Dealing With Messy Tenants & End Of Tenancy Cleaning Guide

Dealing With Messy Tenants & End Of Tenancy Cleaning Guide

Dealing with messy tenants and ‘end of tenancy cleaning’ can be an excruciating experience, for both landlords and tenants. I feel you’re pain, and I’m with you!

Quick fact: Tenants’ vacating a rented property in an inadequate state of cleanliness is one of the main reasons for deposit reductions, and an effective means of burning a long and healthy relationship to the ground… a few steps before crossing the finish line.

So if it’s of any consolation, don’t feel alone. Thousands of landlords are suffering in synchronisation.

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Tenant’s responsibility to clean during the tenancy

Ok, so before diving penis-first into the “end of tenancy cleaning” ordeal, I just want to share my perspective on the basics of tenants and their responsibility to clean, because it’s an issue that generally has two very polarised views (one of which is wrong).

I’ve read many articles, including this one on the Citizens Advice website, that states that the law implies that the tenant has a legal responsibility to “keep your home reasonably clean”

I’ve never read such legislation anywhere, and I’m actually inclined to believe that’s not true to a certain degree.

Yes, I believe it is the tenant’s responsibility to keep the property clean, but I don’t think it’s their legal responsibility. See the difference?

The alternative view – which is where I stand, along with many industry experts, including Tessa Shepperson from LandlordLaw website – is that when a landlord rents their property to a tenant, it effectively becomes their home for the duration. That means the tenant is entitled to live how they choose to live, even if that means in ungodly squalor, and there’s nothing the landlord can do about it. No, not even if there’s a clause in the tenancy agreement that covers cleanliness.

However, the landlord is definitely entitled to make suggestions and recommendations if anything of caution crops up during a routine property inspection, like over-spilling bins.

On a sidenote, regular inspections are crucial, make sure they’re conducted regularly.

But more importantly, if the tenant has created an unsafe environment which raises genuine concern over health and safety, for example, by frequently disposing of faeces on the living room floor and attracting an army of maggots as a result, then I believe the landlord has legal rights of sorts to take action (i.e. there might be grounds for eviction). But that’s typically unnecessary, and the only reason I mentioned it is because I don’t want anyone thinking that tenants can take regular steaming dumps in the living room without any potential legal repercussions.

If you are unhappy with your tenants, the most sensible action to take is most likely to serve a section 21 notice and refuse to allow them to stay in the property after the end of the fixed term.

What condition should the tenant leave the property in?

The rule of thumb is, the tenant has a obligation to return the property in the same condition they received it in, minus damages caused by wear and tear.

Try not to get it twisted (which many do) – there’s a difference between cleanliness and wear and tear; while an item can be worn and aged, it can still be clean.

In reality, the situation is as simple as that, and most tenants usually don’t cause any problems; they leave the property in an acceptable condition (if you’ve hit the jackpot, they’ll leave it in a better condition. It happens, surprising).

However, and as you’d expect, there is a notable volume of issues when it comes to end of tenancy cleaning, which is why it’s the single biggest reason for deposit deductions.

There’s a “Professional cleaning” clause in the tenancy agreement- can I enforce it?

Many tenancy agreements are riddled with clauses which state the tenant must use a professional end of tenancy cleaning service.

Here’s what The Office of Fair Trading says on the matter in their Guide on unfair terms in tenancy agreements:

4.4 Cleaning charges – a requirement to pay for cleaning at the end of the tenancy may be unfair if it is vague or unclear about the basis on which money will be demanded, or the extent of the cleaning involved. Such a term is more likely to be fair if the amount of the charge is expressly limited to reasonable compensation for a failure to take care of the property (see also our views below on excessive charges).

Moreover, since the introduction of the Tenant Fees Act 2019 on the 1st of June 2019, it has been illegal for landlords or letting agents in England to charge tenants with professional cleaning services.

