At the end of a tenancy, all you can think about is getting your security deposit back and moving on to your next home. Property owners and property managers request check-out cleaning services to hire a cleaning company as per the lease agreements in most states to get a vacate cleaning for the property.
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just moving out and giving the keys to the landlord while they give you your bond. In fact, many tenants never see their bond again because the landlord and tenant can’t get along due to the bad condition of the property after moving out.
Landlords or real estate agents who work for them can legally keep a bond if they are unhappy with the tenant. They say that this is usually because the place isn’t clean or there’s damage to it. This means that the tenant can be asked to pay for a professional clean or small repairs that supposedly happened while they were living there.
This can, of course, be disputed by the tenant by filing a claim with NSW Fair Trading if they don’t think they did anything wrong.
Check-out cleaning cost
A woman in a blue shirt and blue pants stands in an empty living room with moving boxes in the background, holding a mop and a bucket.
In every rental agreement, it says that the property must be given back to the owners in the same shape it was in when the tenants got it.
But most of them don’t have a clause that says you have to hire a professional cleaner at the end of the lease. For those who do, the landlord or agent will usually have a preferred contractor who must be hired at the tenant’s expense.
The price of a professional check-out cleaning service varies from company to company, but an average end of lease cleaning in Sydney costs between $320 and $450 with carpet steam cleaning.
Depending on the company, this may or may not include deep cleaning kitchen cabinets, appliances, windows, etc. Most of the time, these are offered as extra services for which you have to pay. Also, you should know that steam cleaning carpets is a separate service that, depending on the size and condition of the carpet, can cost an extra $150 or more.
Even if the lease or the landlord doesn’t say that the place needs to be cleaned by a professional, the tenant is still responsible for making sure the place is clean. If the landlord isn’t happy with the results of a DIY clean, the tenant may be asked to hire and pay for a professional cleaning service or charged for cleaning from their deposit.
Wear and Tear vs. Damage
During an inspection, if the owner can’t find anything wrong with how clean the place is, they may look very closely for small problems. This could include even tiny marks on the wall that could have been there before the tenant moved in.
If any of these problems are found, the landlord has every right to charge the tenant for fixing them, as long as the tenant can’t prove that they were there before or during the time they lived there.
With that in mind, it’s important to know that the tenant can’t be held responsible for damage caused by normal wear and tear. This is called “fair wear and tear,” and it happens over time or with regular use.
On the other hand, if you damage the property, whether by accident or on purpose, you are responsible for fixing it and paying for it. Of course, it’s hard for tenants, agents, and landlords to agree on what counts as damage or normal wear and tear. This often leads to a fight over “unfair” claims.
Other kinds of damage include missing items, torn or ripped furniture, curtains, etc., scratches on the floor, stains on the carpet, bad or unapproved painting, and cuts on the kitchen countertops. What you’re not responsible for, but a landlord or agent might say you are, like scuff marks on hardwood floors, furniture impressions on rugs or carpets, faded or frayed upholstery, and chipped or peeling wall paint.
How to Keep from Fighting About Cleaning and Damages?
When filling out the condition report at the beginning of the lease, it is very important to pay close attention to the details.
This will be proof if or when false claims are made about the difference between how the house looked before you moved in and how it looks now. It’s also a good idea to take photos and videos of any damage or lack of check-out cleaning you see when you’re filling out the condition report.
These can be used as proof if the agent or landlord says the house was in better shape or “spick and span” when you got the keys.
Another important way to avoid fights is to fix problems right away. Whether the damage was done by a family member or a guest, the landlord should know about it right away, and steps should be taken to fix it. Also, if damage happens that is not the tenant’s fault, they should take pictures or videos and tell the landlord right away.
This could happen if a water pipe broke or if there was a leak that left water stains on the carpet. No matter what, it’s important to talk to people quickly and clearly if you don’t want a fight to happen later.
When it comes to paying for check-out cleaning or damage at the end of a lease, it pays to know your rights as a tenant and how to protect yourself from false or unfair claims. Always check the condition report before agreeing to pay for damages or hiring a professional check-out cleaning service, since you may not have to pay for these costs in the first place.
