Pet Odour & Hair Removal Guide for End of Lease Cleaning

In Western Australia, it is common to keep pets in rental properties. With the landlord’s approval, tenants/renters may keep dogs, cats, and other companion animals (birds) during their tenancy. Of course, pets bring joy, warmth and happiness, but you can’t escape from the dirt and mess they create every day. Embedded fur, pet hair, accidental stains, and unpleasant odours across the property not only lead to poor sanitation and upkeep but also put your hard earned bond money at risk during the final rental inspection.

When it comes to detailed end of lease cleaning, dirt related to pets becomes a serious issue because landlords expect the property to be in a tidy, hygienic and fresh smelling condition. If you fail to meet the predetermined cleaning expectations, property managers/landlords have the right to deduct all or part of the bond under Western Australian tenancy laws.

Fret not! This guide helps you tackle pet odours and hair from the nooks and crannies of your rental property for a hassle free end of lease cleaning session. From understanding pet related cleaning responsibilities to proper cleaning techniques, this guide covers everything to give you peace of mind. You can also prefer hiring vacate cleaning Perth Professionals for a seamless rental inspection. They take all the cleaning stress off you and restore the property to its original condition, i.e., reasonably clean, except for normal wear and tear. However, for a step by step DIY process, keep reading the article.

1. What are Tenants’ Responsibilities for Keeping a Pet in a Perth Rental?

Under WA’s residential tenancy laws, tenants must obtain permission to keep a pet during the lease. The landlord has 14 days after receiving the Form 25 (Pet Request Form) to make a decision and inform the tenant. They have the right to set any special conditions, such as professional cleaning of carpets and upholstery, limiting the number of animals at the property, cleaning every nook and cranny every twelve months, etc. However, the conditions only apply after the Commissioner’s approval. If the landlord doesn’t respond to the request within 14 days, the tenant can keep the pet. Under this scenario, tenants must:

• spruce up any made created by the pet inside as well as outside the property
• be responsible for any nuisance, such as excessive dog barking, scratching floors, digging holes in the yard, damaging garden beds, aggressive behaviour towards neighbours, etc.
• Address and repair any damage caused by the pet

2. What end of lease cleaning obligations do pet owners need to follow when moving out?

After the recent rental reforms in Western Australia, more tenants than ever are living with pets in a rental home. However, it is mandatory for pet owners to maintain a tidy and organised property, free from bad odours and hair dander. Under the tenancy laws, tenants must return the property in a reasonably clean condition as it was at the start of the lease, excluding fair wear and tear. However, this often raises questions, such as:

• Do you have to steam clean your carpets due to pets?
• Can a landlord demand flea removal treatment?
• Is pet hair considered damage or dirt?
• Can a landlord holdback bond because of lingering pet odour?

Of course, landlords can’t insist on professional cleaning, but it is essential for tenants to carefully read the cleaning duties and the specific cleaning obligations for carpets and floors. If your carpets are laden with pet mess, embedded hair or bad odours, you’ll need to hire experts to restore their shine and colour. This will help you leave a great impression on your landlord at the end of your tenancy.

3. Stock up on Necessary Cleaning Supplies

You’ll need all the essential cleaning tools and products to achieve a top quality vacate cleaning Perth. If you want to remove pet odours or scattered hair from hard and soft surfaces, stock up on a pet friendly vacuum cleaner with the right brush attachment, a rubber broom, white vinegar or enzyme based cleaner, warm water, baking soda, essential oils, soda crystals, a steam cleaner, a spray bottle, microfibre cloth, etc. Keep these supplies handy to save time and energy.

4. Vacuuming is a Must

There is no denying that embedded pet dander and unpleasant smell can pollute the entire indoor environment, which may lead to bond deductions at the end of your tenancy. So, it is good to vacuum your delicate surfaces as well as hard ones to remove pet hair around your rental home.

Ensure you deep clean your upholstery furniture, window blinds, curtains, carpets, rugs, mattress, and crannies to remove embedded fur. Use a HEPA friendly vacuum machine with a proper brush attachment to achieve spotless results.

You can also use lint rollers or sticky tape to remove embedded pet hair and fur from upholstery and other fabrics.

5. Identify the Source of Pet Odours and Spot Clean

Dog or cat related smells often originate accidental pet urine or vomit stains, damp fur trapped in delicate furnishings, old food spills, etc. So, it is a good idea to carefully inspect the entire rental property to identify the source of the smell. Ensure you treat the pet urine stains and spills immediately. If the stain is fresh, blot it with a paper towel, then apply a vinegar and warm water solution. Gently blot the surface with a microfibre cloth instead of scrubbing or rubbing. The white vinegar solution works wonders and can help remove stains without damaging the surface.

6. Steam Clean Your Carpets

Many landlords in Perth require deep carpet cleaning when renting to pet owners. So, check your carpet cleaning obligations related to pets in your rental agreement to avoid disputes.

Steam cleaning is one of the best ways that use hot steam to remove collected dirt, pet hair, stains and dog hair from your delicate floor coverings. For effective results, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda and leave it overnight or until you steam clean.

You can also add carpet cleaning service in your professional vacate cleaning Perth package if you have pets when moving out of your rental home. You can do proper research to know the estimated cost of the end of lease cleaning along with added service to help make an informed decision.

7. Wash Soft Furnishings

To tackle unpleasant pet odours from bedding, blankets and cushion covers, toss them in your washing machine and add a cup of white vinegar and a teaspoon of mild laundry detergent. It is good to wash in a hot water cycle to remove urine odours and effectively eliminate lurking germs.

8. Clean Ducts and HVAC Coils

Believe it or not! Real estate agents really check air vents, bathroom exhaust fans and ducts when inspecting the property. Unfortunately, Pet odours and even hair can infiltrate the air vents and HVAC system, spreading smell throughout a rental home. Ensure you vacuum clean the vents or wash filters in hot soapy water. Also, clean bathroom exhaust fans, sliding door tracks and coils using a damp microfibre cloth. This will ensure clean air circulation and effective odour removal before the final inspection.

9. Freshen Up Indoor Air

You can mix equal parts of white vinegar and warm water, along with a few drops of  dishwashing liquid. Next, add 10 drops of lavender or your favourite essential oil. Spray this solution inside your rental property to freshen up all rooms. It is good to open windows and doors to ensure proper ventilation and pass your rental inspection without any hassle.

10. Remove Pet Smell From Hardwood Surfaces

Many landlords strictly check hardwood surfaces like furniture and floors for pet stains and lingering odours. If you catch a stain early, clean the surface using a mop/damp cloth and hot water to prevent smells from setting in.

If preparing for a final rental inspection, use enzymatic cleaners to break down stains and banish unpleasant odours. The natural enzymes can easily break down bacteria in the urine and vomit and eliminate the smell. Ensure you spray the product on the affected area and leave it for half an hour. Next, blot it with a clean cloth. Make sure you know your rights if you fail the inspection at the end of tenancy, especially due to pet related issues.

Infographic: End of Lease Cleaning Tips to Remove Pet Smell and Hair

Wrapping up

These essential pet odour and hair removal tips will help you streamline the vacate cleaning process at the end of your tenancy. You can identify the source of bad smell, treat pet stains naturally, vacuum embedded pet hair from delicate surfaces, blinds and door tracks, mop the floors, and restore the property to its original state for your full bond refund.