When you’re moving out of your rental property, making sure you get your security deposit back is often top of mind. Make sure you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, particularly when it comes to that move-out cleaning.
Your Rights and Responsibilities.
In Alberta, your landlord may require you to pay a security deposit of up to one month’s rent. Their responsibility is to put that money in a trust within two days of receiving it, and return it to you (under certain conditions), with interest, when your tenancy ends. Your landlord may withhold your security deposit only for damages beyond normal wear and tear. Other common reasons for withholding the security deposit include if you still owe them money for rent or fees, or if you haven’t returned the keys. In order to protect yourself from losing your security deposit unnecessarily or unfairly, make sure to do a condition report when you move in and when you move out. It can also help to do a walkthrough with your landlord before you hand over the keys, and get an agreement in writing about what you will and won’t be charged for.
The Move-Out Cleaning.
If you’re not sure what you should clean before moving out, consider asking your landlord for a cleaning list if they have not already provided you one. In Alberta, the law is very specific about which maintenance tasks the landlord and the tenant are responsible for respectively, so check this list against a legal resource. Even if your home was messy or dirty when you moved in, make sure you leave it really clean behind you. This puts your landlord in a good mood when they’re assessing damages after you’re gone.
What Should Be Cleaned?
If you’ve lived in your place for longer than a year, your carpets should be steam-cleaned. Clean your appliances: in, on, under, and beside. Clean your windows coverings, windows, and the inside tracks your windows slide on. Clean balcony doors, windows, and tracks; spot-clean walls to get rid of scuff marks and fingerprints. Vacuum or wipe down baseboard heaters, clean out used fireplaces, repair or fill excessive nail holes. On top of this, your bathroom and kitchen should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, including inside cupboards and cupboard doors, and washing all your home’s floors. Dust everything: baseboards, lampshades, window sills, mirrors, on top of door jambs. Finally, check your bathroom grout and give it a good bleaching scrub.
Does all this sound overwhelming? Not to the professionals! We’d love to give you a hand with your move-out cleaning and help you get that security deposit back. Give us a call at 403-668-1665 today!
*Disclaimer: This blog does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions of a legal nature, please ask a legal professional.
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