According to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), landlords and agents are increasingly faced with dirty properties at the end of the tenancy agreement, which has led to cleaning being the commonest dispute in cases brought in disputes and arises in around half of the cases.
In the last year, the proportion of disputes involving cleaning claims has climbed again and is now it’s at the highest level since records began (52 per cent) compared with damage (45 per cent), redecoration (28 per cent), rent arrears (18 per cent) and gardening (12 per cent).* (*Source: TDS, April 2012).
Many tenants fail to leave their property in the same condition at check-out and are often very surprised when they are told that professional cleaning is required. Pat Barber, Chair of the AIIC, said: “Time and time again we see properties that have been left very dirty by tenants at check-out and they are often shocked to find that professional cleaning can cost anything from £10 - £20 per hour, depending on the area and type of work required.
“Tenants rarely treat their rented property in the same way as they would a property they owned themselves. 'Not my problem' is a common statement from some tenants, however sometimes it is. Accidents happen during a tenancy and tenants need to realise that they must take financial responsibility for things that are beyond normal wear and tear.
Common problems that tenants seem to think are just normal wear and tear issues are – melted areas on acrylic sinks, knife marks on worktops, large chips on paintwork and even light bulbs that need replacing are often thought to be just wear & tear issues by tenants.
“It is vital that landlords and agents do a thorough check-in and check-out, so they have the right proof of condition at the start and end of a new tenancy agreement. At the check-out stage, the tenant should be made aware of the areas requiring cleaning and the potential costs involved.
“Some tenants claim that cleaning is just ‘just normal wear & tear’. The simple answer is no, this is not the case. If an area or item was clean at check in, it should be left clean at check out. It something can be cleaned then it should be. If any dust or crumbs are present then this is clearly not clean.”
AIIC has put together the most common cleaning problems at check-out:
- Stained and marked carpets – this is a very common problem with some tenants trying to hide stains with rugs and furniture. Tenants are also known to cut out the stain and fill the hole with carpet they have cut from a hidden part of the property eg under the bed or in the wardrobe.
- Ovens - cause the most problems. If it was listed as completely clean at check in, it must be left in the same condition. Burn marks to any part of the appliance means it is not clean. Tenants are amazed that professional oven cleaning costs between £50 - £80
- Heavy lime scale to kitchen and bathroom fittings – the response of tenants is often 'it’s not my fault, this is a hard water area'
- Grease deposits throughout the kitchen, surfaces and cupboards may look clean but will feel sticky to touch
- Thick dust & cobwebs, particularly around furniture and on the ceilings
- Dirty windows that have obviously not been cleaned during the whole tenancy.
The AIIC is a not for profit membership organisation and is committed to excellence and professionalism in the property inventory process. The AIIC works hard to ensure that all landlords, tenants and letting agents understand the importance and benefits of professionally completed property inventories.
For further information on AIIC, please visit
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