Renters: Basic Cleaning and Repairs When Moving Out

Moving out of a rental can mark a new chapter in one’s life. From that perspective, making the event as stress-free and smooth as possible is essential. Aside from packing personal items, here are other ways tenants can ensure a graceful exit from the rental property.

Patch up the walls

If paintings or photographs hang on the wall, tenants should remove any nails or apparatus used to hang up these decorative items. If walls are present, they should be sanded over until smooth, making it easier for the landlord to repaint them.

Tenants should also remove any tape or adhesive used on the wall and clean the spots.

Disconnect the utilities

Days before moving out, tenants should disconnect all the utilities connected to their name and have them transferred to their next place of residence. The contract should be terminated if the tenants are no longer interested in availing of a particular utility. Billing addresses for the utilities to be carried over to the new home should be changed.

Lastly, tenants should settle any remaining balances for these utilities to ensure a smooth transition.

Clean the property thoroughly.

When moving out, tenants are expected to leave the rental in more or less the same condition as when they first moved in. This is why tenants are sometimes advised to take pictures of the rental during the start of the tenancy, so they have a basis for comparison.

Sometimes, however, there are landlords with flexible policies. Considering this, tenants should clean the place thoroughly before moving out.

Discuss necessary repairs with the landlord

Rental features that were broken due to “fair wear and tore” can be left alone. To properly distinguish which amenities broke or deteriorated because of age or natural causes, tenants should do a walk-through with their landlord. Tenants, however, are obligated to fix or replace any feature they have broken or damaged throughout their tenancy.

Reverse any alternations

Following the sentiment that the rental should be left in roughly the same condition, any alternations made during the tenancy should, as much as possible, also be reversed. It is possible, however, to leave any alternations or home improvements approved by the landlord. 

To determine whether to go it alone or reverse these changes, tenants should once again talk to their landlords. Some alternations can improve the value of the rental to the point that some landlords even reimburse the tenants for the improvements they’ve made.

Return all the keys

Once tenants are done cleaning and packing, all the keys (even the duplicates) should be gathered and eventually returned to the landlord once the move is completed. 

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