Cleaner/Grass Cut/Pest Control at End of Lease?

DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 21/06/2022 - 17:34
Last edited 21/06/2022 - 18:12 by 2 other users

Hey OzB team,

Need some advice on our lease agreement. My lease ends in two weeks, I have called and emailed the real estate agent today to let them know I am leaving at the end of the term.

He has told me that before I leave, I am required to:

  • Hire a professional cleaner for the house,
  • Organise a gardener to cut the grass
  • Pay for Pest control of house.

Is this normal, am I required to pay for all of this?

I've been a tenant for months and they have never inspected the property. The house is clean, there are no rodents or pests, the grass was recently cut 2 weeks ago (planning on cutting again this weekend).

I'm not sure if they are trying to get me to pay for all of this or legally I am required to pay for these services.

ANY ADVICE ON THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 21/06/2022 - 17:37
    +8

    What does the tenancy contract you signed say?

    • SF3 on 21/06/2022 - 18:13

      ^100%

      ANY ADVICE ON THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL

      OP, no need to yell.

    • DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 21/06/2022 - 18:22
      +1

      " The property must be left in reasonable clean condition compared to the original condition report, apart from 'fair wear and tear'. "

      I can't see any other details regarding cleaning/pest in the contract

      • Muzeeb on 21/06/2022 - 18:30
        +9

        Then reply to the agent.

        Hi Bozo

        Thanks for your reply.

        As per our agreement…

        The property must be left in reasonable clean condition compared to the original condition report, apart from 'fair wear and tear'.

        I have consulted with my legal team ozbargain and I wish to advice advise that I will not be engaging a professional cleaner, gardner or pest inspection.

        All the best pulling that BS with the next tenant.

        Regards
        Chimi

      • brendanm on 21/06/2022 - 18:55
        +2

        Then tell the agent to take a long walk off a short pier. PMs are scum of the earth

  • jv on 21/06/2022 - 17:39

    What does the tenancy contract you signed say?

    • pegaxs on 21/06/2022 - 17:45
      +5

      "If you have any questions about your tenancy, please refer to OzBargain for assistance."

      • brendanm on 21/06/2022 - 18:56
        +3

        That's standard in all tenancy forms and insurance PDSs these days.

  • spackbace on 21/06/2022 - 17:39
    +2

    How was the property when you moved in? Professionally clean looking?

    ADVISE

    Oh that's gonna trigger

    • pegaxs on 21/06/2022 - 17:42
      -1

      That and the comma after "ends in two weeks,". And why the hell is "Real Estate Agent" capitalised? Is it a proper noun?

  • atomX on 21/06/2022 - 17:40

    What state are you in. If NSW the professional cleaner is not a requirement.

    • CyberMurning on 21/06/2022 - 17:42
      -5

      which is stupid law.
      you live on it of course you need to clean it - professionally

      • atomX on 21/06/2022 - 17:58
        +8

        Need to leave the place as near as possible to the same condition as when it commenced. That's it.

    • DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 21/06/2022 - 18:23

      Yes, NSW

  • [Deactivated] on 21/06/2022 - 17:47
    +4

    unless those 3 things are in the contract that you signed, you are not required to do any of them. just leave the house exactly as it was when you started renting.

  • Quantumcat on 21/06/2022 - 17:50
    +4

    If you can clean the property yourself (very high standard clean, including windows, window sills, cobwebs on ceilings, walls, oven etc), you don't have to pay for someone else to do it. If you haven't caused pests to move in I can't see why you would have to pay for that. And you can mow the grass yourself.

    Have you looked at your lease though, and see if there's any mention in there?

    • Sensiekatie on 22/06/2022 - 12:08
      +2

      Pest control here in Qld is standard if pets were on the property. Sometimes permission for the.pet/s may have been given after the.lease was signed.

  • pharkurnell on 21/06/2022 - 18:01

    What does the tenancy contract you signed say?

    • DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 21/06/2022 - 18:22

      " The property must be left in reasonable clean condition compared to the original condition report, apart from 'fair wear and tear'. "

      I can't see any other details regarding cleaning/pest in the contract

      • atomX on 21/06/2022 - 18:38
        +6

        Good on you mate. Few other things:
        - take plenty of photos / video showing condition as you leave the property
        - you should be present at the final inspection, don't let the agent say you can't be there
        - apply for bond refund as soon as you can. Don't sign a blank bond release form for the agent.

        • DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 21/06/2022 - 19:06
          +1

          Thank you, this is really helpful.

          • Quantumcat on 22/06/2022 - 12:18
            +1

            @DoUKnowTheMuffinMan: Also, if you do the clean yourself don't leave the area until the agent has done their final inspection, as they might ask you to come back and remove one dead fly or wipe one tiny cobweb or something. If you have moved to another city it would be a massive pain to come back or hire someone to clean something so trivial (this is where hiring a cleaner with a bond return guarantee is helpful because they will come back for no extra charge).

  • Ocker on 21/06/2022 - 18:53
    +2

    I hope you have photo's etc of the premises at the time you took possession

    • DoUKnowTheMuffinMan on 21/06/2022 - 19:08
      +4

      Well agency did a report with literally 100+ photos that we had to sign off in our first week of moving in. It was pretty accurate representation, so I imagine those could be used as a comparison.

      • Ocker on 22/06/2022 - 12:50
        +1

        You can only hope they still have the photo's

        • kmwa on 22/06/2022 - 15:36

          Ask the agency for the photos and report.

  • AustriaBargain on 21/06/2022 - 20:39
    +2

    Just clean it professionally yourself, cut the grass and tidy the garden properly, and if you don't have any pests then you shouldn't need to poison. Doing a deep clean is hard work but it'll save yourself a few hundred bucks.

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