In our experience with end-of-tenancy cleanings, we often have to deal with situations in which clients claim they’ve left a property very clean and therefore expect a very low price for the cleaning they want us to do. Unfortunately, this usually proves to be true only rarely. In most cases, the homes are moderately dirty to very dirty. So, why is there such a discrepancy be-tween the clients’ expectations and our professional criteria for cleanliness/dirtiness? The simple answer is that different people have different styles of living. Some clean and maintain their homes well, others don’t spend much time on cleaning. Perhaps some tenants feel that, since they will have to pay for the final cleaning at the end of their tenancy and the cleaners will han-dle it anyway, there’s no point in trying to tidy up a few weeks before the final cleaning, during which dirt can build up. However, clients should have realistic expectations and understand that the final cleaning will take hours of work and involve costs not only for the labour, but also all the other expenses that cleaning companies incur in running a business, such as cleaning mate-rials and equipment, transportation, administrative costs, taxes, insurance, etc. Taking this into account will ensure that the clients and the cleaning service providers are on the same page, leading to a smoother and more satisfactory experience for everyone involved.
End-of-Tenancy Cleaning Procedure
End-of-tenancy cleaning is the most demanding and detailed type of cleaning. It requires a great deal of physical effort—bending, standing up, scrubbing, carrying, moving heavy furniture like beds, sofas, sometimes cabinets, etc. All this has to be done within a limited time, which means working quickly. In addition to carrying out these physically-demanding tasks, professional experience is also required in order to distribute the limited time effectively enough to clean eve-rything in the property. It’s not just a simple matter of elbow grease – the cleaner must also have knowledge of the cleaning products being used, familiarity with different surfaces and the best methods for cleaning household appliances, and so on. Of course, cleaning is a simple job compared to most, but it still requires at least a basic knowledge of the chemicals involved and some technical skills in order to be done well. Furthermore, we are sometimes also required to make small repairs, tighten screws, fix broken or unstable cabinets, and so on.
Assessing the Condition and Determining the Price
When we provide a quote over the phone or by email, we cannot assess the condition of a property or how it will have been left by the occupants once they’ve moved the furniture out. This is the main reason why our quotes are based on average cases and often don’t reflect the exact amount of work required. Many clients don’t understand how labour-intensive and time-consuming end-of-tenancy cleaning is. Manual work like this demands meticulous attention to every detail to ensure a thorough clean and every nook and cranny must be addressed to achieve the highest standards of cleanliness. Of course, there are different companies and individual cleaners on the market offering low service prices, and many clients decide to take up such offers. This is understandable, as no one wants to spend more money than necessary on cleaning, especially when moving out of a property. However, the low price often leads to many details being missed during the cleaning and the differences between a thorough, detailed cleaning and a job done quickly are always obvious. No cleaner will do this kind of work for a few pounds an hour. To make ends meet, such companies or cleaners have to work very quickly, often carrying out the cleaning in half the time actually required. Therefore, the quality of the work is poor and problems arise after such cleaning due to many missed spots. For example, the tops of kitchen cabinets haven’t been cleaned, or the bottom of the upper row of cabinets has been missed, or limescale has been left on the taps, or the oven hasn’t been cleaned well, or the bathroom fans have been left covered with dust, or not all the skirting boards have been wiped, and so on. This leads to disputes with landlords and is frequently a reason for withholding part of the deposit. Very often, such companies or individual cleaners stop responding to emails and phone calls when asked to return for free touch-up cleaning. This is to be expected, as they initially offered a very low price, and it is unprofitable for them to come back for further cleaning.
We have been contacted many times for re-cleaning after end-of-tenancy cleaning had been done by such companies or individual cleaners. As with most goods and services, a low price usually means low quality. On the other hand, there are, unfortunately, some clients who purposefully neglect to mention important details about the property or leave it in a very poor condition. A filthy property or a property that turns out to be larger than quoted means much more time will be required to clean it compared to the average. When a property is very dirty, the allocated time for cleaning can increase by between 50% to 100%. This will, of course, lead to an increase in the price. It’s not usually physically possible to visit the properties before providing a quote. Even if we visit for an inspection, there are still unknowns regarding how the property will be left after moving personal belongings and furniture (e.g., we may discover that it hasn’t been cleaned under and behind the beds for the last 4-5 years). Therefore, when providing a quote, we inform our clients that our labour costs will increase significantly if the property is left very dirty or the initial information provided doesn’t match the reality. It is even possible that we may refuse to clean the property if it is extremely dirty, as the cleaning time would double or triple, and we don’t have enough time or enough cleaners to clean it in the scheduled time frame. Such situations are very unpleasant for us and for the clients. Therefore, it’s very important for clients to understand that the dirtier the property, the higher the price they will have to pay. No one wants to work double or triple for the usual wage, nor do we.
Factors Affecting Time and Effort
- Size and Type of Property: The size of the property and the number of rooms are key factors in determining how long the cleaning will take. Houses with many rooms, large kitchens, and bathrooms require more time and effort.
- Condition of Furniture and Appliances: If the furniture and appliances are old, dam-aged, or very dirty, this increases the time and effort needed for cleaning and possible repairs.
- Ovens and Fridges: Cleaning ovens is one of the most difficult tasks. For us, it makes a huge difference whether we have to clean a standard built-in oven, two ovens, a built-in oven and a separate built-in grill, a free-standing cooker with two ovens, or a range cooker with three ovens, with 6-7-8 burners, and a large extractor hood. Another appli-ance that takes a lot of time is the fridge.
- Additional Details of the Furnishings: These include the blinds, shutters, heavy fur-niture with many cabinets, large wardrobes with shelves and drawers, large glass and mirror surfaces, etc.
- Presence of Pets: Properties that have housed pets usually require more detailed clean-ing to remove hair, odours, and stains.
- Degree of Dirtiness: Some properties may be cleaner than others, but sometimes stub-born stains, mould, grease, and other contaminants need to be removed, requiring spe-cial efforts and cleaning products.
- Products and Techniques Used To provide quality cleaning, we use professional products and techniques specifically developed for different surfaces and types of dirt. Our staff are trained to recognise different materials and use the right methods for cleaning them without causing damage.
Examples of Products Used and Their Properties
- Degreasers: These are used for cleaning kitchens, especially in areas with accumulated grease around the stove and sink.
- Mould Removal Products: Used in bathrooms and damp areas where mould is a common problem.
- Glass Cleaners: To ensure impeccably clean windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces.
- Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners: To deal with stains and odours, leaving carpets and furniture fresh and clean.
Conclusion
End-of-tenancy cleaning is a complex and laborious process that requires both physical effort and professional knowledge and skills. Differences in people’s criteria for cleanliness and the condition of properties left by tenants make this process even more challenging. To ensure cli-ent satisfaction and the delivery of quality service, we rely on experienced staff and specialised cleaning products and techniques. We hope this explanation helps potential clients better under-stand the process and challenges associated with end-of-tenancy cleaning, enabling them to make an informed decision about who to trust for their cleaning needs.