Professional Cleaning Clause in Tenancy Agreement – If you think that a tenancy agreement is just a waste of time, you definitely have to rethink your opinion. You need to take it as a savior that comes to protect you in case any disputes arise.
Misunderstandings between the tenant and the landlord may appear on many topics. Especially on who does the professional cleaning of the house. In this article, we will talk you through the cleaning clause of the tenancy agreement.
We will try to enlighten you about it in detail so that you don’t end up in an unfavorable position.
Whether you are a renter or a landlord, you need to take tenancy agreement as a must. This is a document that officialises all terms and conditions that the two parties have agreed on.
Should a misunderstanding appear in the course of the leasing period, the tenancy agreement will be the judge. You just take a look at the contract and it will tell you who is right and who not. In this way, you will avoid long-lasting disputes that in many cases lead to nothing but an even worse situation.
If you are inexperienced in a house rental, you are also better off signing a contract. It will save you from a cunning landlord who tries to cheat and put you in an unfavorable position. By hiring a property agent, you will make sure that you sign an agreement that protects your interests.
The cleaning issue is one of the most debatable topics when it comes to renting an apartment. If the parts don’t sign an official agreement, this can end up in intense arguments later.
This is why adding a cleaning clause will help bring peace between the tenant and the landlord. Such a clause must include: who pays for the professional cleaning, how much, and who hires the service company.
Although there is no law regulating these issues, there is an unspoken rule that applies to all Singapore tenancy agreements.
Generally, the tenants must pay for the cleaning services, as they live in the house and potentially make it messy. They must pay a sum of money that usually ranges from 150 SGD to 250 SGD of the cleaning costs.
If the cost exceeds this amount, the landlord will have to pay the rest. For example, you plan on a spring cleaning that costs 200 SGD, while the contract clause amount is 150 SGD. In this case, you will have to pay only 150 SGD, while the landlord will cover the rest of the 50 SGD of the bill.
This limit of tenant expenditures saves you from spending a lot of money on house maintenance services. The same applies to repairs and regular aircon or wiring check-ups. However, the amount can differ from the cleaning clause.
Considering that you are not the owner of the house, taking care of it alone would be not reasonable. That’s why it is moral for the landlords to contribute to keeping their properties in a good condition as well.
During the negotiations, you should also agree on who chooses the company for cleaning the house. In would be great if the landlord leaves this task to the tenant, without arguing. It is reasonable for the tenants to do it since they pay the most of the cost.
However, the landlords may sometimes insist on choosing the cleaning company themselves. It may be a wise choice as well, as they want to ensure that nobody ill-intended visits their house.
However, it may work the opposite way too. The landlords may hire some of their friends who work under-the-table and deceive the tenant into paying more money. That’s why, if you are a tenant, you must check the company that the landlord has chosen.
Verify their website, call them, and visit their office to make sure that they are not a fake organization.
All in all, any tenancy agreement should include a professional cleaning clause. It states who and how much pays for the cleaning services. Generally, the tenants have to pay for any type of cleaning in Singapore.
However, they never have to cover all costs, if the bill exceeds 150 SGD-250 SGD. This is the most popular clause amount in Singapore tenancy agreements. However, it may vary depending on the negotiations between the renter and the landlord.
If the bill is higher than the clause amount, the landlord will have to contribute to the service payment.