Renters in New South Wales could be losing up to $191m in forfeited bonds due to properties that weren’t properly cleaned at the end of their leases, according to a new study by UrbanYou, an online platform that allows customers to book household cleaning services.
One in five of renters (19%) in NSW lose an average of $1,224 of their bonds at the hands of landlords who claim that properties weren’t cleaned properly when they were vacated. With 821,830 rentals bonds currently lodged in the state, this could mean a loss of $191m.
According to Elke Keeley, co-founder of UrbanYou, renters are being called out for trivial missteps, such as tile mould and greasy ovens.
“We realised this was a growing problem among customers when it comes to end of lease,” Keeley said. “Sometimes customers leave it too late and don’t have time to clean properly, but more often than not, it’s landlords looking for an excuse to hold onto some of the bond.
“We find many customers are being pulled up for trivial things like a greasy oven or a stain in the carpet. In our experience, the majority of these things are quickly resolved and don’t warrant the hefty fines being passed down to consumers via rental bond disputes.”
To ensure that they get their bonds back, tenants should consider hiring a professional cleaning company to give the property a thorough end-of-lease clean. Areas that should be targeted for cleaning include oven and stove tops, walls and light switches, as well as carpets and toilets.
For tenants who prefer to do the cleaning on their own, UrbanYou recommends thoroughly cleaning carpets, removing mould from bathroom tiles and surfaces, as well as scouring cupboards and drawers, as these areas are commonly targeted by eagle eyed agents.
Related Stories:
Top 10 Cosmetic Renos For An Investment Property
More Rental Homes Should Be Pet-Friendly
