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What is a Standard Clean? Here at Scrubs, one of the most frequently asked questions we receive is to explain the difference between a standard and a deep clean. Simply put, standard domestic cleaning is what you would do on a consistent basis to keep your home clean and tidy. This includes things like: Overall, it is more of a surface level clean with its objective of maintaining a relatively consistent level of cleanliness of the property.  What is a Deep Clean A deep clean is a much more detailed and thorough clean, which is performed less regularly than a standard clean, usually every 3 months. It might be carried out before hosting friends or family, when coming to the end of tenancy or just having been a long period since the last deep clean. As well as everything included in the standard clean, it will also include things like: The objective of a deep clean is not significantly improve the level of cleanliness within the property. Prices Most cleaning providers offer an hourly rate for a standard clean and a fixed price for a deep clean. In London, on average, standard clean prices generally range between an hourly rate of £15 to £25. Deep cleans on the other hand work out to range from £25-£35/hr. WARNING: Some cleaning providers will offer a fixed price which initially looks cheap but will charge for hidden add-ons such as parking or VAT. Make sure you check this when making a booking.  Is it worth paying for a professional? Cleaning can be an expense that people prefer to save, especially when finances are tight like during the Cost of Living Crisis. Whereas you’ll probably be able to perform a standard domestic clean to a reasonable standard, deep cleans might be trickier to get right. Certain areas such as oven cleaning, removing limescale in the bathrooms and removing marks from soft wood, will likely require some expertise to do successfully and without damage.  Conclusion Overall, in order to live in a clean home you will need both Standard and Deep Cleans throughout the course your stay. Generally, it is a good idea to have a standard clean every week and a deep clean every 3 months. Whereas standard cleans can be performed by anyone, it might be best to pay for a professional deep clean. Prices will vary depending on the city or region that you reside. Expect them to be more when living in cities such as London.  If it’s time to have your property cleaned, why not Contact Us  or receive a Quick Quote.

Introduction So, it’s coming to the end of your tenancy. You’ve taken care not to damage your property throughout the year and want to be certain that on move-out day you’ll receive your entire deposit back from your landlord, without any hassle. Every day, there is one final hurdle that thousands of outgoing tenants trip up on and pay heavily for. Property cleanliness, or lack thereof, is far and away the no. 1 reason for deposit disputes between landlords and tenants. Here, we’ll provide you with you with everything you need to know to understand the End of Tenancy Cleaning process, so you can receive your deposit back without the stress. Understanding your Responsibility As a tenant, you have a responsibility to leave the property in the same condition it was found when first moving in, less fair wear and tear. Fair Wear and Tear is the landlord’s responsibility, not the tenants. It refers to natural damage caused by normal day-to-day living and natural forces. Examples of fair wear and tear include: Aside from Fair Wear and Tear, it is the tenant’s responsibility to ensure that the levels of cleanliness are the same as when they moved into the property. In order to objectively compare the condition of the property pre and post tenancy, agencies rely on an inventory report What’s an inventory report? An inventory report is completed by an independent company on behalf of the estate agency or landlord. It is a detail assessment of the properties condition at a given time The cleanliness and condition detailed at check-in will be compared against the cleanliness and condition on check-out. All differences will be noted in the report and sent to the Estate Agent or Landlord. If it is deemed that these differences fall outside the wear and tear category, and that the tenant is responsible for this deterioration in cleanliness, the amount required to reverse this deterioration is taken from the tenant’s deposit. Note: If the landlord deems that the property needs to be re-cleaned it is likely they will pay a premium so that this is performed immediately, the cost of which is taken from the deposit of the outgoing tenant.  How to avoid failing your inventory check-out When it comes to End of Tenancy Cleaning, it is best to leave it to the professionals. Although there can be no obligation placed upon the tenant to pay for the service, rather than doing it themselves, it is very likely that if they opt for the later, they will fail the inventory report. Items such as the oven, dishwasher, radiators, extractor fans and many others inside a property can be tricky to clean if you don’t possess the proper equipment and expertise. As mentioned above, if the report is failed it is also inevitable that the amount taken from the deposit will be significantly more than the cost of booking a high-quality End of Tenancy clean in the first place. How to select your End of Tenancy Cleaners There are many providers that offer End of Tenancy cleaning services. However, WATCH OUT, it is believed that over 30% of ‘professional’ end of tenancy cleans actually FAIL the report. Hence, it is crucial to select the right cleaning provider.  The 3 most important factors to look out for: How can I ensure my End of Tenancy clean is successful? As well as selecting the correct provider, there are various things you can do to ensure your End of Tenancy clean is a successful one.  The first is to make sure your property is prepared as per the cleaning providers requirements. This usually involves removing personal belongings from the property, ensuring that they have access into the property at the agreed time and that electricity and hot water is on. If the cleaning provider does not mention anything it’s worth asking what needs to be done Secondly, you should make sure the property is in reasonable condition for the clean. It’s very important to know, YOU CANNOT NEGLECT CLEANING A PROPERTY FOR AN ENTIRE TENANCY AND THEN EXPECT ALL TO LOOK BRAND NEW WITH ONE END OF TENANCY CLEAN. It’s important to stay on top of it, and if you have let cleanliness standard slide it’s crucial to let the cleaning provider know ahead of the clean so they allocate sufficient resources to the job. The last thing you want is for them to be rushing to finish.  Another good idea is to send your cleaning provider the inventory check-in report ahead of the clean. This will allow them to identify any problem areas and ensure they come fully prepared for the clean. What if I do everything and still have an issue raised? If you follow our guide on preparing your property and selecting the right provider, you shouldn’t have a problem. If you do, then you need to make a judgement about whether the cleaning provider or the landlord are in the wrong. Occasionally, landlords and estate agents will attempt to get tenants to cover expenses for general wear and tear. Remember, this is not the tenant’s responsibility! One example of this is mould in the bathroom. Often, when mould starts growing in damp areas, rather than having it removed properly and ensuring there is sufficient ventilation, a landlord will slap on some paint to cover it. When the next unsuspecting tenant experiences rapid mould growth during the stay, the landlord will argue this is the tenant or the cleaning providers responsibility. IT IS NOT! Although surface level mould might be easily removable, generally it requires special treatment and the landlord should pay this. If they refuse, take it to small claims court and 9/10 times they will pay the deposit back. If the inventory check-out report fails, the best approach is to compare it to the check-in report and figure out whether it’s reasonable to judge you as the culprit.  Conclusion Overall, the process of moving property can be a stressful one. The last thing tenants want to worry