As per the Tenant Fees Act 2019: Guidance for landlords and agents (PDF Guide):

No. You cannot require a tenant to pay for a professional clean when they check-out. However, if the tenancy was entered into before 1 June 2019 and a tenant agreed in their contract to pay fees for cleaning to be provided, you could continue to charge these fees up until 31 May 2020. From 1 June 2020, the term requiring that payment is no longer binding on the tenant.

So the short answer is: no, you can’t enforce cleaning fees anymore (for rentals in England).

If you do charge your tenant with one, you can be penalised with hefty fines starting from £5,000 (which is the max penalty for breaching the Tenant Fees Act).

If your tenancy agreement includes a clause enforcing tenants to pay for cleaning services, I would personally get it removed (because it’s not enforceable), or at the very least, get it verified by a legal professional.

How much can I charge for cleaning?

Just to be clear, if you’re a landlord in England, you can’t charge tenants a penny for professional cleaning services ever since June 1st 2019 :)

However…

Can I use my tenant’s deposit to pay for cleaning services?

Absolutely.

While landlords can’t charge for tenancy cleaning services contractually, we can still use the deposit to cover any legitimate costs associated with getting the property back to the condition it was at the start of the tenancy (remember, minus ‘wear and tear’) assuming the tenant doesn’t.

As said, cleaning charges are the most common reason for deposit deductions, and covering those costs is exactly the kind of thing the deposit was designed for.

If the tenant fails to return the property in the condition that they received it in, the deposit can be used to clean the property, which may include hiring professional cleaning services.

However, before attempting to dip into the deposit, it’s always best to flag any issues with the tenant first, so they have the opportunity to resolve it for themselves. Any problems should be highlighted and shared during the final inspection (more on final inspections in a moment). Needless to say, don’t return the deposit until the property is returned to you in the appropriate condition.

In order to make a valid claim to use the deposit to cover cleaning costs [or any other claim for that matter], you will need to prove what the condition of the property was when your tenants moved in, to the tenancy deposit scheme the deposit is secured with. They will then assess your case and make a final decision on thew validity of your claim and how much of the deposit you’re entitled to.

Professional BTL cleaning services

Professional cleaning services are often used by both landlords and tenants:

  • End of tenancy: I’ve had tenants pay for professional cleaning services at the end of tenancies out of their own pocket (without even asking), generally because they fear it will cost them more if they leave it up to their landlord to arrange a professional cleaning service and then deduct costs from the deposit (which is often true). But besides from that, tenants really should return a property in a clean state, especially if that’s how they received the property.

    In other cases, tenants have just cleaned the property themselves, doing the best they can. However, you can definitely tell the difference – there’s no substitute for a professional cleaning service.

    If I can tell that the property hasn’t been cleaned to a professional standard, I call in the hired help. In some cases, I have deducted the cost from the deposit, in others I just covered the cost myself. It really depends on the circumstance (some of which I’ve already discussed).

  • Regular cleaning services: This usually only applies to HMO properties – where landlords schedule professional cleaners to regularly clean the communal areas, usually once or twice a week. The cost is typically factored into the rent.

    A regular cleaning service is essential for HMOs. Leaving tenants with the responsibility to keep the communal areas clean is usually a recipe for disaster. No tenant wants to clean up after a housemate, and why should they? A cleaning service is not just good for hygiene, but also for keeping peace.

  • Carpet cleaning: typically, carpet cleaning isn’t included in standard “end of tenancy” cleaning packages, it’s an extra service, so that’s why I’m mentioning it.

    Here are a few points/thoughts to consider:

    • I’m often left amazed at how incredible carpets look after a professional scrub; clean carpets can completely transform a property from ‘dingy’ to ‘inviting’.

      If needed, it’s definitely worth splashing out on a carpet cleaning service – whether you’re a tenant or landlord – especially at the end of the tenancy. Clean carpets will help landlords to impress prospective tenants during viewings, and help tenants recoup their deposit.

