Hi all

We have moved out of our old apartment and they will inspect on Wednesday. We have done a full clean and left it all in the state we have found it, if not cleaner.

However, the rental agent just told my partner that as they steam cleaned the carpet before we moved in, we HAVE to pay for one to come and clean it before Wednesday. I get the whole 'leave it in the state you found it' requirement.

However...the reason they had to have it steam cleaned is because the previous tenant left giant dirty stains all over the carpet including big wood stains from a desk which still hasn't come out anyway.

Is it our fault they had to steam clean it before? I've heard you aren't legally obliged to get it steam cleaned. But she used the 'it was done before you moved in' line to say we had to do it.

If we need to, then fine. But we're feeling a bit gipped given we have left it perfectly as we have found it (except for small bathroom mould due to them not fixing the extractor fan, and a scratch caused by one of their workers on the wood floor, which I'm hoping they won't try to get us on....)

Thanks for any help!

lerato

I think its quite common, we had to pay for our carpets to be cleaned as well which they took out of the bond but they did warn us in the beginning so it wasnt a shock.

This is extremely common. You most certainly will find a clause regarding cleaning of carpets when vacating in your rental lease under 'vacating' or similar. I have never rented through a real estate agent and not had to have all carpets professionally cleaned before leaving. And the key word here is 'professionally'. We have always had to provide the receipt from the carpet cleaners to the agent so they could check it was done this way and we had not done the job ourselves.

Yep, happened to me too..

Us too, except the carpets were so old the steam cleaner guy said they would fall apart if he cleaned them. It would have cost us $300 to clean them so we gave him $150 to not do anything but to write out the receipt for $300.

Carpets are disgusting dirty things - especially as most people walk onto them with the shoes they've been using outside. I think this rule is one of the few good things about renting in Australia - the carpets are professionally cleaned before and after a tenancy.

Is it in your rental agreement?

We had to have ours steam cleaned. This was particularly annoying because we only had a short term rental of 4 months, and we only lived there for 3.

What's annoying about it?

When you go in to a new home you expect it to be clean - yes? The cleaners come in and clean everything (and then of course you clean their work as you know they've used the same cloth for the toilet as they have for the kitchen work surfaces etc etc etc).

I know I have a bee in my bonnet about carpets but I think they are so dirty. I never walk into someone's house with my shoes on however most people do. They've trailed through dogsh!t, spitting, bird1shit, dirty water etc etc.

You only have to look at how dirty lino, wood, whatever solid floor surface you have gets, to realise how dirty carpets are.

Try looking where you walk....and get a life!!

It was annoying because we were only there for 3 months but mostly because they never once mentioned having them done when we signed the lease. That's why it was annoying.

No issues with carpets being cleaned on moving out though. I agree they get very dirty and can never understand why people wear shoes in the house. I'm used to the Canadian way where people automatically take off shoes when they come in whether you have carpet or not. So for this reason I paid for the carpet cleaning because I knew I would want it done if I was living there next. I was annoyed because it was a surprise and we were there for such a short period of time.

Having rented 6 properties in 10 years, I can assure you this is standard practice and most like stated so in you lease. If not in your lease then your property report would say "carpets steam cleaned" which means as you move out it should be in same condition (therefore steam cleaned) at exit bar wear and tear.

In NSW, it is not a legal requirement to have your carpets cleaned...check your lease and trading standards.

Sorry but in WA all my leases have stated carpets must be in the same condition as when moving in, minus wear and tear. Three kids do leave their marks so carpet cleaning was needed. Would think after 10 yrs of renting I would know what I have to do? For the record, I have always received full bond back, including from one house we rented for 6 yrs and as said, three kids leave their mark. I've had property managers from hell, some absolutely useless ones, some who barely knew what they where doing, and some that went through every bit of the house. Carpets though, I can understand that, especially in WA (can't speak for other states), if I move into a house with fully cleaned carpets (as per standard in WA), I expect the same in my next house and therefore will do the same for the house I am exiting.

Well interestingly, most people in NSW don't challenge it at all because they simply don't know it's not legal. But they should.
Regardless, it is not legal to make a tenant clean their carpets. It is the responsibility of the landlord and the cost is theirs alone.
Other states should check their legislation on the matter.