Landlord Products / Services
Do tenants need to use a professional end of tenancy cleaning service?
In short, no! But you probably should.
Yes, I’m a landlord, but I’m going to explain why I objectively believe *most* tenants should use a professional end of tenancy cleaning service.
I remember when I was always willing to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in, despite the inconvenience and unglamorous affair that is cleaning. I was born in the 80’s, so my generation was the last before the internet took off, meaning we know what grafting is, and “playing with friends after school” involved more physical activity than tapping fingertips on a glass screen. So naturally, using a professional cleaning service always felt like a complete waste of money and a ride for the abhorrently lazy.
Alas, that seems like a different lifetime now.
Few years back I was forced to use a professional cleaning service to clean one of my rental properties out of necessity because I was in a bind, which to my dismay, led me to a moment of realisation. Why the fuck haven’t I always done this?
In short, I haven’t looked back since (and I’ll explain why in a mo). I’m not saying I’m proud of what I have become, but I am saying life has become easier.
Table of contents
- Why many tenants use professional end of tenancy cleaning services
- What are tenants responsible for cleaning at the end of the tenancy?
- My tenancy agreement says I *need* to use a professional cleaning service
- Can my landlord use my deposit to pay for cleaning services?
- Professional end of tenancy cleaning services
- I don’t want to spend money on a professional cleaning service
Why many tenants use professional end of tenancy cleaning services
- Convenient / saves time
- They use their own specialist cleaning products
- They will do a thorough job (e.g. deep-clean)
- They will use an agency approved checklist to help ensure your deposit is returned
What are tenants responsible for cleaning at the end of the tenancy?
There’s no exact rule, and it really boils down to what’s written in the terms of the tenancy agreement.
Most tenancy agreements will contain a clause(s) which states that tenants must return the property in the same condition they received it in. So it’s worth checking what your contract says on the matter so you know what your responsibility is.
In an ideal world, you would have moved into an immaculate property at the start of the tenancy, in which case that’s the condition you should leave it in. In a perfect world, you’ll also have an inventory report with visual aids to help remind you of how the property was presented to you.
However, in reality, the situation isn’t always that straightforward! It’s not terribly uncommon for landlords and tenants to go fist to cuff in the driveway over what the condition of the property was in on move in day. And of course there’s no inventory to assist.
From my experience, it’s usually just easier to clean it (yeah, I’m talking to you [the tenant]).
My tenancy agreement says I *need* to use a professional cleaning service
I’m sure it does.
Many tenancy agreements are riddled with clauses which state the tenant must professionally clean the property at the end of the tenancy. Fortunately for you, since the introduction of the Tenant Fees Act 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.
That said, that’s not really a reason not to use one, nor will it alleviate you from your responsibility of returning the property in the condition you received it in if that is indeed part of the terms of your tenancy.
Can my landlord use my deposit to pay for cleaning services?
This is what most tenants are usually concerned about, and understandably so.
So what’s the answer? Absolutely we can.
Quick fact: cleaning charges are the most common reason for deposit deductions.
While landlords can’t contractually charge tenants for professional cleaning services, we can 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 (minus “wear and tear“) if the tenant failed to do so.
I would personally avoid ending up in this spot by doing a thorough job in the first place, it’s just a less messy situation (pun intended). One of the biggest concerns is that landlords will be less inclined to find a good deal on cleaning services than you, because it’s your deposit on the line.
Professional end of tenancy cleaning services
Here are a couple of options from highly-rated cleaning agencies that make it easy as *cough* tapping fingertips on a glass screen *cough* to book a service.
| Service | Rating | Coverage | Notes / Includes | Price from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Service | Rating TrustPilot Reviews | Coverage Nationwide | Notes / Includes End of Tenancy Cleaning
| Price from £91 Normal price: £81 Discount applied | More details £10 Discount Code: pipd9el |
Service | Rating TrustPilot Reviews | Coverage London | Notes / Includes End of Tenancy Cleaning
| Price from Get a Quote Discount code available | More details 10% off first weekly or fortnightly clean: APM1OFFD2 |
I don’t want to spend money on a professional cleaning service (least of all because my landlord has been an absolute dick)
I hear you loud and clear.
Like I said, you don’t have to. A lot of tenants either don’t need to or get away with avoiding it, for various reasons. Here, have a few examples:
- if the property is particularly small (e.g. studio apartment)
- if you don’t mind doing the cleaning yourself (and you’re good at it)
- if it’s not in the terms of your tenancy
- if your landlord failed to secure your tenancy deposit
- if your landlord doesn’t expect the property to be professionally cleaned
- if your landlord plans on doing renovations after your vacate
- If your landlord is a pitiful and unprofessional donkey, and doesn’t care about much of anything, least of all a clean property
- …etc.
Ultimately, every situation is different and it’s up to you to make a practical decision based on all the variables.
However, I will say this, if you and your landlord have benefited from a reasonable working relationship, and it is your responsibility to return the property in a decent condition, then I don’t think you’d be unwise to use a professional end of tenancy cleaning service. That’s all I’m saying.
Disclaimer: I'm just a landlord blogger; I'm 100% not qualified to give legal or financial advice. I'm a doofus. Any information I share is my unqualified opinion, and should never be construed as professional legal or financial advice. You should definitely get advice from a qualified professional for any legal or financial matters. For more information, please read my full disclaimer.