    • Carpers, by nature, are usually one of the biggest victims of wear and tear. So before splashing out on a carpet cleaning service, determine whether it makes more sense to completely replace the carpets or clean them. There’s no point trying to polish a turd.
    • As mentioned, tenants are expected to return the property in the same condition as they received it (minus wear and tear), so if the carpets were clean at the start of the tenancy, they should be returned just as clean.

      In almost 95% of cases, I’ve had to get stains removed at the end of my tenancies.

Professional Cleaning Services for Rental Properties

If you have a quick Google for “end of tenancy cleaning services” – you definitely won’t be short of options. You don’t necessarily have to use a specialist BTL or “end of tenancy” service, any professional cleaning service should be able to do the same job. Cleaning is cleaning.

One of the most popular national cleaning services is offered by a company called Fantastic Services, and here’s a glimpse of their services so you get an idea what to expect (there’s currently a £10 discount code available, which I’ve added below, just in case you’re interested):

End Of Tenancy Cleaning Services
ServiceNotes / IncludesPrice from
Notes / Includes

End of Tenancy Cleaning

  • Up to 168 hours service guarantee
  • Following checklist approved by estate agencies
  • Deep oven cleaning, equipment, and detergents included
  • Short-notice bookings & personalised quotes available
  • Free on-site or remote video surveys for properties with 5 or more bedrooms
Price from

Discount applied

£91
Normal price: £81

More details
£10 Discount Code: pipd9el

Notes / Includes

Regular cleaning service (suitable for HMOs)

  • Insured & dedicated expert
  • Regular cleaning by the same person
  • No minimum contract required
  • Daily, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly visits
Price from

Discount code available

£19 p/hour

More details
£10 Discount Code: pipd9el

Notes / Includes

Carpet cleaning service

  • Removing common stains such as drinks, food, and dirt
  • Done by certified & fully-insured carpet cleaners
  • Removing odours from urine, vomit, smoke, mildew, etc
  • FREE fabric protection for long lasting results
Price from

Discount code available

£13p/room

More details
£10 Discount Code: pipd9el

Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each service up-to-date, but you should read the T&C's from their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Don’t forget, cleaning services is a fully tax deductible expense :)

Property inventories

Some people call it a property inventory, others call it a check-in report.

Tomayto, tomahto.

Either way, you’re more than likely going to need some form of report which documents the condition of the property before the tenant moved in if you want to take a bite out of the deposit to cover any cleaning costs. If you don’t have a report, then may I suggest that you first and foremost learn from your mistake, and then swiftly work on resolving the problem amicably between yourselves. Fair warning, that may mean you have to take a financial hit to some degree (i.e. you may have to split the bill).

But before making any rash decisions, it might be worth contacting the tenancy deposit scheme for guidance on your particular situation. They should be able to advise you on how strong or pathetic your case is.

If you haven’t secured the deposit into a scheme, then dear Lord, I’d forget trying to recoup any crummy and meaningless cleaning costs. I’d spend my time more productively, like on, praying that my tenant doesn’t cotton onto the fact they could take ME to the cleaners (pun intended, sorry, that was awful) for failing to comply with the tenancy deposit legislation.

The final inspection to assess cleanliness

The final inspection is the moment you should judge whether or not the property is returned to you in an acceptable condition.

I usually assess the property a day or two before the tenant is due to vacate (not only on the day of moving out), and always AFTER 95% of their possessions have been removed the property. That way I’ll have the opportunity to assess the condition of the property without being obscured by furniture and boxes (a common ploy often used for disception), and it gives them a day or two to resolve any issues I point out. I also take the opportunity to remind them of the property inventory (which they should have a copy of).

On the day of moving out I do my final once-over. I typically don’t allow tenants to access the property after the check-out date, but I have made exceptions on a few occasions to allow them to resolve a few last minute outstanding issues. I’ll leave it to decide how you want to play that hand, as each case is generally different.

