At the end of a tenancy, there is only so much time left to think about the task ahead of you. You’ve packed most of the boxes, keys are hidden away in a coat pocket and the letting agent seems quite keen to inspect the cleanliness of your oven. I’ve witnessed this process many times, and the same questions are always asked – generally at night, and with some degree of panic.
What does “professional” really mean here?
Is clean enough, clean?
How do we make sense of such varied end of tenancy cleaning prices London?
Let’s take our time and go through this together, and explain it properly, without the sales spin.
What Is End Of Tenancy Cleaning Really (and What Isn’t)?
End of tenancy cleaning is not a cleaner version of your Sunday clean. It is a condition-based clean. The property has to be returned to a condition that meets the best possible standard at which it was handed over at the start of the tenancy.
In general terms:
- Kitchen: No grease or stains
- Bathrooms: No lime scale
- General: No dust on skirting boards, shelves or in cupboards.
- Carpet: Carpets do not look or smell lived in
This is a critical detail that many tenants miss. A property can appear clean and yet still fail an inspection. Cleaners do not judge your effort or taste. They work to the inventory report.
As mentioned above, a professional clean is subject to the conditions of the inventory report.
Why Do Agents/Landlords Take Such An Interest In It?
While it may seem that the agent/landlord is making life harder for themselves, this is not always the case. From a landlord’s perspective, the longer a property remains empty, the greater the loss of income. From an agent’s perspective, proof of cleaning is key to defending any potential claims made for a deposit deduction.
Hence, the need for professional end of tenancy cleaning London services.
Not because you as a tenant cannot clean the property yourself – but because disputes regarding cleaning standards are costly, time-consuming and entirely avoidable.
Areas Which Almost Always Cause Issues.
There are areas of the property that consistently raise the most issues:
Oven:
Most people greatly under-estimate the importance of cleaning the oven. Even if the oven appears to be in a clean condition upon first appearance, the fact is that many inspectors will still open the oven door and look behind it, below the racks etc. Grease can bake itself into the oven metal and simple wiping will not remove it.
Carpets:
Vacuuming is NOT carpet cleaning. Vacuuming alone will not remove marks, smells or flatten fibre damage – and these are the types of issue that will become apparent once all of the furniture has been removed. This is why a good professional cleaning service will employ the correct type of carpet extraction/steam cleaning techniques.
Bathrooms:
Lime Scale on taps, shower screens, grout etc. is one of the most common reasons for deposits being deducted. Photographs of limescale are very easy to produce and unfortunately for the tenant, this is not beneficial.
Finger marks/scuffs/dust on skirting boards and interior doors:
You forget about them as they are at eye level.
DIY vs Professional: Where Does It All Go Wrong?
I am not against DIY cleaning. There are certainly instances where DIY cleaning can work: i.e., a short tenancy, lightly used property and an inventory that is reasonable.
However, there are three main circumstances where DIY cleaning normally fails:
- Large properties:
- Tenancies of longer duration:
- Properties with carpets and furnished flats.
Professional cleaning services provide checklists that match the expectations of agents. Professionals do not guess, and professionals do not assume a “good enough” clean. Professionals clean for inspection purposes, and not for comfort purposes.
Therefore, professional cleaning services London end of tenancy are normally less of a risk than attempting to save some money on the front-end of the tenancy and potentially losing some of the deposit later.
Making Sense of End of Tenancy Cleaning London Prices.
This is the area that generates the most confusion.
There is no single, fixed price for end of tenancy cleaning London prices. The price of end of tenancy cleaning London depends on the following very real factors:
- The size of the property.
- The number of bathrooms.
- The furnishings present.
- The extent of carpeted areas.
- The condition of the property at the time of cleaning.
For example, a small studio flat and a large four bedroom house are not even in the same league. And if there is heavy usage of the kitchen, or pets involved, then the scope of the job changes again.
When people ask about the end of tenancy cleaning cost London, what they are actually asking is whether the price quoted represents actual work or simply a random figure plucked out of thin air.
A proper end of tenancy cleaning quote London should be based on details, not assumptions.
What a Legitimate Professional Service Should Provide.
Any reputable professional end of tenancy cleaning London service should provide, as a minimum, the following:
- Full kitchen deep clean, including appliances
- Descale and sanitise all bathroom fixtures
- Wipe and dust all surfaces
- Clean all internal windows
- Clean carpets where necessary
- Remove minor scuffs/marks from walls and doors
Many services also offer a re-clean guarantee if the agent raises objections within a specific timeframe. While this may seem minor, it is a significant advantage.
Timing is Crucial Than Most People Realize.
Cleaning should occur after everything has been removed. Not before. Not during packing.
Removing furniture exposes dirt. Dirt is hidden by furniture. I have seen spotlessly clean looking flats fail an inspection purely due to the carpets having been cleaned prior to removal of the furniture.
Schedule the clean for the last day of occupation or the day prior to the new occupant moving in. Scheduling the clean any earlier increases the likelihood of complications arising.
About Commercial Carpet Cleaning London.
It is important to note that not all cleaning services are equipped to carry out the correct type of cleaning for commercial grade carpets. Using domestic vacuum cleaners and spray solutions for cleaning domestic carpets is not equivalent to using commercial-grade equipment to remove deep-seated dirt in commercial carpets.
Commercial carpet cleaning companies like Commercial Carpet Cleaning London specialize in using the appropriate equipment to remove dirt deep in carpet fibres – the type of dirt that inspectors will identify when the room is empty and echoing.
Carpet is likely to be the most expensive replacement item that a landlord replaces. Therefore, it makes sense that inspectors will scrutinize them carefully.
Final Thoughts (Without Tying Them Up).
End of tenancy cleaning is less about achieving perfection, and more about ensuring that the property is aligned with the inventory, aligned with expectations, and aligned with the evidence.
Once you grasp this concept, making decisions about who to hire becomes a lot clearer. You’ll stop guessing and start relying on evidence.
Invisalign i7: A Guide to Straight Teeth
And yes, end of tenancy cleaning London prices vary. However, the true cost of cleaning the property is rarely reflected in the invoice; rather, it is reflected in whether you receive back your full deposit – or not.
Table of Contents
