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Original poster

Landlord charging for a deep clean

182 replies

Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 08:52

We moved out of rental. DH cleaned the house after we left and generally he does a good job but he missed a handful of specific things that were picked up in the check.

Landlord wants to charge for a full deep clean. Is that fair? How do we dispute it? Do we approach a cleaning agency and say x, y, z needs to be cleaned, how much would this. be, and go back to the landlord with the quote, or cleaners not work this way?

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 18/10/2025 10:42

DeftWasp · 18/10/2025 10:40

They can't force you to have a professional deep clean before you go, but they can require it be cleaned to a "professional standard" and cleaning carpets would be part of that. That can just be you using a borrowed Vax carpet cleaner or hiring a rug doctor, doesn't have to be done by a firm.

The argument would be that airborne allergens can exist in the carpet so to be ready for a new Tennant it should have had a decent clean.

Show quote history

No, that's not right. It has to be the same as when you moved in, less wear and tear.

If the carpets are old and manky when you moved there is no way you'd be expected to have them cleaned.

DeftWasp · 18/10/2025 10:40

Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:30

I can see online that the property is no longer available to rent so it may have new tenants now.

So for example carpet cleaning has been included as part of the deep clean. I disagree with this, carpets were all upstairs, we didn’t have any spills or eat on them, we vacuumed as usual and they were in a very tired state anyway, but it means that if it was discoloured here or there before we moved in it wasn’t captured in a photo. I didn’t photograph every single bit of it and neither did the inventory. So this charge I would definitely disagree with - how would DPS separate it from the rest?

Show quote history

They can't force you to have a professional deep clean before you go, but they can require it be cleaned to a "professional standard" and cleaning carpets would be part of that. That can just be you using a borrowed Vax carpet cleaner or hiring a rug doctor, doesn't have to be done by a firm.

The argument would be that airborne allergens can exist in the carpet so to be ready for a new Tennant it should have had a decent clean.

NoWordForFluffy · 18/10/2025 10:39

SuperGinger · 18/10/2025 10:37

Paying for a deep clean is pretty standard even if you have cleaned it.

No it's not, at all. As long as you leave it as you found it, there is no need. And having rented a good few places, I reckon very few places are professionally cleaned on entry!

ARichtGoodDram · 18/10/2025 10:39

SuperGinger · 18/10/2025 10:37

Paying for a deep clean is pretty standard even if you have cleaned it.

Only with rip off landlords.

It's not an enforceable contract term.

ARichtGoodDram · 18/10/2025 10:38

Viviennemary · 18/10/2025 10:36

It's fairly standard to have to pay for a deep clean when you leave a rented property.

No, it's not.

Standard is to leave it in the same condition as you received it

19lottie82 · 18/10/2025 10:38

You don’t need to pay for a deep clean, but you must return it in the same condition you found it. If there was a dual signed inventory then you should take photos to compare the conditions when you moved in.

NoWordForFluffy · 18/10/2025 10:38

Viviennemary · 18/10/2025 10:36

It's fairly standard to have to pay for a deep clean when you leave a rented property.

No it's not. It's an illegal contract term.

SuperGinger · 18/10/2025 10:37

Paying for a deep clean is pretty standard even if you have cleaned it.

Rogerthat14 · 18/10/2025 10:37

Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:34

It was all done through the EA, all amicable.

Show quote history

So it would be strange for them to suddenly to be unreasonable without ground?

Viviennemary · 18/10/2025 10:36

It's fairly standard to have to pay for a deep clean when you leave a rented property.

Original poster
Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:35

Karatema · 18/10/2025 10:34

I cleaned my DS’s rental recently, it was spotless apart from one or 2 marks which were normal wear and tear. The LL said DS would have to pay for a deep clean out of the deposit and some painting. DS phoned the company, that are the deposit holders, to ask whether this was reasonable. They were very helpful and gave my DS lots of advice. My DS has decided to contest this. We await the outcome because this is very recent.

What kind of advice did your DS get? I’ll phone them first thing on Monday.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:34

Rogerthat14 · 18/10/2025 10:33

What was your relationship like with the LL whilst renting?

It was all done through the EA, all amicable.

