Exit Cleans and Carpet Guarantees

It's important when moving out of a rented property that you check your contract to establish whether you are required to perform an exit clean. This is usually a pretty standard request, and as such is often the main obstacle standing between you and your full deposit back; providing you haven't caused any damage throughout your tenancy. Exit cleans require you to clean the property from top to bottom and return the flat or house to the landlord in the condition it was in during the inventory at the start of the rental agreement.

The Inventory

The inventory is a process that documents the condition of the property prior to a rental agreement. It is used as evidence if necessary to assist in determining whether the landlord deserves compensation from the deposit for damages caused that do not fall under the banner of fair wear and tear. With some companies, you can photograph the property yourself; however, others will insist on hiring a professional. In either case you should take your own photographs and send them to the landlord as backup.

Exit Clean

Before you move out, the landlord will check the photos in the inventory against the property's current state, and in order to give you the best chance of a complete deposit, will often insist that you use a professional cleaning service to give the property a once over. Carpet cleaning is often the main area of concern and so many companies will provide you with a list of approved cleaning companies. In some cases it may be in your interest to use the approved cleaners because they have been tried and tested by the rental agency, meaning that you should be offered a certain level of insurance. Many agencies reserve the right to charge for substandard carpet cleaning; however, approved companies will usually provide a guarantee and incur any costs themselves if they are unable to clean the carpet to a satisfactory standard. This usually doesn't take in to account any obvious stains caused by you. 

Pre-Rental

When you move into a new rental property, you may want to have the carpets steam cleaned anyway. This is a good idea because it helps to remove dust and small insects that live within carpets that can cause rashes and allergic reactions. You can also use it as an opportunity to get the cleaner to verify the condition of the carpet to be used in the inventory as extra top cover for yourself when it's time to get your deposit back. 


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