Cleaning tops tenancy deposit claims for fifth year running

Perhaps because the cost of professional cleaning rises for all the usual reasons, which tenants fail to appreciate.

I only had a tenant give me keys back yesterday.
Let me know if this was clean or not:
https://youtu.be/Qs6fZtij4CA?si=_nznf-qxtAET-1bM

I have properties professionally cleaned at the beginning of the tenancy (£300+)which is noted on the inventory and the Tenancy Agreement states that the property must be returned “cleaned to a professional standard” (not some quick once over by the tenants). Therefore I should never need to pay for cleaning again and rarely have an issue.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 16/06/2026 – 10:47
Absolutely shocking.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 16/06/2026 – 10:47
I think you’re being a bit unfair Mick – the tenants did have a vacuum cleaner propping up the wall and a bucket in the front garden, they just couldn’t find them!! 😀

Just had tenants move out and one set of curtains in the bedroom is mouldy and dirty, probably due to lack of ventilation in winter. They claimed that cleaning curtains is not the tenants responsibility.
During the inventory checkout tenant already searching on his phone to find proof that they are not liable, even though it says so in the tenancy agreement and inventory notes.
So now having to go through deposit dispute.
Also they wrecked a dishwasher that only had one year of use. No explanation why the bottom of the worktop and the door to the integrated appliance has water damage.
I think every landlord just wants the property returned in same condition minus wear and tear of course. Press always makes out we are trying to keep the deposits but in my opinion it is not worth the paperwork in most cases to go through a dispute and in most cases I have let things go as it is not worth my time.
Had another property where tenant smoked and the property was so saturated that we could not let it afterwards without a deep smoke removal clean. They were adamant they did not smoke and despite the evidence from the cleaning company the deposit admin believed the tenants.
Landlord / Tenant relationships are two tier like everything else in this country atm.

Reply to the comment left by Karen at 16/06/2026 – 11:55

She was totally oblivious & asked for her deposit back.
Said she can’t move all her stuff & her rubbish, she’s on her own u know,
They have no responsibility to do the right thing & then we get hit with this:

I’ll keep saying it to hope some common sense MP takes this up and actually wants to help tenants, and not getting votes hurting Landlords:

April 2026 Govt now fining us £7000 each tenant for every RRA act letter we cannot prove we’ve gave to the tenant-In ten years time. We get fined £7000 for an admin error for a letter the tenant can get off the internet just like we have to. This time Govt gone too far. We Housing Providers. Many of us don’t want the houses & only keeping for the tenant. And you want to fine us £7000 for an error where no one has got hurt?

£7000 for a paperwork error each tenant & even if you have gave em the sheets, if you lose your proof, you’ve had it. I can stab someone & get less. Parking ticket £60. No car insurance £200. Letter that tenants not bothered about £7000?

Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 16/06/2026 – 11:57
Ooh I missed the bucket.

Reply to the comment left by Karen at 16/06/2026 – 12:02
If the curtains were shown as new or cleaned at the beginning of the tenancy by an independent inventory clerk then the tenants are liable to have the curtains cleaned to a professional standard if it says so.It’s a contract they have signed so just refuse to release their deposit.
In future I will be letting property in Africa. Landlords/agents withhold all deposits (3 times the monthly rent) even if no damage done.If rent is late they padlock the front door (windows are barred) and turn off all water and power.Then they sell the tenant’s belongings.It concentrates the tenant’s mind and sounds fair to me. We are now catering for the “entitled ” minority.

Reply to the comment left by David at 13:33
I live in South Africa and have been a BTL investor in the UK for almost 20 years. I hate it. But I could say the same for any property I used to own in my own country. I sold all 12 properties before Covid because the laws protecting tenants here are not much different to those in the UK. I am NOT allowed to lock tenants out, switch off water or electricity nor permitted to “harass” them for unpaid rental or interfere with their right to stay in my property till due process has been exhausted legally through the courts. If I were to do so it would be considered a criminal offence with a jail sentence of up to two years, hefty fines and the possibility of a civil action bought against me by the tenant. Tenants are as protected here as they are in the UK. They can contest an eviction, ensuring an 18 month delay, which usually takes between 5 and 8 months if uncontested. Do your research carefully. Nothing you have stated in your comment has validity. Fortunately in South Africa property is still a reasonably robust market so selling is quite achievable. Here we do not have the archaic practices of ground rent, extortionate service charges, cladding issues, bad building standards etc. And SA building companies, liable for shoddy work, are held accountable by the professional bodies they have to be members of right up to CEO level in his personal capacity. We certainly don’t have the plethora of scandals around the built environment that the UK does.
And a SA judgement for costs against a tenant is the mandatory 30 years as for all unpaid debts.