Can Landlord Make Tenant Pay for End of Lease Cleaning? End-of-lease cleaning is not quite an exciting task. But you have no way about it. You must do the cleaning if you want to leave the house and the landlord on a happy note. Typically, you are required to leave the rented house in the same condition that found while entering it.
Naturally, when you entered the house as a tenant, you must have found the house, kitchen, bathroom, and appliances spotlessly clean. That was such a big relief for you as you can straight away start your life without worrying about cleaning and organizing the household goods. Now, it is your turn to clean everything and return the house in the same condition that you had received it.
But what if you don’t do the end of lease cleaning? What if you are too tied up with engagements and you don’t have time? Can your landlord make you pay for end of lease cleaning?
Your landlord can’t make you pay for end of lease cleaning?
Your landlord can’t force you to pay for the end-of-lease cleaning. Any such clause in the lease document that makes it mandatory to pay for the end of cleaning is unenforceable. But this does not mean that you are off the hook. Your contract provides that you must complete the end-of-lease cleaning.
If you don’t do that, your landlord may cover the cost of cleaning from the security deposit that you have paid as part of the contract.
This means the landlord does not have to force you to pay or go to court to make you do the end-of-lease cleaning. He can get the cleaning done by a professional cleaner and pay it from your security deposit. If you want your deposit back in full, it’s necessary that you handover the house in a perfectly clean condition.
Is cleaning too difficult for you?
More than what the lease agreement says, it is your moral and responsibility to leave the house in a condition that the next tenant does not have any difficulty moving in and starting off his life. You have lived in the house for a considerable period of time to make it dirty the way it is. Now, it is your responsibility to clean it.
For cleaning, you can take the help of professional cleaners. Since they are professional and have been doing this job for a long time, a team of 2 cleaners can complete end of lease cleaning of a studio apartment in about 2 -3 hours, a 2-3 bed home in 4-6 hours, and a big house in one day. If you can’t do the cleaning yourself, you can take the help of professionals cleaners who at best will take a few hours to complete the cleaning.
But if you have been cleaning your home regularly, doing the end of lease cleaning should not be a difficult job for you. Usually, smart tenants are always ready for this moment in their tenancy. They know that they have to vacate the house at some point so why not be ready for the moment by doing a small bit of extra cleaning every day so that there is no last-minute pressure.
What all needs to be cleaned?
Well, you are leaving the house with all your belongings. After you have left, the house should clean in all respects. This means a major part of cleaning should be completed 2-3 days before you leave the house. Make a checklist to make sure you have done your job well. You would need an entire set of cleaning equipment from brooms to gloves to vacuum.
You should aim one room at a time. Clean the bedroom, drawing room, kitchen, and toilet. Clean them thoroughly. You should cover the ceiling, windows, doors, floor, fixtures, and so on. You should not hurry because that can result in accidents. You just need to be patient with the cleaning and it will not take long to finish the task. Being patient and methodical is the key.
Can Landlord Make Tenant Pay for End of Lease Cleaning? – Conclusion
While your landlord may not force you to pay for the end-of-lease cleaning, you may cover the cost from your deposit. On the worse, he may not give you a good recommendation letter. So, you should not have two minds about the end of cleaning. You should clean the house or take the help of professional cleaners.
Contact us today if you are looking for reliable end-of-tenancy cleaning services today!