Another one for WhingeBargain.
Booked one month ago with a cleaning company to do a vacate clean on the 20th of July.
Called today to confirm with cleaning company and get told "oh, we were supposed to call you last Friday and let you know we can no longer do it as we have been re-contracted for a big job."
I summoned my inner Karen and told them it was unprofessional and that it puts me in a really hard position now etc etc.
I struggled to find a cleaning company when I booked it then, and now I've called dozens of cleanings mobs and no one can do it on such short notice.
What would you do in this situation? Keep in mind that the real estate agent wants the house professionally cleaned but I have not explained the situation to them.
Cleaning Company Cancelled My Booking for a Vacate Clean
Gauntlet on 13/07/2020 - 11:58
Comments
If the agent insists on a "professional" job, i.e. a receipt is needed, that might be an issue.
Is it even legal for them to insist? OP might want to check with tenancy laws in their state.
If the rental has carpets, then it needs to be professionally steam cleaned to get the bond back. That's standard pretty much in all rental agreements.
Not so sure they can insist whole house to be professional cleaned unless it is in the rental agreement.I don't think its a blanket "must" - depends whether professional carpet clean was done before move-in date.
https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/renting/ending-a-tenancy/bond-ref…
If the carpets were cleaned to a certain standard at the start of the tenancy, the tenant must ensure the carpets are cleaned to that same standard at the end of the tenancy.
The property manager/owner cannot require the tenant to:
- purchase goods or services (e.g. a carpet cleaning service)
- use a specific carpet cleaning service
- pay a set fee for carpet cleaning
The above is about carpet tho, not house cleaning.
The REA will say it's standard and a must but that doesn't make it so. They will tell you all kinds of fibs.
You must take into account the age of the carpet, and if pets were involved.
If the rental has carpets, then it needs to be professionally steam cleaned to get the bond back.
Also depends on what state you're in. This requirement is illegal in NSW.
Our current landlord tried to slip that clause in, but removed it when I pointed out they cannot require it.
Src: https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2010/42/part2/div2…
(2) Terms having the following effects must not be included in a residential tenancy agreement—
(a) that the tenant must have the carpet professionally cleaned, or pay the cost of such cleaning, at the end of the tenancy,
just ask the REA who they use
I would suggest airtasker as many people there do such jobs as their job and are cleaners/property maintainers etc. Make it known that you need a cleaning company though and I'm sure you'll find someone. However, be specific with what you need as I always find that no matter where you find people they'll do the minimum so go through stuff that professional cleaners have listed as required on exit-cleans…
Most agents will have their preferred company (often owned by the agent). I would suggest given them a try if you have not already.
You can try using the app Whizz. It's like Uber of cleaning.
What company did OP ask to do the clean?
What ever you do don’t go with REA cleaners. The REA will charge a markup on the quote.
Not always
Please name one REA that doesn't profit from hiring cleaners for tenants or landlords.
THIS!
The REA will either own the cleaning company
or
will get a kick back for sending them the work (and the cleaners will charge you for that kickback)this is never not the case when you use agent recommended / suggested cleaner/gardeners etc
In this case OP might not have a choice if they cannot get another cleaning company to come in.
Let the agency take care of it with their cleaning company and pay the premium.
If there is a problem with the clean put it back on the agency.You can compare the premium to other quotes to see if it is worth your time or stress, especially in the situation OP is in.
Real estate agent can not force you to have it cleaned professionally. It simply has to be in the state it was in when you moved in.
I struggled to find a cleaning company when I booked it then, and now I've called dozens of cleanings mobs and no one can do it on such short notice.
Every man and his dog is after increased cleaning/clearers at this stage.
You're once off job isn't worth their time to most cleaning companies now when they can get massive jobs cleaning everything the public touches.
As others have said, try using airtasker or just posting on your local facebook buy/swap page for a cleaner. Or gasp do it yourself.
- I'm in Victoria
- No Carpet
I was not aware that you do not legally need to use a cleaning company for a vacate, I'm not sure why I was under that impression, might just do it myself and save a few bucks.
Yeah just do it properly. Set aside a lot of time to clean and dust everything.
If possible get a friend (or enemy) to critique your work!
If you DIY make sure you get a final inspection when you can be present. Will give you the opportunity to correct anything the RE finds to be a problem.
If you don’t get a pro clean RE are notorious for finding issues to prevent giving all the bond back. I had one RE complain about some residue in a frypan I hadn’t used (furnished apartment) and another tell me to clean out the window tracks in an investment property where I was the landlord. 5min jobs that they would have charged a lot to get a pro cleaner in to do if I wasn’t able.
When I moved out of my rental in 2018 I DIY'd the job. It took me 2 days of hard slog (and it wasn't that dirty) but the place was immaculate when I moved in and slightly better when I moved out.
It was a fully furnished apartment so the clean was slightly more difficult as you had to work around the furniture, wash sheets, make beds, pull crap out of the kitchen cupboards, clean and repack, etc.
I got my $3200 bond back without issue.
Check your rental agreement to see if it stipulates that your carpets must be professionally cleaned at the end of your lease. Mine all have, and it’s the only thing I pay fir when moving out.
With cleaning the house, I’ve done it myself for lots of properties and never had a problem. It’s not a hard job, and most REAs will send you a vacate cleaning letter which tells you what they expect done - clean range hood filters, remove cobwebs from outside of windows, mow lawns etc.
If you are in SE Vic I have a contact who is a professional cleaner (carpets and vacate clean) if you get stuck. Can’t guarantee they will be free but can recommend their work.
Explain the situation to the agent. You booked it and it was cancelled, not your fault. If no one is willing to take on the job, roll up your sleeves mate. I cleaned at least 3 units myself and got all the bond back, so it's doable. If the agent insists on a "professional" job, i.e. a receipt is needed, that might be an issue.