When it comes to maintenance and cleaning responsibilities, landlords and tenants can disagree quite frequently. Importantly, ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows their responsibilities when it comes to cleaning the rental.

So what are landlord vs tenant cleaning responsibilities?

Below, we’ve outlined some common examples of what falls under landlord cleaning responsibilities and tenant cleaning responsibilities.

Of course, there will always be variations based on what the rental agreement says. Of course, always account for all legal guidelines for what each party should be responsible for.

Quick Answer

Landlords are generally responsible for keeping a rental’s structural and safety systems clean and functional between tenants, while day-to-day cleanliness during a tenancy falls to the tenant. At move-out, tenants are expected to return the unit in the same condition it was received, normal wear and tear excluded, or risk a security deposit deduction. Exact obligations always depend on your lease and state law, so check both before assuming either party is on the hook.

What Are a Landlord’s Cleaning Responsibilities?

A landlord’s responsibilities are numerous. However, these can vary between what is a landlord’s maintenance responsibility and what is a landlord’s cleaning responsibility.

As noted above, the lease and landlord-tenant laws denote the exact requirements for maintenance and cleaning. Generally, it’s the landlord’s duty to keep the property in living condition and “good foundational order”. This includes maintaining the roof, power system, and safety features. Safety features can even include the upkeep of the smoke alarms. This can include both installing them and making sure that they are functional.

Additionally, windows and doors must all be reliable and have locks. Water also has to be running hot and cold through the faucets in the house. If there is an issue, the landlord must call a plumbing service or get the repairs carried out.

What Are a Tenant’s Cleaning Responsibilities?

Typically, a tenant’s cleaning responsibilities are to keep the property in a clean and habitable state while living there.

This can range from your usual cleaning list (sweeping, mopping, dusting, organizing, tidying, etc) to simple, everyday tasks of maintaining the unit.

For example, things like changing filters and lightbulbs when required. Some landlords might even have rental inspection checklists that they give to tenants as an overview of what to look out for or maintain.

The tenant also has the responsibility to stay in communication with the landlord and let them know about any issues. For instance, if there were a leak that required a plumber to be called. If tenants leave maintenance issues go on for too long, this can result in even larger issues for the unit, the tenant, and the landlord.

Landlord vs Tenant Cleaning Responsibilities

Typically, landlords are not responsible for cleaning duties in the interior of the rental. Although, they might be in charge of the exterior of the rental.

Landlord vs tenant cleaning responsibilities usually aren’t as strict as maintenance regulations. For example, nobody is going to get you into trouble if it is a few days since you vacuumed.

However, some significant failures to keep the rental clean can encourage rust, mold, and even pest control issues. These can be costly for both parties in the long run. Not cleaning can promote rust and other property issues. Problems like this can even eat into a security deposit the tenant may have paid.

Importantly, check out any state and local regulations about what’s required of each party. Additionally, your lease might outline what’s considered proper maintenance of the unit.

Cleaning Duties for Moving Out

Typically, at the end of any tenancy, it’s time for a deep clean. Ordinarily, contracts state that the tenant has to leave the property how they found it in terms of cleanliness. So, if you aren’t going to reach that state then it can be time to get cleaning!

Additonally, use move-in & move-out checklists to ensure you’re documenting what needs to be cleaned at the beginning and end of each tenancy.

For landlord vs tenant cleaning responsibilities, both parties should be clear about what is expected when they enter into the agreement. This is why leases and lease addendums are so important.

Documentation matters just as much as the cleaning itself. A pre-move-out inspection gives tenants a chance to address cleaning issues before they turn into deposit deductions, and a rental inspection checklist gives landlords a consistent record to point to if a dispute comes up later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords have to clean between tenants?

Landlords aren’t typically required to have a rental professionally cleaned between tenants, but the unit does need to be handed over in a safe, habitable condition. Most leases and state landlord-tenant laws require a reasonably clean starting point, even if a full deep clean isn’t legally mandated. Some landlords choose to clean or hire cleaners anyway to protect their reputation and speed up re-renting.

What do tenants have to clean when moving out?

Tenants are generally expected to clean everything they used during the tenancy, including floors, countertops, appliances, bathrooms, and any areas they occupied. The goal is returning the unit to the same condition it was in at move-in, accounting for normal wear and tear. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons landlords withhold part of a security deposit.

Can a landlord evict a tenant for not cleaning?

In most states, a landlord can’t evict a tenant for cleanliness alone unless it violates a specific lease clause or creates a health or safety hazard, like a severe pest infestation or fire risk. Typically, the landlord has to document the issue and give the tenant a chance to correct it before pursuing eviction.

What’s the maximum a landlord can charge for cleaning?

There’s no universal cap on cleaning charges. Landlords can generally only charge for cleaning beyond normal wear and tear, and the amount has to be reasonable and tied to actual cost, like a receipt from a cleaning service. Charging a flat cleaning fee regardless of the unit’s actual condition can run afoul of security deposit laws in many states.

Is a tenant responsible for cleaning windows?

Yes, in most cases. Interior window cleaning typically falls under a tenant’s day-to-day cleaning responsibilities, the same as floors or countertops. Exterior or hard-to-reach windows, especially in multi-story buildings, are more often a landlord’s responsibility, so check your lease for specifics.

Protecting Yourself When Cleaning Responsibilities Are Disputed

Cleaning disagreements are one of the most common flashpoints at move-out, and they usually come down to documentation. RentRedi has reported that only 41% of renters expect to get their full security deposit back, which means landlords need a clear paper trail to justify any deduction. RentRedi holds security deposits in a separate account and keeps that documentation organized in one place, so a cleaning-related deduction is backed by more than a verbal disagreement. Learn more about how we make life easier for landlords today.