How To Get Back Rental Deposit (End-of-Tenancy Cleaning). If you previously entered a tenancy agreement, chances are you paid a deposit- also called a “security deposit” or “bond.” This deposit usually consists of one month of rent (in addition to your first monthly payment), and your landlord retains this amount until the agreement ends.
Moreover, the agreement document should contain the conditions to be eligible for a refund. If you breach any of the terms, your landlord is entitled to keep the money, and you effectively relinquish your right to claim it. This is especially true if they had to cover some expenses due to your actions (or omissions).
Just to let you know, you could lose your right to repayment at the last minute. No matter how good a tenant you were or how long you stayed in the apartment or house, if you did not perform proper office or home cleaning before handing back the keys to your landlord, you can forget to claim any deposit. Read on – How To Get Back Rental Deposit (End-of-Tenancy Cleaning)!
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End-of-Tenancy Cleaning
Most lease agreements stipulate that the tenant must “prepare” the living space before leaving for good.
The reasons for this should be readily apparent. The landlord likely wants to rent the space out to another tenant. But, even if that weren’t the case, they still shouldn’t have to clean up a mess they didn’t make, nor should they spend any money on a cleaning company.
As you behaved like a responsible tenant and treated the property carefully, the cleaning tasks should last at least one or two days (depending on size). Sometimes, you should hire professional help from a competent provider.
DIY Cleaning Vs. Professional Cleaning
Your landlord cannot force you to hire a professional cleaning service. All that matters is leaving the place in optimal condition for the next tenant. Nevertheless, you may feel tempted to assign these burdensome tasks to a third party.
Some landlords can get overly nitpicky when inspecting their property. Especially when dealing with large homes with wide open spaces, you may expose yourself to heated discussions over “how tidy is tidy enough.”
In those circumstances, investing a fraction of your deposit in a cleaning company is far more convenient. That way, you won’t risk losing the entire deposit amount.
How to Perform DIY End-of-Tenancy Cleaning
If you need more funds to afford the services of a cleaning company, you can still try out some things yourself. This should be easy if the living space is moderately small (a studio apartment, for example).
To illustrate, you could:
- Clean the microwave oven: Microwave ovens are prone to attract hard food stains and grime. One effective method is to use steam to loosen up all the gunk. Put a bowl of water mixed with lemon juice and set the timer to four minutes. This will ease up your cleaning task significantly.
- Vacuum/dust the floors: Vacuuming should take 10-20 minutes. However, it’s also recommended to dust corners using an ordinary broom, for they tend to accumulate a lot of filth, and vacuum cleaners usually have difficulty reaching these spots. This could take an additional 20 minutes, depending on the area size.
- Dust and clean the furniture: You can clean fabric sofas with 1/4 vinegar, 3/4 water (preferably warm), and a tablespoon of dish soap. Also, you can use several dedicated products for leather or wooden furniture.
- Dust and clean windows, window frames, and blinds: Landlords in Singapore tend to pay special attention to windows and blinds. Use ordinary dusters for the blinds and spray water mixed with rubbing alcohol on the glass pane. Wipe with a t-bar (preferably).
- Clean living rooms, hallways, and bedrooms: You should generally maintain these areas tidy daily or weekly, so they should be easy to address. Remember to replace used blankets and tablecloths.
How to Get Your Rental Deposit Back
Even when you fulfilled your cleaning duties, you should still be mindful of other details, such as the deadlines and bond deductions.
For example, if you apply for a refund beyond the period established by the contract, you could lose your entitlement. Some landlords might be more lenient and accept refund petitions beyond that timeframe, but they’re not obliged to do so.
On another note, landlords regularly compare the current state of their property with its conditions before the tenancy. That said, ordinary “wear and tear” would not justify any deductions on the deposit, so the landlord would have to assume the expenses of routine restoration or refurbishment jobs, such as painting the walls or changing the carpet.
If you have unpaid rent or bills, your landlord could deduct these amounts from your rental deposit. In addition, you could likewise be liable for substantial property damage due to carelessness or intentional behavior.
Additional Tips
Take photographs of the site once you finish the cleaning job. Also, take video footage of every corner of the house. You can send it to your landlord as evidence that the property is being returned in top shape, though it’s not mandatory unless any disputes arise.
It could help tremendously if you have pictures taken of the property during the handover. That way, you won’t be liable for damages that predate the tenancy agreement. If you also made an inventory of all the appliances and furniture provided by the landlord when the tenancy began, please keep it at arm’s reach, just in case.
How To Get Back Rental Deposit (End-of-Tenancy Cleaning) – Conclusion
Finally, if you find it impossible to perform end-of-tenancy cleaning due to time or money constraints, you could still try to negotiate with your landlord. If the talks go well, he may allow you to leave the place as it is. However, it would be best to consider this as a last recourse when all else fails. It might be easy if you are generally on good terms with the property owner, though you wouldn’t want to push it too hard.