OP posts:
Karatema · 18/10/2025 10:34

I cleaned my DS’s rental recently, it was spotless apart from one or 2 marks which were normal wear and tear. The LL said DS would have to pay for a deep clean out of the deposit and some painting. DS phoned the company, that are the deposit holders, to ask whether this was reasonable. They were very helpful and gave my DS lots of advice. My DS has decided to contest this. We await the outcome because this is very recent.

Original poster
Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:34

I guess I can’t point out specific disagreements at this stage can I? And since we’re at this stage can we go back to the landlord and say we can wipe down x surfaces? Or we should just wait for the DPS outcome?

OP posts:
Rogerthat14 · 18/10/2025 10:33

What was your relationship like with the LL whilst renting?

Original poster
Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:32

Given that carpet cleaning wasn’t a separate charge.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:30

Colourfulfairylights · 18/10/2025 10:13

@Mamma182838 you've received a lot of poor advice on this thread including ppl still referencing the contract when it's been made very clear by previous posters that it doesn't matter what the contract says because regardless of contract they cannot insist on professional clean legally.

You need to leave it how it was found. If it wasn't received in a professional clean level manner you do not need to leave it as such. I received a rented property once in an average at best state, so no, not everyone does get a clean at the end of tenancy nor does the landlord necessarily hand it over professionally cleaned.

If it is genuinely a few items, I'd offer to go round and sort. If they don't let you, then let them prove to the dps what deductions it'll cost. If it is a few of things like tops of doors, I imagine they'll find it's worth less than the cost of a whole house being professionally cleaned.

I can see online that the property is no longer available to rent so it may have new tenants now.

So for example carpet cleaning has been included as part of the deep clean. I disagree with this, carpets were all upstairs, we didn’t have any spills or eat on them, we vacuumed as usual and they were in a very tired state anyway, but it means that if it was discoloured here or there before we moved in it wasn’t captured in a photo. I didn’t photograph every single bit of it and neither did the inventory. So this charge I would definitely disagree with - how would DPS separate it from the rest?

OP posts:
DeftWasp · 18/10/2025 10:24

Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 09:30

ask the landlord for access so to go back and gut it yourself (ask for the inspection to be done whilst you’re still there)

Is this a realistic ask? The EA would have to send someone out so it’s a loss of time for them.

Show quote history

Yes absolutely, I'm a landlord, but was renting a flat from another a few years ago - I cleaned it to perfection, but made the movers a cup of tea and - shock horror - left a dead teabag on the stainless sink drainer.

The LL and agent wanted to charge to have it cleaned, but I said no I would do it, the agent met me at the property, I cleaned the whole sink again and that was that.

With my landlord hat on my letting agents have a full set of detailed photos of the property, and they would be available to my tenants if they ever moved out - but we do have to be realistic and accept fair wear and tear - certain items should be replaced periodically, like carpets, the place re-decorated etc. etc.

Original poster
Mamma182838 · 18/10/2025 10:18

aodirjjd · 18/10/2025 10:11

Dispute it. You don’t need to do quotes. Lots of landlords for scruffy places like you describe dint bother to do the clean but try and charge the tenants anyway.

if he/she has just gone in themselves and wiped down what you’ve missed they can’t charge you for that. They’d need to show an invoice. And I bet they haven’t bothered and just got new tenants in asap.

If dps don’t see evidence (from landlord) that it was spotless when you moved in they won’t allow them to charge a clean.

chances are you’ll get your money back k in full. Lots of landlords just chance their arm.

Edited

Thanks that’s very helpful.

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 18/10/2025 10:17

In my DC’s experience landlords always charge for a deep clean at the end of the tenancy, but never actually have it done as all the places they have moved into have been a bit dirty.

BlindSpotForCats · 18/10/2025 10:17

Katemax82 · 18/10/2025 08:56

Check your tenancy agreement. Mine states that a professional clean is to be done upon check out

Yes this. Ours too.

ARichtGoodDram · 18/10/2025 10:15

PollyBell · 18/10/2025 10:06

What did the contract say?

It doesn't matter what the tenancy says when it comes to unenforceable clauses.

I could put in a tenancy that my tenants have to make me dinner every Tuesday - doesn't mean I'd have a hope in hell of having it enforced.

Landlords cannot insist on a professional clean, just that the property is left in the same condition, minus wear and tear, as when the tenant moved in.

aodirjjd · 18/10/2025 10:13

PollyBell · 18/10/2025 10:06

What did the contract say?

It’s been illegal since 2019 for landlords to put professional cleaning into contracts.

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