"Although landlords can’t legally demand that tenants pay for professional cleaning, to minimise the risk of cleaning-related deposit deductions, renters should ensure that they’ve conducted a thorough clean either themselves or using a professional service, as well as staying on top of cleaning throughout the tenancy"
- Matt Hutchinson - SpareRoom
New data from SpareRoom has revealed the staggering financial impact of cleaning-related deposit deductions on renters.
63% of UK renters have experienced deposit deductions due to cleaning-related issues, leading to over £724m worth of losses overall per year in the UK. These losses are based on claims that the property was not thoroughly cleaned prior to the tenancy ending, and therefore landlords have needed to pay for professional services.
The average amount of money deducted from renters’ deposits was £250, but 29% suffered deductions of more than £500, and 16% had over £750 subtracted.
Of those who experienced cleaning-related deductions, only 34% proactively contested them and of those who did contest, 41% were able to reach an agreement with their landlord to reduce or cancel the proposed deductions.
The topic of household cleaning also rears its head as a common cause of breakdown in flatmate communication. Whilst 27% of renters say they’ve created a cleaning rota to determine who cleans 28% say they don’t have a system at all, and simply chip in when needed.
The latter, however, doesn’t always prove fruitful, as 59% of renters said they’d experienced arguments with flatmates over-cleaning. This is despite ‘similar standards of cleanliness’ ranking second in a recent SpareRoom poll of the most important flatmate characteristics.
The dreaded deep clean
According to SpareRoom’s research, the oven is the most dreaded appliance to clean, meaning renters put off cleaning it longer than they should, followed by kitchen cupboards and drawers. But how often should you really get down and dirty?
SpareRoom experts reveal exactly how you should be deep cleaning your property and appliances…
Oven
Often the most dreaded appliance to clean, generally an oven should be deep cleaned every three months to avoid grease build-up and keep things sparkling, which may come as a shock to the 13% of renters who said they’d never once cleaned it!
Dishwasher
A whopping 31% of renters said they’d never cleaned their dishwasher, and why would they? It cleans itself, right? Wrong. Although your dishwasher does a great job of cleaning dishes, it still needs its own TLC, and a dedicated dishwasher cleaner will do the job, removing mineral buildup and detergent residue that may be trapped within the machine.
Fridge
When fresh food is involved, it seems Brits are pretty good at staying on top of cleaning. Whilst it’s recommended that you deep clean your fridge every few months, nearly a quarter of Brits (24%) say they give it a clean every week.
Having said this, a deep clean should always involve removing food and storing it in a cool bag, before switching off, removing all drawers and shelving and getting into every nook and cranny!
Windows
11% of renters have never cleaned their windows, meaning streaks, stains and dirt build-up are commonplace for many. Although regular exterior window cleaning isn’t essential, we should be cleaning them at least twice a year - if your flat is above the ground floor, speak to your landlord or building maintenance team to discuss professional cleaning.
Matt Hutchinson, SpareRoom Director said: “Navigating the moving out process can be a stressful one, for both renters and landlords, and ultimately landlords want to ensure their property is left in a good condition as much as renters want their deposits back.
"Although landlords can’t legally demand that tenants pay for professional cleaning, to minimise the risk of cleaning-related deposit deductions, renters should ensure that they’ve conducted a thorough clean either themselves or using a professional service, as well as staying on top of cleaning throughout the tenancy.
"It can be a tricky road to navigate, but transparent landlord-tenant conversations throughout the process can help to ensure there are no surprise deductions at the end of the road.”
