Keeping a rental property clean is important for both landlords and tenants in terms of hygiene, safety and aesthetic appeal. A dirty home isn’t going to attract new tenants and it could ruin your reputation as a landlord, as it makes it appear you don’t care.
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The responsibility for cleaning at the end of each tenancy can be a grey area. While it’s in everyone’s best interests to keep everything spotless, the landlord and tenants each have their own responsibilities by law.
Tenants’ cleaning responsibilities
When renters move into their new home, they expect to find it clean and tidy, with high quality furniture if it’s advertised as a furnished property. Tenants are responsible for general day-to-day tidying and cleaning, including dusting; vacuuming; keeping the kitchen, bathroom and toilet clean; wiping down surfaces and shampooing carpets.
They are expected to leave the property clean and tidy, as it was when they moved in, although reasonable wear and tear is expected when it comes to carpets and furniture. However, if tenants or their guests have caused damage outside normal wear and tear, they are responsible for repairing it, or paying for the landlord to do so. This includes when anything is left exceptionally dirty through the tenants’ errant behaviour, such as carpets badly soiled by pets, or spilled drinks during parties, for example.
In cases of maintenance issues, or problems such as damp creating black mould on walls, tenants should report this as soon as possible. It’s part of your landlord duties and responsibilities to resolve issues that may cause health hazards as a matter of urgency and this is separate from general cleanliness issues.
What is end of tenancy cleaning?
If a property has been left dirty when your tenants move out, it’s in your best interests to clean it, as otherwise, new renters may be deterred from moving in. People tend to have different standards when it comes to cleanliness, but some criteria should be universal.
There shouldn’t be any dust or cobwebs on ceilings, floors and walls and the windows, curtains and blinds should never be left dirty or stained. The kitchen must be clean including counter tops, sink, cupboards, cooker, microwave oven, hobs and fridge-freezer. Any additional appliances included in the tenancy, such as tumble dryer, washing machine, or air conditioning unit, should be cleaned and serviced.
Never leave a dirty bathroom, as it’s unhygienic and off-putting for potential tenants. The toilet, bath, shower and sink must be sanitised and left spotless. All door knobs, light switches, cupboard handles and banisters should be wiped and disinfected, each room should be swept or vacuumed and the floors mopped. The carpets must be free from stains and odours and, importantly, check for any signs of pests, such as fleas, for example.
Do landlords have to clean between tenants?
There’s no legal obligation that requires UK landlords to clean their rental property specifically between tenants: renters should leave the house clean and tidy when they vacate the house. However, the landlord can’t take the costs of a professional end of tenancy clean from the deposit, under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 in England and the Renting Homes (Fees Etc) (Wales) Act 2019. As a landlord, if you’re not satisfied with the way your property has been left, you can only charge them for your own cleaning costs, including the products you’ve used.
While there’s no mandatory requirement for cleaning between tenants, it’s the law that you must provide a rental house or flat in a “clean and habitable condition” for new occupants. Your tenants may have left it in reasonable shape, but if the property isn’t up to scratch, then yes, you’ll need to take responsibility for cleaning it.
Is a professional clean required?
This is purely down to your personal choice. If you can attain a high enough standard of cleanliness yourself, there’s no need to spend money on a professional cleaning firm. However, if you want to go the extra mile, or have specific issues such as stained carpets or upholstery addressed, you may voluntarily call in the professionals.
End of tenancy cleaning checklist
It can be helpful to write a list to ensure nothing is forgotten. At the top of the list should be the carpets, as stained or generally dirty flooring can be unpleasant for new tenants. No-one wants to kick off their shoes and experience five years’ grime beneath their feet!
Appliances involving food preparation and cooking, such as ovens and refrigerators, should be scrupulously clean. If they’re too grimy to restore, it’s probably sensible to provide new ones.
If you’re renting out HMO properties, don’t neglect the communal areas, such as stairways and halls, as landlords are responsible for cleaning shared spaces such as these.
In cases when a property has been very well-maintained by the occupants before leaving, you may be tempted not to clean it at all, saving time and money, before new renters move in. However, it’s very rare to find absolutely everything has been done to a high standard. Aim for perfection to attract the best tenants: on that basis, it’s better to complete at least basic cleaning between tenancies in these situations.