End of tenancy cleaning
End of tenancy cleaning, (EOT) is one of the most common types of professional cleaning there is, it's not rocket science but it is labour intensive and involves every inch of a property being thoroughly cleaned. The aim of end of tenancy cleaning is to prepare a property for re-letting once an existing tenancy has expired and the property has been vacated. EOT cleaning should not be confused with pre-tenancy cleaning which is in fact a very light clean that is carried out a day or so before new tenants move into a property.
EOT cleaning can be very lucrative for cleaning contractors as the majority of clients for this type of cleaning are landlords and letting agencies who are likely to provide repeat business if they are satisfied with the work.
The actual amount of work necessary for an EOT clean varies greatly from job to job and often depends on the type of tenants that occupied a property and the age of the property. Generally professional tenants and families tend to leave a property reasonably clean but students and tenants in multiple occupation often leave it very unclean. So if you are considering EOT cleaning don't be tempted to offer a fixed price service to your clients or you may find it difficult to make a living from it. Most EOT contractors charge by the hour, currently around £10 per man hour with a minimum charge of about £30. This does not include services such as disposal of bulky items, carpet cleaning or oven cleaning which is generally sub-contracted to specialists.
EOT cleaning is best performed in teams of two or more as furniture has to be moved around which would be difficult for just one person. It also makes good sense to invest man-hours in a job so that it can be completed in one working day thus cutting down on travel times.
The standard of EOT cleaning required by landlords and letting agents is generally very high, so a well-structured plan needs to be in place to prevent "call backs". The easiest way to achieve a good standard is by firstly; ensuring all cleaners are adequate trained and secondly; through the use of a standardised check list for each job. The checklist will direct cleaners through the job as they mark off any completed tasks, it will also provide a visual f the job as a whole. Once the checklist has been fully completed the team should sign it off after a quick inspection by the most senior cleaner.
No special equipment is required for EOT cleaning so entry costs are minimal however letting agencies and landlords generally prefer to employ contractors who can offer a one stop service, so if a property does requires additional specialised cleaning such as, carpet cleaning, oven cleaning or disposal of unwanted items they will expect you to arrange this. So make sure you have a list of sub contactors that you can rely on to do this for you, but make sure these expenses are invoiced separately to your EOT cleaning.
Below is a typical schedule for an EOT cleaning job, the tasks are ordered and every effort should be made to follow this order, a tick sheet produced form this schedule should also be ordered in the same way.
General
Clear and dispose of all rubbish and unwanted items from the property, including bedding, food, clothes, pots, pans ect. If you are unsure whether something should be thrown away or kept, check with the landlord. Clearing things away first will give you more time to concentrate on the cleaning.
Always start at the top of a house or the rear of a flat and work your way towards the front door where possible as this will prevent you walking back thorough any cleaned areas.
It is always easier to start with the bedrooms and living rooms first as these tend to be quicker to clean than the bathroom and kitchen which generally take the most time, the hall stairs and landing should be cleaned last.
Bedrooms
In bedrooms use a fragranced neutral cleaner such as Evans high class which does not need to be wiping down after use and starting from ceiling level, clean your way down to the floor
- Remove all cobwebs.
- Dust all high level surfaces such as dado rails and the tops of doorframes.
- Move all furniture away from walls.
- Dust all low level surfaces such as window frames, skirting boards and radiators.
- Clean furniture inside and out.
- Clean under the mattress of any beds.
- Wipe off grime and marks from all surfaces with a cleaning agent.
- Vacuum the floor including underneath and behind any furniture.
- Replace furniture in its original positions.
- Clean window frames and polish glass and mirrors.
- Close all windows and doors to prevent dust from re-entering the room.
Living room
In bedrooms use a fragranced neutral cleaner such as Evans High Class which does not need to be wiping down after use and starting from ceiling level, clean your way down to the floor
- Remove all cobwebs.
- Dust all high level surfaces such as dado rails and tops of doorframes.
- Move all furniture away from walls.
- Dust all low level surfaces such as window frames, skirting boards and radiators.
- Clean furniture inside and out.
- Clean any sofas including underneath any cushions.
- Clean grime and marks on all surfaces such as doors, window frames and skirting boards.
- Vacuum the floor including under and behind the furniture.
- Replace furniture in it original position.
- Clean window frames and polish glass and mirrors.
- Close all windows and doors to prevent dust from entering the room.
Kitchen
In a kitchen use a fragrance free cleaner such as Evans Lift which is excellent for cutting through grease and contains a bactericide. Before you starting cleaning the kitchen decide if specialised oven cleaning is required, if so arrange for a sub contractor to complete this first. Again starting from ceiling level, clean your way down to the floor.
- Remove all cobwebs.
- Clean all high level surfaces such as tops of cupboards and doorframes.
- Thoroughly clean cupboard and drawers in side and out.
- Degrease tiles and treat any mould on the grout with a fungicide such as bleach.
- Clean oven and cooker inside and out including all racks and trays.
- Clean extractor.
- Clean washing machine inside and out including door seals soap drawers and filters.
- Clean fridge in side and out including all racks and trays (these can be quickly cleaned in a bath full of soapy water). Leave fridge switched on to prevent mould.
- Clean all appliances including kettle and toaster.
- Clean microwave inside and out.
- Clean sink and remove any lime scale with an acid based cleaning agent, polish taps.
- Clean grime and marks from all surfaces such as doors, window frames and skirting boards.
- Clean all worktops.
- Clean window frames and glass.
- Mop the floor only when you are about to exit the property as you will be in and out of the kitchen for water ect for other tasks.
- Close all windows and doors to prevent dust from re-entering the room.
Bathroom
In a bathroom use an acid based cleaner such as Evans Clean Fast or High-phos as they are good for cutting through body fat and lime scale which is commonly found in bathrooms. Again starting from ceiling level, clean your way down to the floor.
- Remove any cobweb.
- Clean all high level surfaces such as tops of cupboards and doorframes.
- Clean tiles and treat any mould on the grout with a fungicide such as bleach.
- Clean bath or shower cubicle in side and out, remove any lime scale from taps. Shower heads ect.
- Clean any cupboards inside and out.
- Clean and de-scale the toilet inside and out.
- Clean grime and marks on all surfaces such as doors, window frames and skirting boards.
- Polish mirrors and chrome.
- Clean window frames and glass.
- Close all windows and doors to prevent dust from re-entering the room.
- Mop or vacuum floor depending on the type of floor covering.
Halls stairs and landing
In this area use a fragranced neutral cleaner such as Evans high class which does not need to be wiping down after use and starting from ceiling level, clean your way down to the floor
- Remove all cobwebs,
- Dust all high level surfaces such as dado rails and tops of doorframes.
- Dust all low level surfaces such as banisters, spindles, skirting boards and radiators.
- Clean grime and marks on all surfaces such as doors, walls, window frames and skirting boards.
- Vacuum the floor including under and behind any furniture and mats.
- Clean and polish any glass and mirrors.
- Close all windows and doors to prevent dust from entering the area.
Sounds like a lot of work but remember you are being paid by the hour so be thorough, some of these task may only take a few seconds to do, in fact reading about them takes longer than doing them.
