Tips for Cleaning Your Rental Property Between Tenants

Keeping your rental property clean between tenants can be a bit stressful. Once your tenants have vacated, your property is typically in great shape and well cleaned, ready for new tenants to move straight in. However this isn't always the case, especially if the market takes a bit longer to find those A-grade tenants for your next tenancy. 

Having a clean property has many benefits, it shows tenants that you take care of your property. A clean and well maintained rental property allows property managers to charge higher rental prices, while making the tenants stay more enjoyable. Another benefit of cleaning the property thoroughly between tenants, is the added longevity of the rental property. 

Below are a few tips that will help you keep your rental property looking its best between tenants.


1. Replace Old Fixtures or Worn-Out Appliances 
Having a vacant property is the perfect time to look at updating any worn out fixtures and appliances that are on the out, so think about the basics: hand and towel rails, light fixtures, door handles and cupboards, bathrooms, kitchen and laundry areas are also a key area to look at making small updates to (and tenants REALLY appreciate it!)

2. Consider checking out the property yourself 
If your property is vacant for longer than a week, and you have the means of doing so, be sure to physically check your rental property. Being there yourself is often so much more powerful than reviewing an inspection report. You'll also be able to physically see what prospective tenants are seeing when looking at your investment property for their next home. If you're not sold upon inspecting it, it may be likely that they aren't sold on it either!  

3. Stock up on Magic Eraser Cleaning Tools 
If you're going to pop by your property, be sure to load up on magic erasers. These little devices are perfect for getting rid of any minor marks or scratches left behind by your old tenants. Look at common areas first, and if time permits, venture into bedrooms and cupboards. Getting rid of these visible signs of wear and tear can make a big difference in the look and feel your property offers to prospective tenants. It pays off! 

4. Check for Maintenance Needs
Have you had that leaking tap out the back for a while now? A vacant property is the perfect time to get the handyman and any other trades round that are needed to get your property back on track. If you notice these maintenance needs, you can be sure that new tenants (as well as your Property Manager) will be picking up on them too. To save yourself the heartache, it's best to be proactive and get onto these issues as soon as possible. Tenants are always extremely pleased to move into properties with minimal maintenance outstanding, so it's a big selling point! 

5. Don't forget the externals
It's easy to forget about the gardens, the lawn, the hedges.. when your property sits vacant. Yet these areas still continue to grow and build! There's nothing worse than opening a vacant property to new tenants with the lawn high up to the knees, and nothing screams louder to tenants that maintaining the property is not on the landlord's priority list. So if your property sits vacant for longer than 2 weeks, consider talking to your Property Manager about maintaining the grounds in good working shape, so inspections can be as successful as they possibly can be. 

So there you have it folks, a few key tips to keep your investment property looking in tip-top shape while you wait to find your perfect next set of tenants! 

By Miranda Jeffree