4.10 Cleaning Responsibilities
At the end of your tenancy, you are expected to do a reasonably thorough clean of your rental unit. The Residential Tenancy Branch’s Policy Guideline #1 provides a good overview. Let’s take a look at some of the things you are expected to clean:
- the inside and outside of appliances in your unit, such as the stove, fridge and dishwasher
- floors and wall vents
- the insides of all your windows and doors
- the outside of any sliding glass doors or balcony windows
- blinds and window coverings
- walls and baseboards
- any fireplace you used, as well as its screen, vent or fan
- if your tenancy was at least one year, or you smoked or had pets, the carpets should be steam cleaned or shampooed
If you do not leave your rental unit in a reasonably clean state, your landlord could get an order from the Residential Tenancy Branch allowing them to keep some or all of your security deposit.
If you caused any damage that goes beyond reasonable "wear and tear" from normal day-to-day living, you are responsible for that damage. For example, if you put an excessive number of nail holes in the walls, you may be responsible for repairing that damage before you leave. You are also responsible for reversing any changes you made that your landlord did not give you permission to make. For example, if you painted your unit without your landlord's consent, you may have to paint it back to the original colour.
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