Cleaning After Long Term Tenancies: What Extra Is Expected

Whether it’s a fixed term or periodic tenancy, vacating a rental property after a long term is always overwhelming for both parties. Tenants are concerned about securing their hard earned bond money, while landlords are responsible for maintaining minimum living standards when presenting a property to a new potential occupant.

Ongoing residential tenancies naturally accumulate a thick layer of dust bunnies, cause serious wear and tear and stubborn grease across the property. Tenants aiming to reclaim their full bond should prepare for extra elbow grease for efficient results.

In Perth, a standard bond cleaning checklist may not cover certain areas that have been overlooked for years. Fret no! Here is a comprehensive list of what’s extra is expected when performing a thorough vacate cleaning after a long term tenancy. Be ready to tackle years of dust, dirt and hard water stains to impress your fussy landlord.

Let’s Get Started!

1. Fix Damage Beyond Fair Wear and Tear

Tenants must understand the difference between normal wear & tear vs actual damage to the property. Under the Residential Tenancy Laws in Perth, a rental property must be restored to its original condition, minus reasonable wear and tear. This includes loose hinges on doors, faded curtains, scratches and marks on wooden floors, faded paint, small cracks in walls, and other gradual deterioration of the property due to everyday use. These are accepted during the inspection.

What’s your responsibility then? You are liable to fix damage caused by your negligence or intentional act. Since you have lived in the property, the risk of damage is higher. This includes:

• Burn marks or pet stains on carpets
• Scratched wooden floors
• missing or torn curtains
• broken window frames
• mould due to negligence
• damage to the wall, pain due to posters and nails, etc

Ensure you fix these problems upon approval to secure your hard earned bond money.

2. Go Beyond a Standard Vacate Cleaning Requirements

Believe it or not! Top quality vacate cleaning Perth professionals only follow a standard checklist to spruce up your rental home. Of course, it covers all rooms, important areas, and exterior parts, but deeper cleaning is essential after long term tenancies.

It is all about tackling years of everyday grime and gunk from kitchen surfaces, appliances, floors, air vents, ceilings, light fixtures, fittings, extra. Extra attention is required for skirting boards, vents, tile grout lines and other hard to reach areas that are often overlooked during a routine session.

Deep cleaning requires more time, energy, and the right strategies to achieve efficient results that meet the landlord’s expectations. So, it is good to add additional services along with bond cleaning to create a healthy and hygienic indoor environment.

3. How to Restore Carpet After Long Term Use

Long tenancies often lead to carpet dullness and deterioration, affecting your final rental inspection. Despite thorough vacuuming during a standard bond cleaning session, it is tough to eliminate deeply rooted allergens and heavy soil. That’s where a professional carpet cleaning service comes in.

Tenants can add on carpet cleaning service in the package to restore the shine of their lost floor coverings. Professionals steam clean heavily soiled and overlooked carpets, especially from high traffic areas, to lift deep seated grime, tough stains, pet odours, mould and germs. Ensure you restore your carpet’s vibrant appearance to meet the landlord’s cleanliness standards.

Quick Tip: Blot the wet stain as soon as you spot it. Use a damp microfibre cloth.

4. Stubborn Wall Stains, Streaks and Adhesive Marks

A standard bond cleaning includes spot cleaning and dusting of the ceiling and walls. If you want to remove scuff marks, sticky residue and stubborn stains from walls after a long duration, you need to deep wash your walls. Furthermore, crayon marks, mould stains and grease stains require extra energy and the right products.

You can use white vinegar and a magic eraser to deep clean every nook and cranny of your painted walls. However, it is good to test the product before applying it all over the surface.

To fix nail holes or damaged paintwork, seek your landlord’s permission if anything exceeds reasonable wear and tear. Remember that you are not liable to pay for existing damage.

5. Deep Clean Your Kitchen Crannies and Inside Appliances

The kitchen bears the most wear over time, ranging from cooking grease and germs infestation to clogged drains and filthy appliances. After years of use, put extra efforts to deep clean every nook and cranny, especially your oven, rangehood and stovetop, microwave, and refrigerator.

Ensure you disassemble oven grills and trays, soak them in hot soapy water and clean the cavities of your appliance using all natural cleaners. Also, scrub splashbacks, unclog the garbage disposal using baking soda and vinegar. You can also prefer hiring experts for a guaranteed vacate cleaning Perth to achieve spotless results.

Tip: Declutter the pantry items you’ve been piling up for years. Toss expired food carefully.

6. Bathroom Needs Thorough Scrubbing : Tile Grouts and Faucets

Bathroom fixtures and fittings in long term rental properties often look dull and dingy due to limescale, soap scum, hard water deposits, rust and mould that can’t be tackled with light cleaning.

Pay special attention to bathroom tiles, grout lines, toilet seats, basins and crannies of bathtubs. Disinfect the most contaminated areas, such as taps, polish mirrors and vacuum exhaust fans to kill grime and gunk with perfection.

7. Thoroughly Clean Your Window Treatments

These are the most overlooked areas, but they can cause indoor air pollution. A standard checklist may include a standard blind, but you need a proper tool and technique to eliminate dust from venetian and fabric blinds.

Thick layers of dust tend to accumulate on each slat, making your windows dull and dirty. You can either avail add on service or wipe down each slat using a damp cloth. Do it with patience to achieve spotless results. Ensure you understand your rental requirements and spruce up everything to enjoy the entire process.

8. Do Not Forget Pest Control

An extended occupancy can lead to conditions that attract bugs and rodents due to negligence. Food splatters, crumbs, moisture, dark environment and hidden clutter can breed pests over time.

It can be ideal if you hire professional pest control, especially if you rent with pets, to prevent future outbreaks. This will also help you meet habitable standards for new occupants.

9. Mould Removal Treatment

Overlooking mould spores or stains for longer can cause structural damage. It can also trigger your pre existing allergies and asthma conditions. When moving out of your home after a long term tenancy, ensure you inspect dark and damp areas of your property to check for mould and mildew.

You can use 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide to remove mould spores from tile grout, kitchen appliances, carpets, under the kitchen sink, basement walls, etc.

10. Outdoor Areas Need Extra Attention

Extreme weather conditions in Western Australia can deteriorate outdoor areas like driveways, decks, patio areas, yard, etc.  When relocating after a long term rental, book experts for a top quality vacate cleaning Perth for outdoor cleaning.

You may need to include add on services like pressure washing, pool cleaning, and rubbish removal to pass your rental inspection without any stress.

Infographic For Deep Cleaning Your Property After a Long Lease in Perth

Wrapping Up

Cleaning after long term tenancies is meticulous, requiring a lot of time and energy. Hopefully, this article has helped you perform a thorough cleaning to pass your rental inspection without any dispute or deduction. Make sure you include extra services based on your lease requirements and the property’s condition for a hassle free move out.