Useful Guide How to Get Your Deposit Back: End Of Tenancy Cleaning In London

It is a well-known fact that moving out can be hard enough on its own. But there will be a problem if you leave a mess after the end of your tenancy. In this case you might not get your deposit back for this. If your property is just dirty on the surface and not damaged, how well you clean could be the difference between getting back your deposit money that has been held hostage for years or not.

If you want to avoid this money problem, we would advice  you to do some things. Before doing your end of tenancy cleaning, you have to complete some cleaning tasks. You must take into consideration that cleaning at the end of tenancy is not an easy task to do.

Consequently, you have to decide whether you are  able to perform your cleaning by your own or it is better to hire a professional company to do this job. In case you cannot afford high-quality cleaning service, then you have no other choice but to clean by our own. But if you can hire a cleaning company then don’t hesitate to do it because otherwise you won’t be capable of cleaning your property in such a proper way as the company will. Another reason to this is that now almost every agent or landlord expects the end of tenancy cleaning to be done professionally because of the cleaning companies’ trend. If you fail to do this, they may even charge you penalties fo this.

Here is a list of the things we suggest you to do in order to avoid a situation where you lose your deposit.

Pay your rent

First make sure that you have paid your rent up to the last day of tenancy.

Stop your services

Make sure that you have cancelled any services you have connected to the place such as gas, electriity, internet or phone.

Clean during your tenancy period

It will be much easier for you to clean in the end of your tenancy if don’t leave the cleaning until the last moment. For example no one wants to clean the dirt that gathered from two years just in two days’ time.

Take pictures

When your tenancy is over make a photograph of each room in detail to show the perfect condition in which you have left the house. This can become a helpful evidence in case the owner of the apartment complex blame you for damaging the place for example.

Make sure to fill in the inventory

It is important to get all the pre-existing damage on the property such as scuffs and stains is recorded and signed by the landlord as early as possible. In this way you will avoid getting charged for the result of someone else’s actions before you. You should also note that over 55%  disputes on tenancy depoisits arise from insufficient cleaning.

You should double-check your contract

Sometimes it is possible to miss some specific requrements in our contracts such as to make sure the windows are well-cleaned. You will understand from your contract which places you should turn your attention to.

Tell your landlord if there are some things which need fixing in order to avoid bigger problems later.

Invite your landlord for preliminary inspection

We suggest you to invite your landlord for a final look before you move out. In that way they can point out anything that they won’t like and you will get a chance to put it right.

Return your keys

Unfortunately, the last thing you want to do before you leave one home to start another is clean out the old place. This is a tedious task for all of us. The case most often happen to be our lack of time. But we have to put ourselves in the place of the other tenants and consider that no one wants to find a dirty spot. You are not required normally to pay for the place to be professionally cleaned unless it is a condition of your lease agreement, but before you leave you should clean it as perfectly as possible.We know that the cleaning must be done, so just throw on some tunes, grin and bear it.

In this case, it is essential to clean the place as quickly and as fast as possible. We will number you  here a checklist of the things that you should not forget to perform as you prepare your home for its next inhabitants. We recommend you also to do your end of tenancy cleaning after you have moved out to avoid working around your belongings.

Cleaning tasks to do everywhere:

1. It’s good to start working from the top down. Start with removing the cobwebs from the ceiling and the upper corners. Clean the lightshades, ceilng fans and smoke alarms.
2. Start cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom first because these rooms are the hardest to clean.
3. Besides removing thoroughly the dust and the stains that have gathered in your property, you should not forget to remove all nails and staples that you put on the ceilings, doors or walls of the place and putty them smoothly. Also check if you have left some scuff marks on the walls or other places.
4. Check out if you have thrown out the garbage in all rooms
5. Replace all of the burnt-out light bulbs
6. Change the batteries of smoke alarms
7. Dust the ceiling fixtures
8. Dust all ledges
9. Clean any wardrobes or cupboards
10. Use a glass cleaner for all glassy surfaces
11. Clean the window frames and sills
12. Clean the door knobs and doors
13. Dust fans
14. Wipe conditioning units and clean filters
15. Clean all light switches and outlets
16. Clean the walls and baseboards
17. Vacuum (get any stains out of the carpet, or get the carpet professionally cleaned if there are very stubborn stains on the carpet you cannot remove by yourself).
18. Get rid of all cobwebs
19. Get rid of any unpleasant odors by opening for a while all doors, closets and cupboards.

Cleaning the Bathroom:

1. Get soap scum off the bathroom tiles, tub or shower and bleach the grout.
2. Scour the bathroom taps and the shower nozzle.
3. Clean out the bathroom drawers and vanity, medicie cabinets, any light fixtures or vents making sure you get all the hair out (and remove any liners).
4. Remove any mold from the walls, the tiles or the ceiling.
5. Clean the toilet, sink, including the taps, countertop and finally mop the floor (sweep and mop). If the toilet seat is unsavory looking, you should replace it.
6. Clean all the mirrors.
7. Clean the shower curtains or doors and  rails.
8. Vacuum out the surface of the exhaust fan if it’s super dusty.
9. Wash and sweep all the floors.

Cleaning the Kitchen:

1. Clean inside and outside all cabinets, cupboards and liners.
2. Wash the front of the cabinets.
3. Clean and disinfect all countertops and surface areas, such as grills, hobs, cooktops, rangehoods.
4. Wipe all kitchen walls and worktops.
5. Clean and shine up the sink and faucet and descale.
6. Scrub the refrigerator inside and out. Remove all shelves and clean separately if necessary.
7. Remove the grease from all kitchen appliances. Scrub microwave, oven, dishwasher, inside and out. Defrost the freezer and clean both freezer and fridge. Remove shelving, drip pans and burners. Use steel wool because it is your friend.
8. Clean out the dishwasher if you have one.
9. Clean exhaust fan if needed.
10. Remove all appliances and sweep behind them.
11. Clean window sills  and door frames, tracks and fly screens.
12. Vacuum or wash the floors

Cleaning the Bedrooms and the Living Room:

Dust, sweep, vacuum and mop all of the surfaces in these empty rooms. Get the carpets thoroughly cleaned and pest control conducted (if this is particularly specified in the tenancy contract). Dust and clean skirting boards. Also don’t forget to check under all the furniture for some forgotten items.

Clean the Garage (if there is one):

It should be completely empty and swept. Check out if there are any oils stains left on driveway.

 Outside Cleaning:

1. Cut the grass.
2. Pull the weeds.
3. Trim the edges
4. Empty and wash out all garbage bins
5. Clean the cobwebs
6. Remove all of your stuff that might be stuck in the ground or hanging in trees.
7. Clean out any debris or leaves in the pool (if there is one).
8. You can sweep the porch stairs (if there are some) to remove all of the dirt.

After you finish your cleaning you can say goodbye, lock it up and go get a drink!  Or if you can afford to spend some money for  a move-out cleaner, then just forget this whole list instead. This option is even better because they will definitely do the work in a more professional manner, as fast as possible and the results will be better. In addition to this you can save money and valuable time. We wish you good luck!