Tenant Cleaning Guide and Responsibilities
Intro
Proper cleaning of a rental unit is the responsibility of the tenant and not the landlords. Some landlords reserve the right to hire a professional cleaning service to clean tenant rentals as many times as needed if not properly maintained to the landlords standards at the landlords sole discretion and will charge this expense back to the tenant. This is supported by law. For too many landlords, it has become necessary to set cleaning standards by which tenants must adhere. For many tenants, this is not a necessity, however, because so many tenants fail to meet minimum standards, it has become a necessity to set very specific standards by which all tenants must adhere.
Expect these standards to change without notice. Any tenant can use this page as a baseline to meet minimal standards and should refer to this page from time to time. I will use my experience to recommend products, time lines, and resources to help you to maintain your home.
What is normal wear and tear?
This is best and simplest definition I found on Landlordology.com. I will paraphrase it here.
Normal Wear and Tear: Wear, tear, or soiling that occurs without negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse and with timely and proper maintenance and cleaning.
This definition becomes important to the tenant simply because failing to maintain cleanliness in a timely and prescribed manner will effect how much work the landlord has to do when you move out. You may say "So What? Isn't that the landlords problem?" My answer is, "No. It is not." The responsibility is the tenants to maintain the landlords property to a reasonable and normal standard and to clean the rental upon final inspection. Failing to do so will cost the tenant. While a landlord does expect to do some cleaning when a tenant moves out, it should be minimal and within the standards set and appropriate for the length of time the tenant has lived within the unit. Tenants who adhere to the standards have a defense if the landlord seeks costs they feel are due.
Can the tenant hire a service or seek help?
Yes. It is not uncommon that some tenants are not able to clean to the standards set or may want help otherwise. Friends and family are fine, however, if payment for service is made the tenant is required to provide proof of cleaning, use only a known certified, bonded, and insured professional service, and talk to the landlord. Do not hire your friends or family unless they are a legitimate and certified, bonded, and insured cleaning business easily found in the phone book.
Are cleaning standards legal?
Yes if specified, reasonable, and required within the signed lease. While the conventional wisdom is that cleaning standards depends upon standards set by the tenant, the reality is that not all tenants clean in a manner to appropriately protect the landlords property as required by law. We all know of the very dirty tenant, however, even well intentioned tenants may not clean appropriately as to comply to the letter of the law. As well, undefined standards may allow a tenant to live in such a manner to effect the landlords ability to rent to or retain tenants. Move-out cleaning costs have risen significantly and often exceeds all other costs by a large margin. The assumption that all tenants clean like people did decades ago is a faulty one. Many tenants clean marginally or minimally. Many only concern themselves about cleanliness upon move-out. There is no legal standard for cleanliness except as to maintain the landlords property and return the property in as much of a condition as possible less wear and tear. There is no legal standard for wear and tear. One new trend in the rental market is to set standards of cleanliness as to prevent unnecessary damage easily mitigated. Because the landscape has previously allowed a fuzzy definition of cleanliness does not mean that a reasonable standard and expectation cannot be set or defined. Laws are slow to keep up, however, landlords are pushing to set standards for wear and tear and cleanliness within the law or legally otherwise simply because overall tenant cleaning standards have dropped to unreasonable or less than satisfactory standards. Cleaning is a tenant responsibility and not the landlords. However, as in many cases, landlords are often willing to help well meaning tenants. If you need help talk to the landlord.
Disabilities
Tenants with disabilities that restrict a tenants ability to clean appropriately should either seek help from family or friends, hire a professional service, or talk to their landlord. Many landlords will understand the difficulty and help as much as they can, however, landlords will likely not assume the responsibility in total. Landlords are willing to help tenants who are disabled or elderly who are willing to talk to the landlord and see what appropriate help they can offer.
Why did you set these standards?
I had a tenant that I or no-one would not have thought of as a dirty tenant who upon moving left an unacceptable amount of cleaning from not cleaning the rental to standards others would deem as normal. Do not get me wrong, the tenant was fairly clean, however, failing to do some normal periodic cleaning caused damage to the rental that cost well over $1000 dollars. Why? Because, over time, dirt builds up and cannot be properly cleaned without special equipment and cleaners that make the cost of cleaning far more expensive than periodic cleaning would have cost. Worse yet, as a landlord, I am willing to help with the more daunting tasks and have the equipment to properly and easily maintain the property the tenant could have availed themselves to. I want my tenants to have a great experience and I am willing to help create the quality of life I feel all tenants should enjoy. It had become clear to me that even for well meaning tenants, as this tenant was, I needed to set standards of expectation.
Annually or Biannual (twice a year)
Carpet cleaning.
The tenant shall thoroughly clean the carpets using a carpet cleaner and shampoos or hire a professional service to clean the carpets at least once per year. The tenant shall maintain any rental and product receipts or hired service receipts or if the tenant owns their own cleaner, maintain the receipts of the products used to clean the carpets. If you are my tenant, I am willing to help and use my own equipment to clean the carpets.
Windows
The tenant shall thoroughly clean all windows and storm windows inside and out at least once per year. If you are my tenant, I am willing to help clean the windows.
Light Switches and Outlets
The tenant shall wipe down all light switches and outlets removing dust, dirt, and smudges.
