Passing your property inspection is critical when you move out as it will ensure a smooth return of your bond, help keep your reputation as a renter in good standing and enable an easy transition when you’re moving house.
And key to this is the end of lease clean. It can be a tricky and fraught time for many. What are the best ways to clean up the place? How can you be sure you’ve got it to an appropriate standard? We’ve put together a list of great bond cleaning tips you can use. They’ll help you get your rental property looking spick and span again before you move out. Our tips will also help you be better prepared for the paperwork aspects too!
1. It’s deep clean time
Sure, we all know about spot cleaning and doing day-to-day wipe downs. But that won’t quite cut it for property inspections. Deep cleaning is one of the most important things you can do when you’re carrying out a bond cleaning in NZ.
But if you haven’t done one before, you’re probably wondering what a deep clean is. Well, “deep cleaning” means that you’re paying attention to all of the spots that might normally get overlooked when you’re doing your regular cleaning. The space between the stove and the sink, the oven’s interior, behind the toilet — all of these sorts of spots and more. Having a keen eye for detail is critical during this stage, and it’s also essential to invest in the right cleaning products to get everything sparkling again.
2. Steam clean the carpets
Carpets can look a little dull and tired if you’ve been occupying a home for more than a few months. But a solid steam clean will bring back the pizzazz and get it looking fresh and new again. It’s exactly what you need for adequate bond cleaning.
3. Take care of repairs
If there are repairs around the place that you’ve been putting off, now is the time to tackle them. This is particularly important if you’ve had appliances break down or other general issues after you first moved in — you don’t want needless cash coming out of your bond to deal with these problems after you’ve moved out.
4. Take photos — and get everything in writing
When you move into any house or apartment, make sure that you take detailed photos of the current condition of the property. Then email them to the estate agent and retain a copy for yourself. It’s a good idea to get the estate agent to send a confirmation of receipt, too.
This will help provide a standard for “reasonable wear and tear” when it comes time to move. On occasion, sneaky landlords will sometimes attempt to pin pre-existing damage or issues on vacating tenants — but if you’ve got evidence to indicate that this isn’t the case, you’ll be able to back up your case.
Additionally, after an end of lease clean has been carried out, make sure you take photos yourself or receive them from the cleaner. This will help remove any ambiguity about the state of the property after the bond cleaning has been completed.
5. Use professional cleaning services
One of the problems that many tenants run across when they’re leaving a property is that they have differing ideas around what constitutes “clean”. That’s why utilising professional cleaners can be an excellent idea. You’ll be working with highly-experienced cleaners who will certainly be able to clean to a higher standard than you can, and won’t need to invest in additional equipment. So, if you’d like to save yourself time and energy while boosting your chances of getting your bond back, get in touch with the pros — it’s worth the splurge.
Get in touch with Jim’s Cleaning for more information about bond cleaning today
If you’ve got questions about how you can clean your property more effectively, or you’re looking for a quote on vacate cleaning, why not get in touch with the team at Jim’s Cleaning? As longtime cleaning professionals, we’ve got all the equipment required to get your property looking immaculate, as well as police-checked staff. We look forward to helping you pass your property inspection soon!
FAQs
What is an end of lease clean?
A bond clean — also known as an end of lease clean — is basically a big ol’ clean-out that occurs when you’re moving out of a rental property. Rental leases usually require tenants to restore the property to the original standard of cleanliness and maintenance that was present when they first moved in. There’s some allowance for reasonable wear and tear — especially if you’ve lived in the property for an extended period.
However, “reasonable wear and tear” is a phrase that’s very open to interpretation. There’s no guarantee that your definition of “reasonable wear and tear” as a tenant will align with the estate agent or the owner — and this is why it’s usually advisable to get the professionals in to do an end of lease clean for you.
Can I do end of tenancy cleaning myself to get my bond back?
You certainly can. But if you need a hand, make sure to give the team at Jim’s Cleaning a call. They’ll be able to get your property looking clean and organised in a fraction of the time.
Do you have to pay for a bond clean?
If you hire a professional, yes. You can opt to do a bond clean yourself, but it’s generally quicker to get the pros to help you out. It’ll save you time and money from your bond in the long run.
Can a landlord charge for end of tenancy cleaning?
Not directly. Although a landlord may have preferred providers for cleaning services, as the tenant, you are allowed to make your own decisions around bond cleaning. This includes doing it yourself, should you desire, or sourcing your own cleaning provider.
However, if the landlord doesn’t feel that the cleaning process was carried out to the appropriate standard, they can claim part of the bond to cover their cleaning costs and repairs. This can be problematic for you on a number of points; landlords may have their own “standards” around what constitutes appropriate levels of cleaning. Additionally, they can use situations like this to be petty and potentially damage your standing as a tenant, which can cause issues when applying for future properties. Not to mention the inconvenience of having your cash held up needlessly!
This is where using a professional for bond cleaning in NZ can be a great idea. Here at Jim’s Cleaning— so if your landlord chooses to take issue with the job we did, we can get it sorted for you. We’re here to help you get your entire bond back.
How much is a bond clean in New Zealand?
The cost of bond cleaning in New Zealand will vary from home to home. It depends on the size of your house, how dirty it is and what other extras may be required under the terms of the lease (for example, window interiors and exteriors). However, the team at Jim’s Cleaning will be more than happy to provide you with an obligation-free quote.
How long does it take to get your bond back?
Getting your bond back is a multi-step process. First, all tenants within the house named on the lease and the landlord must agree on how much is being refunded. This is usually done with the real estate agent as an intermediary. Once this is complete, a bond refund form must be filled out and lodged with Tenancy Services. After the completed form is received, Tenancy Services will arrange for the bond to be relayed to the appropriate parties within 5 working days.
However, if you and the landlord cannot agree on splitting the bond, you will need to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal. This will initiate a formal adjudication process to decide how the bond will be divvied among appropriate parties.
Is bond cleaning hard?
It can be. The size of your property, awkward interiors or specialised surfaces can all make bond cleaning in NZ a tricky prospect. Not to mention running the risk of not getting the bond back if your agent or landlord doesn’t feel it’s up to scratch — what a waste of time and energy!
Calling in the professionals at Jim’s Cleaning can be a substantially better option. They’re highly experienced in dealing with bond cleaning, come prepared with the appropriate equipment. So why not save yourself time and energy, and be sure that the job will be done correctly by giving Jim’s Cleaning a call?