Most leases I’ve seen require tenants to leave the property “broom clean” when they move out. But one person’s “immaculate” is another person’s “broom clean.”
A quick search found two online real estate glossaries that put it like this:
• “Ready to be cleaned and painted. The term does not mean immaculate or spotless or even necessarily clean.”
• “The ideal condition of a building when it is turned over to an owner or tenant.”
As you can see, these definitions are not hard-and-fast rules. I’ve seen some post-tenant cleanups so spotless that I felt guilty as the landlord. The carpet had been shampooed, kitchen and bathroom floors mopped and waxed, bathroom fixtures were sanitized, and various other tasks completed that I didn’t even expect from the tenant moving out.
They would indicate they wanted to make sure they got all their deposit back. These were the tenants you wanted to keep, of course.
I had one bachelor move out, and it was an amazing event when I did the walk-through with him before he moved. He was grinning ear to ear over his “housecleaning.”
The kitchen had crumbs throughout; the bathtub had a film of soap scum, and mildew had made its way into every crevice of the shower stall; there were fleas throughout — I was one of those benevolent landlords who allowed pets. A broom had not passed over the balcony or storage closet in some time.
I could only imagine what the place must have looked like before he “cleaned.”
When does a landlord keep some of the deposit? Actually, there are no rules or regulations that determine this. It also depends on a comparison of the walk-through sheet when the unit was first rented and what it looked like at the end of the lease.
If the dwelling had undergone normal wear and tear, the full deposit would be returned.
Normal usually means that when the tenant moves out, the unit needs a deep cleaning, that there are no holes in the walls except for picture nails and that the flooring has not been overly damaged.
Rentlaw.com has a great, free walk-through form in a Microsoft Word document that includes this checklist, which can be used by both the landlord and the potential tenant.
It makes sense to look over the unit very carefully and be particular about every little mark, scuff or missing tile. Make notes on the condition of each room. Look for:
• Scratches in hardwood floors.
• Burn marks or tears in carpets.
• Missing tiles in bathroom.
• Ripped screens in windows or missing glass.
• Holes or scratches in walls; pinholes or patched areas.
• Note faded paint, rubbed-off paint.
• Burn marks or scratches on counters. Rub your hand along the counter if it’s clean.
• Loose fixtures on ceilings or walls.
• Make sure all outlets have covers and receptacles.
• Heat and, if provided, air conditioning. Turn on the units.
• Kitchen stove. Turn it on; inspect for cleanliness.
• Refrigerator, icebox and main area. Is it cold? Clean?
• Kitchen cabinet scratches, cleanliness, grime.
• Kitchen exhaust fan. Turn it on. Are filters clean?
• Bathtubs and showers. Turn them on, check hot and cold water, water pressure, cracks, grime.
• Toilet-paper holder.
• Does the toilet flush?
A tenant should be sure to pull out this form when moving out to see what has happened over the time of rental. It could be what gets your deposit back.
As for the landlord, this form can help recover expenses you’ll incur to get the unit ready for the next tenant.
• M. Anthony Carr has written about real estate for more than 15 years. Reach him by e-mail (manthonycarr@erols.com).
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