Dirt and your deposit: how to achieve a clean exit

If you thought damage and rent arrears were the only reasons for deposit deductions, think again. Two separate pieces of research highlight how dirt can be a renter’s end-of-tenancy nemesis. 

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) say over 60% of the disputes it mediates involve cleaning, while a new survey by SpareRoom found 63% of renters experience cleaning costs being deducted from their deposit at the end of their tenancy. 

Just like damage, dirt can prevent a landlord from re-letting a property, especially if professional cleaning services or repairs are required. Deducting cleaning costs from a deposit is fully justified but tenants can avoid this situation. Here’s how:

Keep on top of housework: dusting and vacuuming are jobs that should be performed frequently to prevent a build-up of dirt. Removing limescale, grease and any signs of mould should also be built into a monthly cleaning schedule.

Prepare for check out: during check out, the landlord or letting agent will inspect the cleanliness of the property, comparing it to how it was recorded during check in. You should use the inventory(Schedule of Condition) and check in report as a guide to how the property should be handed back.

Always report issues: if there’s a fault with the property that could result in a build-up of dirt, limescale or grease, raise this with the landlord or letting agent as soon as you notice it, taking photos of the issue.

Leave yourself enough time: an end-of-tenancy deep clean is not a quick job, especially as you’ll need to clean from top to bottom. Don’t leave all the cleaning until the last 48 hours before check out. If you’re pressed for time, book a professional, end-of-tenancy clean and keep the invoice.

Don’t neglect easy-to-overlook areas: check out reports are thorough, and all nooks and crannies will be inspected for dirt. Places tenants often fail to clean include the dispenser drawer and rubber seal of the washing machine, ceilings, garden furniture, barbeques, oven extractor hoods, light fittings, plug sockets, skirting boards and the inside of appliances.   

Clean any furniture and goods included: pay particular to soft furnishings and upholstery, which may need steam cleaning. This may include sofas, rugs, curtains and mattresses.  

Don’t forget odours: dirt isn’t just what’s visible on the surface. Foul odours will also be a cause for concern. If you were permitted to keep a domestic animal, neutralise pet odours and ensure all drains/sinks/basins are free running.  

Remove rubbish: if you moved into a property with empty bins and clean rooms, that’s how they should be left. Don’t forget to remove rubbish from gardens, driveways, outbuildings, attics, basements and sheds.

Pay attention to timings: check out should fairly reflect the true cleanliness of the property and the timing can make all the difference. Ensuring there is little to no gap between the final clean of the property and check out ensures dust doesn’t have time to build up or an issue to occur that could leave a stain or mark.

Guide to cleanliness terminology 

If you’re reading check in, Schedule of Condition or inventory reports, there can be a standard way of describing the level of cleanliness. This TDS guide will help you decipher the level of dirt:

• Very poor: not cleaned. Requires cleaning to a good or excellent standard.
• Poor: dusty or dirty. Requires further cleaning to a good or excellent standard.
• Fair: evidence of some cleaning but dust or marks still present.
• Good: item clean and no signs of dirt/soiling.
• Excellent: immaculate, fully clean and dust free.

Please let us know if there is anything you don’t understand about getting ready for check out. We’d be happy to help and share useful advice.