Oh, and here’s little plug to my inspection guide for landlords.

My tenants standard of cleanliness is not good enough

When you’re a landlord for long enough, you’ll quickly realise how differently people choose to live their lives. It’s amazing how much you can tell about people when you walk through their home… and they have a very different perception of what “clean” means. My God do they. Actually, that’s one of the major obstacles landlords have to face, the varying perceptions.

For example – and I’ve sprinkled this example into a few different blog posts because it’s one those situations that always stand out – I had this one couple that were due to vacate in the coming days. During a phonecall with the husband, I asked how the preparation was going. His response was, “Oh, well you know Liz [the name of the wife], she’s O.C.D, so she’s been cleaning the property for days. The property will be immaculate when you get it back.”

Great news. I believed that he was being sincere, and I also genuinely believed that what she thought she was doing was to impeccable standard.

To put simply, NO!! They be crazy!!

During the final expectation I thought they were playing a practical joke on me, because the place was covered with dust and cob-webs (literally everywhere), and the cupboard surfaces were saturated by congealed grease.

The whole scenario was very weird; I just kept wondering what she actually cleaned, and what was she actually doing that made the husband think she was cleaning.

I kept trying to rationalise the situation so I didn’t feel so disorientated. Was she just pretending to clean in front of her husband so she didn’t have to spend time with him, or were they both just delusional as one another? I still don’t know to this day.

It really is all about perception, which directly links with varying standards.

Minimal cleanup required

If your property has been returned in generally good condition, but not quite to the standard you would have expected, I personally wouldn’t be too concerned. It’s the nature of the beast.

Sure, I may point out a few issues during the final inspection, and imply that those issues need to be addressed. But if they’re not addressed by the time my tenants vacate, I’m comfortable with letting it go and taking the hit.

I can’t imagine it would be worth making an issue out of it. But then again, I guess it depends on what kind of person/landlord you are. Some landlords are more tight-fisted than others, and will try to claim back every last penny.

Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever been returned a property that was 100% ready for new tenants to walk straight into. Something ALWAYS needed attention, albeit minimal tasks, which usually get resolved by rolling up my sleeves and doing the dirty work. As far as I’m concerned, it’s part of the job.

Consider overall tenant history/quality

I always believe it’s worth judging the overall quality of my tenants, so I avoid isolating the final stages when it comes to judgement day. I take the following into consideration when deciding whether or not to use their deposit to recoup cleaning costs:

  • How long they have been tenants for (i.e. how much money I made out of my tenants)
  • How reliable were they as tenants (i.e. did they always pay rent on time)
  • What my relationship was like with the tenant (i.e. was it generally peaceful)
  • Did they generally take care of the property?

Yup, my tenants may have failed the end of tenancy clean up, but the lifespan of their tenancy may have been lucrative and generally positive. In those cases, I’m usually happy to waive through their poor attempt of cleaning.

Just to clarify, I’m not saying it’s an ideal scenario, or that you should just let tenants get away with piss-stained carpets, but I am saying that it’s worth weighing up how much needs cleaning with how good the tenants have been over the course of the tenancy.

Unacceptable level of uncleanliness

Communication is key.

As said, if the final level of cleanliness is absolutely unacceptable, then have the discussion first. Gently point out the issues and give your tenants a chance to resolve them. Failing that, use the deposit.

Final notes on specific circumstances and possible solutions

Accepting tenants: some tenants may launch their hands up and accept the fact they fell short on operation clean-up. In fact, from my experience, many tenants are happy to use some of the deposit on a professional cleaning service so they don’t have to do the work themselves.

Weak case for a claim: if you’re on the verge of entering a potential dispute while knowing that you have a flimsy case, which either entails the lack of inventory/proof or the complete failure of securing the deposit, then I’d either cut my losses, or do my best to come across as the good guy and work on a very amicable solution, which makes it seem like the tenant is getting off lightly.

