End of tenancy clean

[myusernameisnotmyusername]

We live in small two bed end of terrace. It's kept clean anyway but obviously as we are moving out it needs a deep clean, oven, fridge, doors and windows etc. We have been quoted £200. Is this worth it? We are moving at the weekend then back to work for two days then on the day we are due to hand the keys back I have an operation so I think it's one less think to worry about but it is quite a lot of money.

£200 sounds more than reasonable.

Thank you. Just wanted to check as last time we moved we paid for a clean and it wasn't done very well.

I wouldn't pay that. I've always cleaned the house myself when I've moved from rented accommodation but I'm a bit of a cheap skate and never spend money I don't have to. I've also worked in lettings and I've never seen a property left perfectly clean as long as an obvious effort had been made you will be fine.

Oh thanks. Well I did quite a bit a couple of weeks ago when they had viewings and someone took it straight away so maybe it will be fine. It's just the oven really I'm thinking about as it is quite greasy.

Well, I wanted advice on the same thing. Surely a flat/house will need a deep clean by the landlord anyway, it is their job? What is 'wear and tear' if it's not that?

I'm certainly not cleaning my windows! 5 floors up.

I will give a 'once over' and that's it. Flat is perfectly presentable but not ready to rent out, no. I rent summer lets and pay for a deep clean between each, after 4 years in my property I don't see why the landlord shouldn't clean it and give it a general freshen up.

Maybe ask the landlord, if he's planning to pay to have it deep cleaned for the same amount then let him take it out of your deposit.

You can get a professional oven clean, which is definitely worth it, they get them looking like new.
It’s not the landlord’s job to clean up after tenants. If you leave it in an unsatisfactory state they will get professional cleaners in & take it out of your deposit anyway.
£200 sounds very cheap, it would cost about £400 in my area.

@BillieEilish it's definitely the tenants responsibility to do a deep clean. We have a worn out carpet that would be wear and tear, not cleaning. We have to get it to a reasonable standard of cleanliness. It is pretty clean anyway because we keep it clean but the oven is something that isn't done every week and I'm thinking a cleaner will do internal doors and the bathroom better than I do it.

OP thanks for your reply, I didn't realise that. My flat is clean, the (very) old oven not so much! When all furniture is gone I will give it a good old scrub throughout. Clean, I understand, but the freshly painted flat I moved into to, it won't be. (Not far off mind)

I live in Spain so it could be different I suppose. I have lived all over the world and landlords have ALWAYS taken my deposit for one reason or another, always and it makes me so angry.

I am not going to pay my last months rent here, he can take me to court, I don't care! My fingers have been burned too many times and me and DD have been exceptional tenants and paid absolutely everything on time and looked after the property for 4 years.

For example, I asked if I could hang a painting on a wall and he looked at me as if I was mad and said 'of course', in London, I was told 'NO'. Obviously, there is a mark where the nail was... am I to be charged for that?!

I hate renting! At 49, and a responsible mother and very tolerant neighbour, and perfect tenant, I am truly sick of this stress!

Little Kitty, that's a fab idea, I could just say (you too OP) how much are you planning for the deep clean? Deduct it, rather than do it myself, then he does it again and I get my deposit deducted as he fancies replacing the very old oven, for example.

We are moving out on Saturday and also have been asked to have the appartment professionally cleaned. We have been quoted just below £300. Being in London I didn't expect less tbh.
Our landlord is even asking for receipts from the cleaners, as it is in our rental agreement that we need to have it professionally cleaned when we move

Double check what they will do as part of the end of tenancy, the last one I got wouldn’t do inside kitchen cupboards, just outside.
Make sure if you have a washing machine that you have cleaned the dispenser drawer & seal.
If it isn’t written into your contract that you have to have a professional clean, I might not bother, just get the oven done.

That amount sounds fine for a good deep clean. It's hard work, and the person will spend many hours doing it. If you can't do it yourself, you do have to pay for what you get.

Thing is, I know how to clean! But 'deep clean' is a whole other level!

Plus, all furniture would have to be gone first.

Yes it is- last time I did it mySelf and it took 8 hours just for me. I was exhausted

As to whether you need to do it- yes, if it was cleaned to professional standard* when you moved in, as you must return it to this state or they will have a case to ask for it from your deposit

• the key is professional standard, you can do it yourself. But it does include ie full oven clean, deep clean of everything, windows, limescale etc. In my last house I also had to hire a rug doctor as the carpets had been professionally cleaned

On balance, I am going to check my contract and then ask him how much he expects the flat to be cleaned and if so how much. (He owns the whole building so will have a billion cheaper contacts than me)

Passthecherrycoke you are right, also, I would do it and it wouldn't be up to standard. Therefore, I am putting the onus on landlord. Then, if it is not 'up to scratch' he can't blame me.

I still get letters for the last defaulting tenant so, we'll see.

Thanks for starting this thread OP and sorry for hijacking!!!

Hey no problem. It's been quite helpful to me too.