The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 states that the tenant must ensure the premises are left ‘reasonably clean and tidy? But what does that mean?
Tenants are not always aware of their responsibilities when it comes to moving out and the level of cleaning required. And some landlords are not clear on the rules either! So before we share our cleaning tips, here is a quick guide on what tenants need to do to get their bonds back.
- Make sure the outside of the home and gardens are in the same state they were when they moved in. Landlords will have photos from your in-going inspection - lots of them!
- Make sure that all ACCESSIBLE windows are clean inside & out,. (Unless it's an apartment or multi story property, the landlord has to sort it in those instances)
- Tenants won't have to clean a chimney, but if there is a fire place, it must be left clean and all ashes removed.
- Tenants don't have to clean gutters either! Landlords are responsible for gutter cleans and they will check health & safety requirements for anyone who does it! Did you know that Landlords ask all contractors to sign health & safety contractors agreements? Landlords are legally liable for any injuries. This means property managers ask owners to sign health & safety indemnity forms too, should they want to do the work themselves!
- Inside the home, all surfaces must be clean, and any food stains or platters removed. Walls should be wiped down - sugar soap will do the trick!
- Tenants must remove all their rubbish. Yes all of it, including any piles of grass clippings!
- Door railings & window joinery should be wiped down, especially any mould or mildew.
- Ovens must be "reasonably" clean. That means the racks have been removed and cleaned, and an oven cleaner used. We have added a few oven cleaning tips at the bottom of this blog! And don't forget to clean the cooktop and backsplashes with the right cleaner - otherwise it might scratch!
- Shower and baths must be free of mould, blocked plugs and rubbish. Walls cleaned, taps polished, and overall a really good scrub down.
- Tenants must vacuum everywhere with carpet - every corner! It's a great time to suck up cobwebs too. But a landlord cannot expect a tenant to have the carpets professionally cleaned.
If your landlord is not happy with the cleaning, they will let you know immediately so you have time to fix it. But if you cannot agree, then it might be a trip to the tenancy tribunal.
Pukeko Rental Managers provide a checklist to all our tenants so they know exactly whats expected before they even move in. And to be fair, we have amazing tenants, so it's never really an issue!
If you have any questions about the end of tenancy cleaning, or would like amazing tenants in your rental property too, then please get in touch to chat about how we can help! 0272509626
So now you have the low-down on tenant responsibilities, Check our blog post with 5 cleaning tips to make your move out process stress free!