Reluctant tenants: and yup, of course, there are many tenants that throw their fists in the air in rage, because we have the nerve to request our property back in the same condition as we gave it to them in *rolls eyes*

In those cases, and assuming you have the grounds to do so, I’d stand firm and use the deposit. Fuck ’em.

7 Join the Conversation...

Guest Avatar
caroline allan 5th February, 2019 @ 13:00

Thanks. Great articles well written.

1
Guest Avatar
Jane 14th November, 2019 @ 14:43

Liked the post (on end of tenancy cleaning) but do we need the F-word? There's already enough anger and disrespect out there among people. And if you're within your rights as a landlord, anyway, isn't the point precisely that by standing firm you're not f****** them?

2
Guest Avatar
Jay Davies 19th April, 2020 @ 15:18

Written like a true champ, i can't stand scum whores either.

3
Guest Avatar
David Bolcoe 6th September, 2020 @ 00:14

Yes there are a lot tenants who does not understand the term "same condition as before" minus the w&t of course. But what if the landlord has a weird imagination that the property looked way nicer and cleaner then what state it was in at the time of chek-in what can one do?

My problem starts there as a tenant who. The landlord and agency imposed not even deductions but charges for cleaning. And I have my tenancy ended just few weeks before, so way after the 31st May 2020 deadline.

But not just it was illegal but it was not fair either. The property was in a dirty and messy state when I've moved in and the state is recorded on the check-in inventory. And when we moved out it was in a better and way cleaner state, since when we moved in we have cleaned the carpet in multiple stages to make it acceptable by our living standards. I am literally shocked and surprised that they trying to deduct from deposit and charge me for something that was in a dirty state already. Of course I admit we didn't do professional work and it wasn't in a perfect state, still it was actually in a better state when we checked out. But according to the "same state as before" rule I don't think there's any legal way to even make deduction for something that was already dirty or broken at the time of the check in.

4
Guest Avatar
Marie 6th February, 2021 @ 17:53

Hi there,
Thanks for that blog I'm learning so much. Fantastic !!
I'm not British native therefore I feel sometimes lost regarding my responsibilities and my landlord one.
I do have a question though because I can't find on google or blogs, I've understood that property has to be in the same condition as before and it will be, even better if I can. My question is : can a LL deny the cleaning company you've chosen ? My LL told me today that he doesn't want me to use that company because he would prefer for me to get the carpet cleaning service from carpet cleaning company instead of that one where it's included in a "end of tenancy cleaning service" to which we added a deep carpet wash service...
Thanks a lot.

5
Guest Avatar
Sara 2nd July, 2021 @ 00:44

It’s a real shame you weren’t our landlord!
At our final inspection we were told everything was fine and they could see no reason why we wouldn’t get our full deposit back, and they would arrange to get this sent back to us the next day.
4 days later, and a day after the tendency ended, we had a call saying the place was left in a disgusting mess and they would be using our deposit.
No opportunity to resolve any issues and no issues brought up during our final inspection.
Needless to say I was dumbfounded at how they have done a complete u-turn….that is until I found out the price of the carpets they were wanting to get replaced were going to be more expensive than they initially thought…
They told us that they were getting new carpet fitted once we left regardless, however at our final inspection the landlord asked us if we had already had new ones put in as they couldn’t believe what good condition we had kept them.
Still in dispute with landlords, considering we were told there was no issues at final inspection and now suddenly there is with no warning or time given to resolve them.
Wish me luck!

6
Guest Avatar
Bella 27th August, 2021 @ 19:28

I wish it was like this!
I had to move out because my landlord is selling up. The day after a moved out I had a phone call saying thank you for being a great tenant. 2 weeks later I get an email stating I clearly hadn't cleaned the property and it was very dirty so would be taking money off my deposit.
I was so offended as an ex-domestic cleaner myself!

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