Can a landlord charge for cleaning?

Landlords can find themselves in many undesirable situations. Being faced with a property that hasn’t been well looked after and needs a deep clean is definitely one of them.

It can be very frustrating when tenants don’t look after a property as you would. So, can a landlord charge for cleaning?

Typically, no – a landlord cannot charge for cleaning. This was introduced by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Let’s explain.

The Tenant Fees Act 2019

The Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into effect to protect tenants against being subjected to unfair fees from landlords. As a result, the only payments that a landlord can charge in connection with a tenancy are:

• The rent
• A refundable tenancy deposit
• A refundable holding deposit
• Payments associated with early termination of the tenancy
• Payments to change the tenancy
• Utility bills, TV licence & council tax
• Late rent fees and replacement of the key/security device where required under a tenancy agreement.

Anything not on this list, such as cleaning, is a prohibited payment.

Breaching the Tenant Fees Act 2019

If you breach the Tenant Fees Act 2019 by charging unlawful fees, you could be fined up to £5,000 per breach. This remains the same even if all instances relate to the same tenancy. If you were found to have multiple breaches within a five year period, you could be fined up to £30,000. You could even face a criminal conviction and placement on the government’s register of rogue landlords and letting agents.

Are there any exceptions to this rule?

So, when asking can a landlord charge a cleaning fee, is the answer a hard no? Not exactly. Of course, if your property was left in incredibly unclean condition, it doesn’t fall on your shoulders to foot the professional cleaner bill. If we’re talking beyond reasonable wear and tear, you may be able to deduct a reasonable amount from your tenant’s deposit to cover professional cleaning costs.

Additionally, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 that protects tenants against unfair fees from landlords only applies to tenancies that started after June 1st 2020. So, if your tenancy started before this date, you may still be able to charge for professional cleaning if it’s clearly stated within your tenancy agreement.

Remaining reasonable and justified over cleaning fees

Any cleaning charges must be reasonable and justified. If you do decide to push forward and ask your tenant to cover a professional cleaning fee, the more evidence you have to support your case, the better.

That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a detailed inventory of photographs from the very start of the tenancy and photographs from the end to compare the property’s condition. This can also help you determine what might be fair wear and tear versus damage.

Your photographic inventory should cover all appliances and white goods, fixtures, fittings, carpets and walls.
Also, help your tenant to help you. Provide them with check-in and check-out procedures. This ensures that they understand what it is expected of them when it comes to cleaning the property.

How much can a landlord charge for cleaning?

If the cleanliness of your rental property doesn’t meet your requirements ready for your next tenants to move in, you may need to get a professional cleaning company in to help you remedy the situation.

The average end of tenancy cleaning cost in the UK is about £300, however this will depend on the size of your property and your location.

It’s essential for you to understand the rules around charging a cleaning fee. Getting it wrong can result in disputes and legal issues. That being said, it takes a lot to trust your investment to your tenants and when they don’t treat your property, fixtures and fittings with the care that you would, it can be a difficult pill to swallow.

Make sure your property and the items you provide within it are covered with landlord insurance and landlord content insurance. Get covered for accidental and malicious damage and enjoy the peace of mind that should you need to replace items at the end of a tenancy, you have the right cover in place to allow you to do so.

For more information about landlord insurance, contact CIA Landlords for the best quotes around.