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Carpet cleaning in rental units – Who is responsible for the cleaning, and how does it happen?
Most of the time, the landlord is responsible for carpet cleaning services. Though sometimes it’s unclear whose responsibility it is depending on the situation taking place. So, if you are unsure, here are some things to consider:
1. If you are a Tenant
It is a landlord’s responsibility to arrange residential carpet cleaning services before a new tenant moves in or every year for general maintenance. So make sure that it is confirmed in your lease agreement. If it is unclear, ask questions about things that you want to know.
If you are a tenant that is just moving into a new unit, make sure to do a thorough property inspection. Doing so will ensure that there is no existing damage that goes unnoticed. Whatever damage is found can be put in the notes of your agreement, so it’s clear that it wasn’t caused by you.
If there is damage and severe stains like red wine/oily spots or strong smells from your pets, then you might be charged for it. You can, of course, try to clean it yourself. However, we always recommend doing some thorough research on the type of stain you are looking to address. The last thing you would want to do as a tenant is causing even more damage or a bigger stain. There are plenty of environmentally friendly cleaning solutions that work as good as harsh chemicals and are better for air quality and family health.
Don’t have the proper equipment or knowledge to treat your soft floor surfaces? You can depend on a local cleaning company near you and use the help of professional cleaners to get your home thoroughly cleaned. They can provide hot water carpet extraction, traffic pattern rejuvenation, and spot and stain removal.
Fast-drying carpet cleaning will ensure you don’t have to wait long for your carpets to dry. Ask your landlord what they think about a particular situation, but be honest and polite to get the best results.
2. If you are a Landlord
It’s the landlord’s responsibility to arrange and pay for residential carpet cleaning services unless significant damage or stains have occurred. For example, if a tenant left the carpet stained, dirty, and/or ripped, the carpet would be damaged beyond normal wear and tear. The landlord could deduct carpet cleaning costs from the security deposit.
Most professional cleaners and carpet manufacturers will recommend getting your tenant’s carpets cleaned annually to protect the soft floor surfaces from normal wear and tear. What is normal wear and tear? It is defined as being “the reasonable use of the premises by the tenant and the ordinary operation of natural forces.” Therefore, this is caused naturally through everyday use. Typical examples in a tenant’s unit could be the gradual fading of the carpet color, slight scrapes in a hardwood floor, or wearing of the water taps with the time.
Damage significantly affects the look and usability of the object. You need to fix it. As a landlord, you want to ensure that your property is kept in great shape, and damage should be addressed quickly and efficiently. If you have to charge for the carpet cleaning or damage repair, make sure to provide a copy of the receipt in their itemized deductions of the security deposit. That will help to avoid the stress of dealing with unhappy tenants and possible complaints.
Now that you’re ready to get service, you can follow this easy process to ensure that the carpets in your property are getting cleaned on time.
- You can create a reminder that your annual maintenance is needed. The reminder can also be that you will be expecting a new tenant.
- Contact your local carpet cleaning company to schedule an appointment.
- You give your tenant a notice that the service is going to be completed.
- Meet your carpet cleaner at the location and point out any areas of concern.
- Have your carpets cleaned and let your tenants know that their carpet cleaning services have been completed. Also, let them know that the soft floor surfaces will dry in approximately 2 to 4 hours.
- Set a reminder in your calendar for next year to get the carpets cleaned again for yearly maintenance and protection.
- Last but not least, keep your tenants informed of any changes. And make sure to include the carpet cleaning clause in the rental agreement.
These are the general guidelines we suggest using for your carpet cleaning. However, if you have any questions, please reach out to your Landlord or Property Manager.
