End Of Lease Cleaning: Ultimate Guide For Landlords

Landlords or property managers in Queensland should focus on maintaining their investment property to leverage higher returns and attract potential tenants.

However, as a responsible landlord, you must ensure your residential property is returned clean and well-maintained to get new tenants without hassle.

According to the Residential Tenancy Laws in QLD, tenants must return the leased property to its original state, i.e. tidy and damage-free, at the end of a tenancy. They are responsible for performing a thorough bond cleaning Gold Coast to pass the rental inspection conducted by landlords.

Unfortunately, most tenants fail to clean the rental unit up to the mark when moving out. You may need to conduct a thorough end of lease cleaning in these scenarios. The best part is that landlords have the right to deduct the cost of cleaning and repairs from the tenant’s bond money.

So, here is a complete end of lease cleaning guide for landlords. This will help you learn your rights and responsibilities as a landlord to ensure a smooth transition between tenants.

Let’s Get Started!

What is an End of Lease Cleaning?

Move-out or end of lease cleaning is the process of deep cleaning and sanitising the rented property when the tenant moves out at the end of a tenancy period. It includes:

• Dusting of hard surfaces like ceiling fans, light switches, fixtures, cupboards, shelves
• Cleaning windows
• Removing stubborn stains from walls, kitchen appliances, tiles, bathroom surfaces, etc
• Vacuuming carpets, rugs, upholstery furniture, blinds
• Sweeping and mopping floors.

Who is Responsible for End of Tenancy Cleaning?

According to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, tenants or renters are responsible for quality end of tenancy or bond cleaning. Failing to do so can lead to bond money deductions.  That’s why it is important to follow a complete bond cleaning checklist to cover all nooks and crannies. It is because landlords or property managers will inspect the property thoroughly and have the right to deduct bond money in case of dirty areas or property damage. Thus, both parties need to know their rights and responsibilities to avoid unnecessary disputes.

A Landlord’s Guide: Know Your Responsibilities

For property managers and landlords, expert bond cleaning Gold Coast guarantees a spotless and sparkling space- ready to rent again. This will help attract potential tenants at higher rents. For that, you need to understand your responsibilities as a landlord when it comes to cleaning and maintaining the property:

• Tenancy or Rental Agreement: Make sure you review all the cleaning clauses in the rental agreement. These will reflect the cleaning obligations of tenants and your rights as a landlord in case of dispute.
• Bond Refund Policy: The Residential Tenancy Authority in Queensland holds the bond. A landlord can claim deductions from the bond money or deposit security to cover cleaning and repairing costs. However, these deductions must be documented.

Pre-Cleaning and Effective Communication

Communication is a key to avoiding cleaning disputes with your tenant. Tenants need to know what they are expected when it comes to end-of-lease cleaning before the rental inspection. This will make things easy for both parties. Make sure you pay attention to:

• Pre-cleaning Inspection: Doing a pre-cleaning inspection with your tenant before the end of a tenancy is good. This enables you to document any existing damage or wear and tear to prevent disputes.
• Communicate Clearly: Clearly communicate your cleaning standards based on the tenancy agreement. You can also provide the tenant with a pre-approved checklist to promote transparency.

Therefore, tenants are required to consider important things when hiring professional cleaners for their rented property.

Post-Cleaning Rental Inspections and Bond Deductions

If a tenant still fails to return the property as it was at the start of a tenancy, landlords can claim their full bond or deduct a part to cover cleaning costs and hire professional end of lease cleaners in Gold Coast. However, to ensure a hassle-free deduction process, consider the following:

• Ensure you provide your tenant a copy of the original move-in inspection report. This will help them compare the property’s current condition. It is good to click pictures of damaged or excessively dirty spots
• It is important to get at least three quotes from reliable cleaning companies for work needed to return the property to a move-in-ready condition.
• Inform your tenant in writing about the necessary repair and cleaning, along with copies of quotations. Let them have additional cleaning done themselves within 72 hours.
• If a tenant doesn’t clean the premises within 3 days, hire the best company for a professional end of lease cleaning Gold Coast to finish off the work.
• Provide copies of paid invoices for cleaning services and deduct the amount from their security deposit.
• Refund the remaining deposit balance (if any) under residential tenancy laws in QLD and avoid tenancy disputes.

Wrapping Up

Whether you are a tenant or a landlord, end of lease cleaning is important for both parties. A sparkling, clean, and well-maintained property can help landlords find new tenants at higher rents with ease. You can consider the guide shared abode and ensure thorough cleaning of the premises without disputes and disagreements.