Carpet Cleaning Misconceptions

Under the new NSW Residential Tenancies Act terms requiring a tenant to have the carpet professionally cleaned or to pay for the cost of having the carpet cleaned are prohibited  unless of course the tenant has been allowed to keep a pet at the property.

These requirements came into effect on 31 January 2011, as part of the new tenancy laws. Before that, many tenancy agreements stated that the tenant had to pay for professional carpet cleaning, even though this was not supported by the law. The new laws have made the situation a lot clearer.

However, this does not mean that the tenant cannot be made to pay for cleaning of stained or dirtied carpet.

Tenants are required to keep the premises reasonably clean and to leave the premises in the same condition as they were at the start of the tenancy, other than fair wear and tear. Where a tenant moves out leaving the carpet dirty, for example by spilling red wine, or high traffic areas, the landlord can ask the tenant to pay for cleaning or can make a claim on the tenant’s bond. However, where a tenant regularly vacuums and looks after the carpet and leaves it clean, there is no automatic right to ask the tenant to pay for professional cleaning.

Also, while trying not to go all religious on you, the Catholic's Golden Rule - Do unto others, as you would have done to yourself - I feel applies in this instance. Personally I like to know that the carpets have been professionally steam cleaned before I move into a property - you know, hygene and all that?? - So I will always make sure the carpets are professionally steam cleaned when I leave a property.

It's just a nice thing to do...