.
Nothing is saying you have to have a professional cleaning company clean your rented property prior to handing back the keys. However, it is much easier and much less stressful to hire a pro cleaning company for this job than trying to do it yourself.
Services to add to your end of tenancy clean:
A standard end of tenancy clean will usually involve a very in-depth cleaning of the entire property. However, there are additional services you can add to get even more from the clean. These include:
Carpet Cleaning
If you’ve had pets or kids in a rented property, it is always worth considering adding carpet cleaning to your end of tenancy cleaning. A carpet shampooing machine will be used to draw out all of the dirt, grime and pet hair from the carpets and make them look new again.
You’ll be shocked at how quickly a carpet can become dirty from daily use. You only need to move your sofa to see how different the carpet looks under there!
Typically, most cleaning companies don’t offer carpet cleaning as standard. This is simply because not every end of tenancy clean requires it. However, if you do, ask the cleaning company you are using for your end of tenancy cleaning to add this to the service.
Upholstery Cleaning
If your rented property was furnished by your landlord when you moved in, upholstery cleaning may be required. This is very similar to carpet cleaning in that it gets deep into the upholstery and cleans it thoroughly, removing all dust, grime and hair.
Again, this isn’t usually included in an end of tenancy cleaning as it isn’t needed as standard. Still, it is well worth including it in your end of tenancy clean if the property was furnished by your landlord.
Furnished properties are commonly charged extra for cleaning sofas, mattresses and curtains etc.
Window cleaning
Almost every cleaning company will clean the interior of windows during an end of tenancy clean. However, some landlords require the exterior of the windows to be cleaned too.
It is worth checking if your windows need to be cleaned, and if they do, speak with the cleaning company that you are getting your end of tenancy cleaned from. Be prepared for your cleaning company not to offer this service, though.
Many cleaning companies do not offer window cleaning, but they should know a good window cleaner in your area who can help.
