Moving house in Cape Town is a strenuous and tiring undertaking. No-one needs the added stress of conflict, but cleaning disputes between landlords and tenants are common.
Whether you’re a tenant wanting your full deposit back or a landlord preparing a property for a new occupant, it helps to know your legal rights and obligations.
Professional cleaners help ensure a smooth end-of-lease transition.
Understanding lease cleaning obligations in South Africa
At the end of a lease, the tenant has an obligation to hand the property over in a clean and habitable state.
Ideally, it must be left in the same condition as recorded in the initial walk-through inspection – the documentary and photographic evidence of the state of the property prior to occupation.
Although there’s no law dealing specifically with end-of-lease cleaning, typically landlords include a cleanliness clause in the lease agreement.
This clause outlines the tenant’s responsibilities for maintaining a certain level of cleanliness. It helps avoid disputes, and protects the property from neglect and misuse.
Clean-on-close clauses typically include “thorough or professionally cleaned” rooms, walls, windows, floors, carpets, appliances, cabinets, cupboards and, if the property is furnished, furniture, curtains, blinds and mattresses.
“Professionally cleaned” means the property must be cleaned to a higher standard than that of daily domestic cleaning.
This is what a typical cleaning clause looks like in a lease agreement.
Examples of lease agreement cleaning clauses
“The Tenant shall, at the end of the term, thoroughly clean, including and not limited to: carpets, floors, doors, walls, ceilings, kitchen appliances, counters, cupboards, taps, sinks, furniture, windows, pelmets, and other furnishings.”
“Upon acceptance of your lease, you are bound to take the premises in the condition as seen at the time of your inspection. It is a term of the Residential Tenancy Agreement that at the end of the tenancy the tenant(s) must give back the premises to the landlord in a reasonable condition and in a reasonable state of cleanliness.”
The tenant’s perspective: getting your full deposit back
If the property is not left clean or in good condition, or there are lingering odours from smoking or pets, you won’t get your full deposit back.
The landlord is entitled to withhold a portion of the deposit to cover the costs of repairs or the services of a professional cleaning contractor.
Good condition means returning the property to the landlord in the same state it was at the beginning of your rental term, with the exception of normal wear and tear.
The key is to ensure the property is ready before the final inspection, and that requires the careful timing of your cleaning routine. It’s advisable to start at least a week before the due date.
Better still, move out a day or two before the end of the rental term, and contract the services of a professional cleaning team. That way, you have a much better chance of getting your full deposit back.
The landlord’s perspective: preparing for new tenants
In a competitive rental market, first impressions count.
A clean, well-maintained and freshly painted property is aesthetically pleasing. It’s easier to market and likely to realise a higher monthly rental.
Restoring the property to its original state is the tenant’s responsibility. As is paying for damages caused by negligence or misuse.
However, addressing wear and tear falls within the purview of the landlord. This includes minor issues like tarnished fixtures, scuffs on walls, worn carpets and faded paint.
Advantages of professional cleaning when moving house
Using an experienced cleaning company to handle end-of-lease cleaning ensures an optimal standard.
Professional cleaners operate according to tried-and-tested checklists, provide certification of their work, and offer a guarantee that the required standard of cleanliness has been met.
The process and costs are easily and objectively documented, and you are assured of thorough, professional results.
Timing your end-of-lease cleaning
When it comes to end-of-lease cleaning, timing is everything. Book a professional cleaning team well in advance, especially during Cape Town’s peak moving seasons between December and February.
Similarly, scheduling the cleaning between moving dates, while allowing time for carpets, mattresses and upholstery to dry, ensures a smooth and effective process.
Problem areas that often cause disputes
Most disputes are caused by pet odours and stains, traffic patterns on carpets, sun-faded or dirty curtains, and the smell of smoke.
In almost all scenarios (except for sun-faded curtains), a deep and thorough clean from a professional cleaning team can address the issue and prevent or resolve disputes.
Documentation for protection
Whether you’re a tenant or landlord, a documented record of the tenancy is essential for a fruitful and amicable relationship.
Take before and after photos, obtain cleaning certificates and keep all property-related receipts to ensure the satisfactory conclusion of a rental agreement.
How professional cleaning simplifies the moving process
Outsourcing the cleaning of carpets, upholstery and curtains to professionals can save time and energy – and help ensure a friction-free hand-over between tenants and landlords.
