How Long Should an End of Tenancy Clean Take?

It is necessary to perform end of tenancy cleaning when tenants leave a rented home. This type of cleaning involves thoroughly cleaning the house to ensure that it is in a satisfactory condition for the landlord or rental agent. The success of this cleaning process is crucial because it determines whether the tenant will receive their entire deposit back.

Although end of tenancy cleaning is important, it can be a daunting and time-consuming task, especially if the house is large or has not been well-maintained throughout the tenancy. However, tenants can effectively plan their cleaning process if they know how long an end of tenancy cleaning should take.

In this article, we will discuss the duration of an end of tenancy cleaning and the factors that influence this time frame. We will also provide some helpful tips to save time and ensure a quick and efficient cleaning process.

Factors That Determine the Duration of End of Tenancy Cleaning

Many factors determine how long it will take to carry out an end of tenancy cleaning. Some of these factors include the following:

Size of the Property

One of the key factors that determine how long an end of tenancy cleaning should take is the size of the property. Generally, a large house will require more time to clean than a small one.

For instance, it will probably take less time to clean a one-bedroom apartment than a four-bedroom house with multiple bathrooms and living rooms. This is because a larger property simply has more room to clean and more areas that require attention.

The design of the home may also have an impact on how long the end of tenancy cleaning takes. For instance, it might take longer to clean a house with multiple floors or a complicated layout than a house with only one floor and a simple layout.

When planning an end of tenancy cleaning, it’s important to think about how big the property is so that you can set aside enough time for the job. It is better to overestimate how long it will take to complete the end of tenancy cleaning than to underestimate and leave the house in a bad state.

Cleanliness Level

The level of cleanliness of a home before doing end of tenancy cleaning can significantly affect how long the cleaning takes. Cleaning will take less time if the property is generally clean and well-kept than if it has been ignored or cared for poorly.

It is important to understand that tenants are responsible for leaving the home tidy and clean at the end of their tenancy. If they don’t, their security deposit might be withdrawn from them, or they might face legal consequences.

The presence of stains, filth, dirt, and dust is one of the factors that affect how clean a property is. If the property hasn’t been cleaned frequently, these elements will build up and take more time to completely clean.

Type of Cleaning

Different types of cleaning may be required during end of tenancy cleaning, ranging from a light clean to a deep clean. The one you opt for will depend on the condition of your property.

After the tenant has taken good care of the property, it usually needs just a basic clean. In most cases, this usually involves dusting, floor cleaning, and wiping down surfaces. Usually, a light clean can be finished in a few hours.

On the other hand, a property that has not been properly maintained throughout the tenancy requires a deep clean. This kind of cleaning is deeper and involves thoroughly cleaning the entire house. A deep clean can involve wiping down the interior of cupboards and drawers, cleaning the oven, and cleaning the bathroom grout. A team of cleaners may be needed to finish a deep clean within a day or two because it can take much longer than a light clean.

A property could occasionally need specialised cleaning, including carpet or window cleaning. When predicting how long the cleaning will take, these sorts of cleaning should be taken into account because they can add extra time to the total cleaning procedure.

Availability of Cleaning Supplies and Equipment

If you don’t have the necessary tools and supplies on hand, cleaning might take longer and be harder. With the right cleaning tools and supplies, you can do a thorough and good job of cleaning.

For instance, a vacuum with different attachments might make it simpler to clean awkward spaces, like in corners and behind furniture. Similarly, you may need a mop and bucket to clean the floor, and different cleaning products are needed for different surfaces and materials.

Use of more robust cleaning tools, such as a carpet cleaner or steam cleaner, may be required if the tenant left the property in a messy condition. In such instances, the availability of this equipment will affect the time of the cleaning operation.

How Much Time is Needed for an End of Tenancy Cleaning?

You have two end of tenancy cleaning options: you can either hire an end of tenancy cleaning service or do it yourself. Ensure you check your rental agreement ahead of time to know if your landlord wants you to hire a licensed end of tenancy cleaning service.

Professional End of Tenancy Cleaning Company

An end of tenancy cleaning can usually be done by a professional cleaning service in a few hours to a full day. It could take about 4-5 hours to clean a tiny, one-bedroom apartment. A larger home, such as a three-bedroom house, could require up to eight hours of cleaning or even longer, depending on its condition.

Do-It-Yourself

You are free to handle the end of tenancy cleaning yourself as long as it isn’t specified in the rental agreements. You might even believe more in yourself than the cleaning services if you’re adept at cleaning. It’s important to keep in mind that it will probably take you a lot longer.

It could take a non-professional 8–10 hours to finish the cleaning on their own for a tiny one-bedroom residence. However, larger homes, such as a 3-bedroom house, could require 12–15 hours of cleaning or more.

Professional cleaning services use high-quality cleaning products that you can’t usually find in stores. They also have a lot of experience cleaning rental homes and know what landlords look for when they do inspections.

Why End of Tenancy Cleaning Takes More Time Than Regular Cleaning

There are many end of tenancy cleaning tasks that your regular cleaner can’t help with. A regular cleaner just can’t help with tasks like cleaning the grout and the insides of cabinets, drawers and restoring fixtures covered in limescale to their former state.

Hence, due to these numerous tasks, end of tenancy cleaning will always take much longer than a regular cleaning would. However, an end of tenancy cleaning company is there to make the house as good as new.

Conclusion

The duration of an end of tenancy clean can be influenced by the size of the property, the level of cleanliness required, and the type of cleaning necessary. Cleaning a property can take a few hours to a full day, depending on its size and complexity.

However, you can reduce the time and effort required for an end of tenancy clean by using time-saving techniques such as prioritising high-traffic areas, creating a checklist, and hiring a professional end of tenancy cleaning service.

It is important to note that the main goal of an end of tenancy clean is to restore the property to its original condition to avoid any disputes or deductions from your security deposit.