Landlords across Britain often encounter problems
when tenants vacate a property, either suddenly or
at the scheduled end of a tenancy. The problem is
that not all tenants are clean, tidy and respectful
of the landlord`s property. Many leave a mess, while
others create hygiene problems. Some even cause physical
or structural damage to the house or flat.
Deposit
Tenants
often expect their deposits to be returned in full
without exception upon expiry of a tenancy agreement,
but landlords aim to take a proportion of this money
to pay for property cleaning and repairs. This often
causes problems between tenants and landlords. The
situation is sometimes further complicated by the
involvement of escrow deposit services, which are
endorsed by the government. If landlords do not have
full access to deposits, there may be delays in releasing
sufficient funds to pay for all cleaning and repairs
in time for the next tenant.
Another
issue is that some restorative measures cost more
than the deposit. This is a loss that landlords usually
have to be willing to accept every so often, as not
all costs are recoverable from the tenant.
End
of Tenancy Cleaning
Regardless
of whether the money for cleaning has come from the
tenant`s deposit or the landlord`s back pocket, the
service is essential for ensuring a smooth transition
from one tenant to the next; in fact, end of tenancy
cleaning can even help to attract a better class of
tenant, thus reducing the burden on the landlord in
the future. Good tenants do not usually leave much
of a mess, but good tenants can be difficult to find
initially.
Messy
tenants invariably vacate properties without tidying
them, but this class of tenant does not usually cause
much of a problem for landlords. A messy house can
be tidied in a few hours or less. Unclean tenants,
however, have the capacity to cause much greater damage.
Stains, infestations and plumbing-related issues can
be difficult to rectify, but professional end of tenancy
cleaning services are used to dealing with such problems.
Hoarders can also create problems, but regular inspection
of a property should identify this issue before it
becomes unmanageable.
Careless
or inconsiderate tenants tend to cause the most damage.
A careless tenant might forget to report a problem
with the central heating or a leaking pipe, thereby
allowing problems such as mould, damp and rot to take
hold. Inconsiderate tenants might not think twice
about drilling into walls every Sunday or letting
the garden grow into a jungle.
Some
tenants have even been known to knock down non-supporting
walls towards the end of their tenancy agreements
(presumably as part of a plan to redecorate the property).
All of these problems can be made worse when the rented
accommodation is furnished, so cleaning firms should
be chosen that are able to clean all types of surface,
from metal and plaster to laminate and upholstery.
Landlords
always benefit from hiring professionals to clean
a property between tenants, even if the property has
been vacated in relatively good condition. The most
obvious advantage of choosing a firm such as M
& K Cleaning is that the house or flat would
be made immaculate. A smart, tidy and hygienic property
can be put on the market at the top price, which would
likely attract professional people who simply want
to live in clean, comfortable accommodation.
