Common Area Cleaning Responsibility

[Kevin Phu]

Need some landlord advice.

I have a 4 bedroom SFR about 3 hours away that is rented out room by room. One tenant I feel like is going to move out soon. The last time I was up at the house (about a month ago), the common bathroom was absolutely filthy. The shower looks like it has never been cleaned and it's just disgusting. If it's left in this condition, a prospective tenant surely won't want to move in in my opinion. How do I go about handling this? Do I make the tenant moving out responsible for the common area? All? Take cleaning fee out of everyone's security deposit! Take care of it myself?

As much as I like the cash flow from the 4 individual leases, I'm looking forward to when it's just one lease and passed off to a PM.

[Patricia Steiner]

It's important to remember that the security deposit belongs to the tenant - not you.  If your lease states that the tenants are responsible for a cleaning fee, charge it along with their rent.  And, if you expect tenants to keep common areas clean, you'll need to inspect what you expect - and you should plan on being disappointed.  What's unacceptable to you appears to be okay with all of your tenants because that's how they've been living with it.

I recommend doing yourself a BIG favor and simply hire someone to come in every other week and clean just the common areas...not a deep clean - just a "keep myself sane" clean.  The cost would be so nominal and would definitely help you retain and attract good tenants (not to mention it what it does to keeping your property in good order!).

Be good to you...hire someone.