As a tenant, there comes a time when you have to vacate your rental property and move on to your next adventure. Whether you’ve enjoyed your time in the property or not, one thing is for sure: you want to ensure you get your full deposit back. This is where the end of tenancy cleaning comes in – it’s a crucial step towards returning your deposit.

End of tenancy cleaning can be daunting, especially if you need assistance figuring out where to start or what to do. In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive end of tenancy cleaning checklist and some pro tips from experts to make the process smoother and more successful. So, whether you’re a tenant looking to get your full deposit back or a landlord looking to prepare your property for new tenants, read on for everything you need about the end of tenancy cleaning.

What is End of Tenancy Cleaning?

The term ‘end of tenancy cleaning’ or ‘end of lease cleaning’ refers to a cleaning service just before a tenant has left their property. Before leaving, the property user will have to remove all rubbish, dispose of waste and disinfect the property.

As you may know, Ireland is currently in the midst of a housing crisis, which means less real estate is available to tenants than is available for rent. Getting a letter of recommendation to find a new home is more important than ever.

Tenants often do not understand the importance of cleaning the property before moving out. Many of them usually assume that the landlord will clean the property after tenants move out. That is not the case. The landlord is responsible for the property’s condition before, during, and after the tenant has moved out.

End of tenancy cleaning is the last step in the cleaning process before moving out of your apartment, house, or office. It involves cleaning and sanitizing your property after you have moved out of it. You must make sure that you leave your home or office in perfect condition.

That task can be very stressful and challenging, so having a professional end-of-tenancy cleaning company do the job for you is the best simple solution.

Should You Clean the House Before Moving Out?

When you leased and entered someone’s property, you made an agreement with them. You decided to pay a certain amount in rent, and you agreed to keep the property clean and tidy. If you don’t do this, you commit an offense that can lead to being fined and even prosecuted. However, if you enter a dirty property, the landlord can’t expect from you to deep clean or renovate the house in order to return your deposit back. 

You should also know your rights, according to the Independent.ie, there are many cases in that landlords are taking deposits from tenants for cleaning services.

That’s why it is crucial when you enter the newly leased property to photograph everything to prove later when you get out that you leave the property in the same or even better condition than you moved in.

What Do I Need to Clean When I Move Out of The House or Apartment?

You need to know that if you are moving out of your home or apartment, you will have to take care of some things before leaving. You will have to clean the whole house or apartment and leave it in condition as you find it.

Threshold.ie wrote a brochure explaining why returning a security deposit may be withheld.

The best way to clean is by a checklist that will include what needs to be done step by step.

What Can Happen if I Don’t Do End of Tenancy Cleaning?

The landlord or agency won’t return you the deposit if you don’t return the property in the same condition as you find it. The law states that the landlord is responsible for checking all aspects of your tenancy to ensure it is safe and in good standing before you move out. That means that he or she must check the property for any damage and make sure no pests or vermin may have infested the property.

The law says that if you fail to do this, the landlord can charge you the cost of cleaning and any damages caused by your failure to check.

And also landlord probably won’t give you a letter of recommendation for your further letting.

How Can I Avoid This?

Make sure you have a checklist of everything you need to do before moving out of a property. That means making sure that there are no marks on the walls, windows, carpets, or furniture. If you find anything that needs doing, you should report it to the landlord or agency before you leave. You should also arrange for them to come and inspect the property for you before you move out.

Room-by-Room End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist

Bedrooms

It is good to start cleaning the bedrooms because, on the days of moving and cleaning, most of the time you will walk and use the rest of the house. The bedroom serves as a storage room for things when moving. This way, you can ensure that you have prepared and organized all the necessary stuff for moving.

You need to wash the windows and curtains, vacuum the floors, clean the carpets, and remove all cobwebs and dust from the ceiling and walls. The beds should be cleaned and vacuumed as well as the mattresses.

Garden and exterior cleaning

There is also some job outside if the rented property had one. It is essential to return the garden to its previous condition. That doesn’t mean removing your improvement like destroying the flowers or other greenery, but you need to clean the shed, mow the grass and remove all the rubbish and own properties.

Living room

Next on our cleaning list is a living room where you want to take out the furniture first and then vacuum it thoroughly. You should also dust the tables and clean the shelves, cabinets, and appliances. Inspect the walls, wash the windows and curtains, remove the cobwebs and finish with vacuuming and washing the floors.

It is pretty time-consuming to clean as the living room often features a few full bookshelves, many decorative items, and some hard-to-clean surfaces and objects.

Kitchen

The kitchen is next on our cleaning task checklist.

There is much to be done, so we created the total kitchen cleaning checklist that will aspect all cleaning needs.

Don’t forget to empty and unfreeze the fridge and clean the washing machine, dishwasher, and appliances. Remove all food, spices, and rubbish from the cupboards and shelves. Oven is usually the first thing new tenant or inspection will open to check.

Hallways and staircases

Areas that face a lot of traffic need a good cleaning and also because of the impression when someone enters the house, office, or apartment. Remove spiderwebs, dust the picture frames and wipe all surfaces. Finish with floor vacuuming and mopping.

Windows

It is essential to clean the windows, which will make the property shine and make the first impression on the general hygiene of the property. Inspect all windows that are working correctly and fix them before calling the landlord for inspection. 

Bathroom

You should check every item in the bathroom for any obstructions, such as dirt or lint, that could clog up pipes or drainage. You should also check the plug holes and drains for blockages and make sure that water can easily flow out of the house.

We wrote a complete bathroom cleaning checklist. You can follow that list to make sure you didn’t forget something.

How Long Does End of Tenancy Cleaning Take?

A common question among tenants is how long it takes to clean a property. The answer varies depending on the size and condition of the property, but generally speaking, it takes about 1 to 3 days to complete a thorough cleaning. That would apply to cases if you didn’t clean the property regularly.

Why should I hire a professional end-of-tenancy cleaner?

Professional cleaners are committed to providing the highest quality cleaning services in your home or office. Expert cleaners will provide a thorough and professional service, which will leave you with a feeling of satisfaction and peace of mind. They can clean and prepare your property from top to bottom and will do so as quickly and efficiently as possible.

If you live in the Cork area we can recommend our professional end of tenancy cleaning service.