Clean radiators.
The tenant shall wipe down and remove all dust from the radiators using an appliance brush to remove all dust and dirt.
Clean all modling, trim, sills, and doors.
The tenant shall wipe down and clean all moldings, trim, sills, and doors to remove dust, dirt, and smudges.
Clean all ceiling fans and lights.
The tenant shall clean all ceiling fans and lights to remove dust, dirt, and smudges.
Remove all cobwebs.
The tenant shall clean and remove all cobwebs using a broom or duster from ceilings and other areas where cobwebs form.
Wipe down and clean walls.
The tenant shall clean all walls using appropriate cleaning products as not to damage the walls or paint to remove dust, dirt, and smudges.
Clean all window blinds and coverings.
The tenant shall clean all blinds and window coverings including laundering or dry cleaning as necessary.
Clean the refrigerator.
The tenant shall clean the refrigerator interior, top, coils if not a sealed unit, the underneath, cord, and vents to remove dust, dirt, and smudges. I am willing to help clean the coils and other difficult to reach areas.
Installed shelving.
The tenant shall wipe down and clean all installed shelving to include closets using appropriate cleaning products as not to damage the shelving or paint to remove dust, dirt, and smudges.
Porches
The tenant shall clean the porches and porch areas including the porch flooring, railings, and exterior walls using appropriate cleaning products as not to damage the property or paint to remove dust, dirt, debris, personal items except landlord approved items, and smudges. Use only Tide powdered laundry detergent without additives sparingly with water to clean porch flooring. I am willing to help here and will often take on this task myself in the spring or fall when I clean the building exterior.
Monthly
Replace light bulbs.
Tenants shall maintain lighting to the standards set by the landlord by replacing burnt-out light bulbs with appropriate and correct replacements. Do not remove a bulb without a replacement leaving the socket exposed. Use only LED bulbs for landlord supplied lighting. For ceiling flush mounted lights, porch lights, and ceiling fans with globes, I am willing to replace the bulbs myself to adhere to standards and reduce risk of fire. In these cases, the tenant must inform the landlord immediately so that the bulb can be replaced within a reasonable time.
Kitchen and Bathroom Walls
The tenant shall wipe down all kitchen and bathroom walls as well as any window to remove dust and grease or oily build-up.
Kitchen and bathroom Cabinets
The tenant shall wipe down the kitchen and bathroom cabinet tops, interiors, and exteriors using appropriate products as not to damage the cabinets to remove dust, grease or oily build-up, food stuffs, and other soils to include product spillage or build-up.
Test smoke detectors.
As required by law, the tenant shall test all smoke and other detectors to ensure their functioning and clean them of dust. Do not open these units. Do not replace these units. Notify the landlord immediately if there is a faulty unit. I will replace the unit immediately with one that fits the standards and requirements governed by law, insurance, and other considerations that a tenant will be unaware of.
Remove old foodstuffs.
The tenant shall clean all old and spoiled foodstuffs from the refrigerator, cabinets, counter tops, shelves, and anywhere food is stored.
Sweep porches and remove debris.
The tenant shall sweep, remove debris, and remove unapproved personal items from porches as well as associated stairways and entryways.
Remove personal items from common areas.
The tenant shall remove any personal items from the yard, parking lot, and other common areas unless exempted by the landlord.
Daily, as Needed, or Weekly
These items are expected to be daily, as needed, or weekly but no longer than 1 week. Some items will have timelines specified.
Vacuum and clean flooring.
The tenant shall vacuum carpets weekly, and damp mop or Swiffer vinyl flooring, and Swiffer laminate flooring weekly or more often to keep them free of dust, dirt, stains, and sticky substances. It will be necessary to clean manually with a scrub brush or other appropriate cleaning products along baseboards, cabinets, and other flooring edges bi-weekly to prevent build up.
Kitchen and Bathroom Walls
The tenant shall spot clean kitchen and bathroom walls where soiling is more frequent such as near the stove, sinks, shower, etc.
Kitchen and bathroom Cabinets
The tenant shall spot clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets where soiling is more frequent such as near the stove, sinks, shower, etc.
Small Appliances
The tenant shall clean daily, as needed, or weekly using appropriate cleaning products all small appliances to include toasters, toaster ovens, convection ovens, fryers, microwaves, coffee brewers, hair dryers, etc.
Remove trash, rubbish, foodstuffs, and other waste.
The tenant shall remove all trash and rubbish weekly, any foodstuffs the same day or early the next day, and other waste as needed. The tenant shall protect the premises from pests by ensuring that foodstuffs are removed within the time prescribed and not build up. The tenant shall not accumulate items or collect items in such a manner as to pile-up, block or prevent safe access to the rental, disable easy migration through the rental, enable pest infestation, create an unsafe environment for the tenant or other tenants, restrict emergency response professionals such as police, fire, and rescue personnel.
Clean the stove, sinks, toilets, mirrors, tubs, and showers.
The tenant shall clean the stove, sinks, toilets, mirrors, tubs, and showers daily as needed and thoroughly weekly.
Pet Waste and Other Considerations.
The tenant shall clean and remove all pet waste, pet foodstuffs, and other consumable products as appropriate for the landlord approved pet.
