Cleaning Carpets at end of (very short) tenancy?

QTPie

Just did a check-out of a rental property today.

Check-out/inventory agent (the LA doesn't do it themselves) asked if we had had the carpets professionally cleaned. I said that we hadn't. Our tenancy was only 4.5 months, we don't smoke or have any pets, we have one 4 year old (but no spillages or mess or anything during that time - fully toilet trained, no accidents, no food outside of the tiled kitchen), we don't wear or let others wear outside shoes in the house and there were no spillages whatsoever. There were no marks or anything on the carpet. I didn't see any need to have the carpets cleaned.

The previous tenants had a dog, they claimed to have had the carpets cleaned (I was there when they checked out), but i am sure that they didn't: the carpets did still smell of dog for some time after we moved in... (the carpets and whole house nolonger smell of dog now)

Have checked the contract and there is no requirement for carpets to be cleaned at the end of tenancy.

QT

da_rule

The only requirement would have been to return the property in the same state as you rented it and possibly therefore to repair any damage. Normally wear and tare is expected. So, as long as you returned the property much the same condition as you rented it then there shouldn't be a problem. You'll probably find the agent was just reading off of a list of questions they ask every tenant regardless of how long the tenancy was.

QTPie

I did ask her if they expected carpet cleaning after such a short tenancy and she said "yes" - since otherwise carpets would just degrade (or dirt compound) after a series and tenancies and that wouldn't be fair to the latest tenant.

The carpets were not in any way more dirty than before we moved in (I am a complete neat and clean freak...). Hopefully they won't try to charge us to clean them then.

km1423

Pity you didn't post this before moving out.

If the carpet was in no worse a condition, i.e. stains/marks than when you moved in, I would have freshened the carpets with a good dose of bicarbonate of soda, and perhaps a few drops of essential oil, Lavender is a good one, or Lemongrass, for a really fresh scent. Leave for a minimum of 2 hours - overnight is best.

Bicarb lifts out odours, not stains and the natural fragrance from the essential oils leaves rooms smelling really fresh. You can omit the essential oils if necessary.

A double vacuum to lift everything out and they would have been none the wiser if the carpets had not been professionally cleaned.

When you move into your next rental, ask if carpets have been professionally cleaned, and ask for paperwork - former tenants will have this.

If carpets in new place are not as fresh you would wish then apply the above method. Please do not allow child to use the room until all bicarb/essential oil fully vacuumed up - be thorough. It's cheap and simple, unless there are stains which you have made. Failing that, its a Rug Doctor I'm afraid.

Audrey_Wright

Can't you arrange to rent a steam cleaner and clean them yourself, it'd still be cheaper than hiring a cleaning company ?