End of lease cleaning isn’t like your average weekly clean. To get your bond back, you need to put in some extra effort to ensure the property is in the same condition as when you arrived. Legally, you need to ensure the property is in a reasonably clean condition. Landlords need to accept general “wear and tear”, but this is difficult to prove unless you’ve been extra diligent in your condition reporting upon entering the lease.
If you’ve lived in a property for some time, it can be hard to remember exactly what it looked like when you first moved in. Check out the original condition report you would have filled in when you first moved into the property. If you took photographs, check out these as well. You can use these as a point of comparison.
So, what exactly is your landlord looking for in an end of lease clean? And, how can you ensure you meet your landlord’s expectations and get your bond back?
Deep clean the kitchen
The major items in the kitchen which require significant cleaning are the oven, stovetop, exhaust fan and sinks. A surface clean for these just won’t do – your landlord is looking for a deep clean, which means removal of fats, stains and spills, clean oven trays and sparkling oven door glass.
It’s easy for tiles to be discoloured in areas where you cook – so a landlord is looking for not only clean tiles, but clean grout between the tiles. They’re also looking at clean cupboards and drawers, inside and out.
Give the bathrooms some sparkle
Regular cleaning throughout your lease will make an end of lease cleaning easier. This is particularly true for bathrooms – as failure to clean can result in build up on shower screens and around taps, as well as toilet bowl discolouration.
A landlord is looking for clean and clear shower screens, removal of any soap scum and removal of any build up of dirt or stains around taps, sinks and drains. Toilet seats need to be cleaned – on top and underneath. Toilets need to be scrubbed with a brush and disinfectant and don’t forget the “s-bend” at the bottom of the toilet. And, the mirror – make sure any streaks or spills are removed with a good quality window cleaner.
Remember to look up
End of lease cleaning is about cleaning not only things you see every day, but all the things you perhaps don’t notice on a daily basis. So, be sure to look up. That means checking out air-conditioner vents, exhaust fan vents, light shades, ceiling fans and clear any cobwebs away from cornices.
Don’t forget the floors
Most leases will require you to get any carpets professionally cleaned when you leave. So check out your lease to see what is required. At the very least, you need to ensure all carpets are vacuumed. All tiled floors or floorboards should be swept and mopped.
Wash the windows
Windows can be one of the hardest (and least favourite) tasks of an end of lease clean. Chances are, unless you live in a high rise apartment, you’re going to need to make sure your windows are cleaned. This means inside and out, window sills, and window frames. A landlord wants to see all cobwebs removed and dust.
Other things to watch out for
Other things your landlord will be checking on at their end of lease inspection, which you may not have on your “to do list” yet are:
- Grubby light switches
- Dust laden skirting boards
- Marks on doors and handles
Also check for any new marks on the walls, although whether you can remove them well will depend on the type of paint your landlord has used inside the property.
Enlist a professional
Moving homes can be an incredibly stressful experience as it is, without the worry of meeting your landlord’s expectations with your end of lease clean. Often, you’ll have a limited window of time to move out of one place and into the next. Of course there’s work setting up your new property too – you’ll have boxes to unpack and things to put away. That’s why so many people these days are opting to engage a professional for an end of lease clean. A professional cleaner knows what your landlord is looking for, because people like us have years of experience doing exit cleans for both landlords and tenants.
If you are moving soon and would like to have a stress-free transition to your new home, contact us on 0413 235 605 or email [email protected]
We can talk about your schedule for moving, provide you with a quote and book in a date for your exit clean.