Cleaning out a rental- what's fair?

[Anonymous]

Not sure what is realistic/fair to expect from tenants who will be moving out. For instance, I would like the wood floors cleaned and polished, and the carpets shampooed. Other things like windows cleaned and free of bugs, etc. Can I give them a list of things I expect? Alternatively I've offered to hire a cleaning service and subtract the fee from their deposit, but they are cheap so I suspect they'll want to do it themselves.

[Anonymous]

My lease specifies that the tenant do all those things and more.

[Anonymous]

You cannot expect your tenants to shampoo the carpets on move out. That is yr job.

[Anonymous]

What does your lease say? You can't deduct from their deposit for cleaning if they do what is listed but maybe not all you want.

Our lease (as landlord) only expects normal cleaning (bugs in windows?!? Get real). There is a provision for a deduction for cleaning carpets. But you should expect wear and tear so no polishing floors or shampooing carpets unless they had pets or there is excessive dirt.

[Anonymous]

What did you put in your lease?

[Anonymous]

I thought "broom clean" was the standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought "broom clean" was the standard.

That's been my experience. In my tenant years, I made sure we didn't leave behind any trash, cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms thoroughly, and swept and mopped before locking the door for the last time. No way would I have polished the floors or steam-cleaned. My leases required broom clean.


As everyone else wrote, check your lease. And look up what your jurisdiction considers "normal wear and tear" so you can adjust your expectations.

[Anonymous]

Broom clean only, OP. Getting the place polished and steam cleaned is your responsibility. Get real.

[Anonymous]

Broom clean. You pay for carpet cleaning and floor polishing. There is no way you can expect a tenant to clean bugs from a windowsill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought "broom clean" was the standard.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Most of what you mentioned op is your responsibility. Leases usually state return to the condition you found it in plus normal wear and tear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what is realistic/fair to expect from tenants who will be moving out. For instance, I would like the wood floors cleaned and polished, and the carpets shampooed. Other things like windows cleaned and free of bugs, etc. Can I give them a list of things I expect? Alternatively I've offered to hire a cleaning service and subtract the fee from their deposit, but they are cheap so I suspect they'll want to do it themselves.

Renters won't do that and you cannot make them. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what is realistic/fair to expect from tenants who will be moving out. For instance, I would like the wood floors cleaned and polished, and the carpets shampooed. Other things like windows cleaned and free of bugs, etc. Can I give them a list of things I expect? Alternatively I've offered to hire a cleaning service and subtract the fee from their deposit, but they are cheap so I suspect they'll want to do it themselves.

I don't think it's the renters who are cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Broom clean only, OP. Getting the place polished and steam cleaned is your responsibility. Get real.

+ 100
Deep cleaning is your expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what is realistic/fair to expect from tenants who will be moving out. For instance, I would like the wood floors cleaned and polished, and the carpets shampooed. Other things like windows cleaned and free of bugs, etc. Can I give them a list of things I expect? Alternatively I've offered to hire a cleaning service and subtract the fee from their deposit, but they are cheap so I suspect they'll want to do it themselves.

I don't think it's the renters who are cheap.

Lol + 1000.