Check-out disputes over carpets are common and mostly avoidable. Inventory clerks compare the carpet against the check-in report, allowing for fair wear and tear — they are looking for soiling and staining, not for a receipt.
That said, many tenancy agreements ask for a professional clean, and an itemised invoice is the simplest way to close the argument before it starts.
The short version
- Priced per room plus stairs, same as any domestic clean
- Empty properties are quicker and therefore cheaper to clean
- An itemised invoice is what agents ask for at check-out
- Fair wear and tear cannot be charged to you — soiling can
- Book after the furniture is out, not before
Time the clean correctly
Clean once the property is empty. Cleaning around remaining furniture leaves untouched rectangles that show up immediately on the check-out photographs, and it is the single most common reason a tenancy clean gets challenged.
What agents actually look for
Inventory reports are photographic and comparative. The carpet items that trigger deductions are consistent.
- Traffic lanes darker than the surrounding carpet
- Spill marks and rings that were not on the check-in report
- Pet odour detectable in the room
- Burn marks, bleach spots and dye transfer — these are damage, not cleaning issues
Landlords: cost per turnaround
For landlords running repeat turnarounds, the sensible approach is a standing arrangement — same scope every time, invoice per property, scheduled around the check-out date. It keeps voids short and means the carpet condition is documented every tenancy.