A landlord and tenant share responsibilities at the end of each tenancy period.
If your tenancy is coming to an end soon and you are about to move out of your property scheduling an End Of Tenancy Cleaning Service with a reputable cleaning company is (almost) a must. Needless to say, you can very well clean your property on your own before you vacate it, however, to guarantee that your deposit is not impacted and is safely returned in full you should consider using a professional cleaning company and scheduling an End Of Tenancy Cleaning Service.
Booking an End of Tenancy Cleaning Service with a professional cleaning company you can trust is only a part of the shared responsibilities a landlord and tenant have each time the duration of a lease comes to an end. And End of Tenancy Cleaning is only one of the many responsibilities tenants have when their tenancy agreement comes to an end. Landlords on the other hand have equal (if not greater) responsibilities to their tenants at the end of their lease.
In this text, we will list what are the specific responsibilities tenants and landlords have at the end of the duration of their lease.
Successfully getting your deposit back in full is your biggest concern as a tenant, when your lease comes to an end and as a landlord, you should make sure that your property is adequately prepared for the new tenants that are going to move in, and therefore, your biggest responsibility is listing your property back on the market. Both tenants and landlords have very specific responsibilities at the end of each tenancy period.
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Tenant responsibilities.
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Your biggest responsibility as a tenant before you vacate your rented property is to make sure that the property is returned in the same condition that you found it in. This point is related to both tenant and landlord responsibilities, the obvious point related to tenants is that they have to make sure that the property is cleaned up to the best possible standard and that any minor or major damage is repaired. However, on a not glaringly obvious point, the landlord has the responsibility to lease their property in the best possible state. A landlord can withhold a deposit but they must make sure that their property is looking its best before they arrange viewings for prospective new tenants or lease their properties.
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Here is a shortlist of your main responsibilities as a tenant when you are moving out.
Give your landlord proper notice in the exact time frame as listed in your tenancy agreement.
Inspect and review your tenancy agreement, confirm the exact dates you should give your notice and what time you have to move out.
Make sure that the property is returned in the same condition it was as you first found it.
Fix any damage to the property.
Completely vacate the property from any personal items.
Completely move out of the property move suitcases, luggage, furniture.
Thoroughly clean the property.
Pay off any outstanding bills.
Document the condition of the property after you have checked off all the steps above and compare it to the condition of the property when you moved in.
Conduct a final inspection with your landlord or estate agent.
Get your deposit back in full.
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The first step before you end your tenancy is to thoroughly go over your original tenancy agreement again and see what is required of you, how much notice should you give, and to make sure that you fall within those deadlines. Failing to do so may mean that additional charges are incurred or that your deposit is impacted. After doing so you must inform your landlord or estate agent that you will not be renewing your lease and that you are going to be giving your notice as per the tenancy agreement that you originally signed. You have a specific period to effectively vacate the property, usually a month, however, a period of up to 3 months may be required in some cases. After you have done so, go back to your tenancy agreement and read the move-in inventory report and compare the notes in that report with the condition of your property now, you have to return the property in the same condition as you found it in when you moved in, therefore you are solely responsible to fix any damage and make sure that your property is spotlessly cleaned. Paintwork, garden work, minor repairs, replacing broken items are all the tenant's responsibilities. If you have put up any pictures or drilled holes in the wall you have to fill those and repaint the areas when you are moving out, any dents, scratches, or damage to the paintwork are the tenant's responsibility to fix at the end of their lease. Make sure that all the plumbing and electrical systems are in perfect working order, if any kitchen appliances have been damaged you have to fix or replace those, make sure that the paint has not been discolored if it has you have to return it to its original color. If there is a garden area in your home make sure it is clean, kempt, and tidy. Even though fixing damage to the property is largely the tenant's responsibility is it still a good idea to keep all receipts as some repairs may constitute a permanent improvement in the condition of the property and as such their price may be deducted from the final rent payment. After you have made sure that you have fixed all damage to your property it is time to start packing and moving. It is going to be much easier for your property to be professionally cleaned if you have vacated all personal items beforehand. This along with the cleaning should both be done before the checkout inspection takes place. Arrange for an end-of-tenancy cleaning service to take place. This is one of the most important parts of the move-out process. When you moved into your rental property you most likely opened utility accounts in your name, as you move out you have to settle the final payments and close those accounts. After you have repaired any damage to the property and have thoroughly cleaned it, go back to the check-in inventory report and compare the condition of the now vacant and clean property with the original condition when you moved in. If you are confident that you have adequately prepared the property it is time to conduct the final inspection. Your landlord or agent will conduct the final check-out inspection, if during your move-out process you have not been given an exact date and time when the inspection will be conducted, make sure that you contact your landlord or estate agency and confirm that day and time. Make sure you are present during the final inspection, if there are any notes regarding the overall condition of your rental make sure you discuss a mutually beneficial resolution to those with your landlord or estate agent. Make sure they confirm that your deposit will be returned in full. Provided you have not violated the terms of your tenancy agreement and you haven't caused any major structural damage to your property and you return the property in the exact condition it was when you moved in, you are legally entitled to get your deposit back in full.
Landlord responsibilities.
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The main responsibilities landlords have when their tenants are vacating their property is, provided all the tenant responsibilities have been met, to return their security deposit in full. A landlord cannot unjustly retain a security deposit.
Here is a summarized shortlist of the main responsibilities landlords have when tenants are moving out.
Fix any electrical or structural issues that are not the responsibility of the tenant.
If any accidental damage has occurred, that is not a direct result of the tenant it is the landlord's responsibility to fix it.
Inspect all the kitchen appliances and make sure that they are in working order.
Make sure that the property complies with gas and electricity standards by obtaining a gas and electricity safety certificate.
Conduct a final inspection of the property.
Check the overall level of cleanliness.
List the property on the market.
Make sure that all relevant checks and if necessary deductions are made and release the deposit (in full or partially) within 10 days of the move-out date.
As soon as the tenants have moved out the landlord should assume responsibility for any electricity, gas, or council tax accounts.
Successfully rent your property again.
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After all of those points are ticked the landlord can list the property back on the market knowing that the move-out process was facilitated in a fair and objective manner.
How important is an End of Tenancy Cleaning Service?
An End of Tenancy Cleaning Service is very important for both landlords and tenants. Landlords should make sure their property is looking its best when they are going to list it back on the market and for when new tenants move in and if the tenants do not fully clean the property before they move out their security deposit will be impacted. An End of Tenancy Cleaning Service conducted by a professional cleaning company can save a lot of trouble for both landlords and tenants. The point of End of Tenancy Cleaning is to make sure that the tenants successfully get their deposit back in full and the landlord successfully prepares the property for the new tenants that are going to be moving in. An End of Tenancy Cleaning Conducted by a reliable cleaning company can save a lot of stress and aggravation for both tenants and landlords. This is why if you are nearing the end of your tenancy or you are a landlord and want to make sure that your property is looking its best to contact a professional cleaning company and inquire about an End of Tenancy Cleaning Service.
