The golden rule to remember when cleaning before the first tenants come in is to get the place to the condition you would expect the tenants to leave it in when they move on. Once you’ve cleaned the place to your satisfaction, take photos or a video as a record so you can remember what condition the house is. Don’t forget to take photos of odd things, like what the inside of the oven is like. It’s not really fair on your tenants if the oven had a bit of black on the racks at the start of the tenancy, but you expect them to have perfect sparkly metal ones when they move out.
So you’ve decided that renting out a property is the best way to go to get yourself a bit of income on the side. Congratulations on getting yourself into a position where you can have a place to live in as well as a place to rent out.
However, before you hand the keys over to the new tenants – and hope that they’re good ones who will look after the place, be happy there and pay the rent on time – you need to make sure that the rental property is a house, a flat or a wee cottage, is clean and presentable.
Of course, as I’m a professional cleaner rather than a property agent or a lawyer, I’m not the best person to advise you about drawing up rental contracts or how much is best for the deposit you ask the tenants for, etc. However, I can let you know how to go about cleaning the place before you open it up for inspection by prospective tenants.
Oh yes – as much as you would like to do it, you can’t make getting the end of tenancy cleaning done by a professional service one of the conditions of the rental agreement. You can and should require the tenants to leave the place clean and in good condition, but it’s up to the tenants whether they do this themselves or whether they call on a professional moving-out company.
Cleaning Before The Tenants Come: General Guidelines
Deep cleaning a rental property before the tenants come to inspect the place is pretty much like deep cleaning your own home or cleaning up a house before you put it on the market. If you’re lucky, the people you bought the rental property from will have done a bit of this. However, if the place has been on the market for a while, if you inherited it from Aunty Mary or if you have been living in the house and have moved out of it, a bit more work may need to be done. However, you probably don’t have to try all those tricks that real estate agents suggest for selling a house, like making sure it smells fresh coffee or freshly baked bread. Prospective tenants usually aren’t that picky.
If you are renting the property furnished, it’s a good idea to make sure that you clean the furniture (yes, this means underneath the sofa cushions and inside the refrigerator) and take a photo of that as well. During the deep cleaning session, don’t forget to clean behind and under these big items as well.
It goes without saying that you need to check the cupboards, attics, basements, sheds, and garages for bits and pieces. It’s easier for you and for the tenants if they can start with a clean slate. If you leave anything behind by choice (e.g., a freezer in the garage), then make sure you keep a record of it as well.
A Few Practical Ideas
OK, what practical things can you do to clean before the first tenants turn up? I’ll assume that you are aware of doing things like scouring the bath, polishing the taps and ensuring that the kitchen splashbacks are free from grease.
- Get the carpets professionally cleaned.
- This way, the place won’t smell funny the way it often does with old carpets that haven’t been cleaned for a while. This also reveals if there are any permanent stains or marks on the carpets. What happens if you discover an indelible stain on the carpet is up to you, but don’t forget to take a photo of it to avoid arguments later. Also, bear in mind that if the tenants stay in the property for a few years (good for you!), they will wear the carpet a bit, and there’s nothing that any cleaner can do about that.
- Call in a professional cleaning company that specialises in end of tenancy cleaning to get the job done. Most moving-out and moving-in cleaning companies have a proper checklist that is accepted and used by agents to ensure that the place is up to standard.
- Put in fresh lightbulbs rather than cleaning them. However, don’t forget to dust the lampshades or other light fittings well. Don’t forget exterior lights as well.
- Clean the toilet thoroughly inside and out. To ensure no nastiness is trapped under the seat, unscrew it and clean the hinge, parking it on the seat itself and on the bowl. Now is the time to mention that you need to use rubber gloves for all types of cleaning. Handling commercial cleaning products doesn’t feel good on the skin. Be safe at all times.
- Make sure that the fridge is immaculate and the freezer is defrosted. Don’t turn the fridge or freezer on when the property is vacant – apart from showing the tenants that this appliance actually works. Leave the doors propped open until then to avoid mustiness and mould growing inside.
- Run dishwashers and washing machines on empty with a good dollop of vinegar instead of regular washing powder or detergent. This will remove limescale and will make the interior smell nicer. Again, leave the units slightly open to the air to avoid them getting smelly. Don’t forget to clean the filters and the lint traps.
- Use the vacuum cleaner to clean more than just the carpets. It can remove dust from inside cupboards and wardrobes, on shelves, and even windowsills.
- Remember the top of the ceiling fan if you have one, as this can be a real dust trap.
- Wash the walls with warm water and detergent. This works best with painted walls rather than papered ones – you need to be more sparing with the water on papered walls, especially if the paper is getting a bit old. If this doesn’t remove all the marks perfectly and you don’t want to go to the bother of repainting or repapering, don’t forget to take a photo of the marks as evidence.
- Ensure that the drains from any sinks and basins (and the bath!) work properly and that the water goes down freely and quickly. If water is slow to drain, you will have to unblock it. You can try the old trick of pouring baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of hot vinegar. The resulting fizz will blast away most blockages. If this doesn’t work, try unscrewing the U-bend and checking for nasties. If that still doesn’t work, call a plumber.
- Don’t forget to clean the plates of light switches and doorknobs.
- Make sure the windows are washed inside and out. It’s easy not to see grime on windows if net curtains are hanging up and regular curtains. However, your new tenants may take the net curtains down when they’re in residence (they can do this), and they’ll see any mess on the windows that the curtains had hidden… and will then be justified in leaving the windows in the same condition (savvy tenants also know to take photos of the condition of the property when they moved in!).
I am sure I haven’t covered everything related to end of tenancy cleaning for new landlords. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. I am more than happy to answer any end of tenancy cleaning questions you may have.
