Moving out cleaning etiquette, what is our responsibility as a tenant and the landlord's responsibility?

Question

We are moving out of a house we have been renting for a couple of years. When we moved in the carpet, blinds and floors were not in the best of conditions. The walls were covered with tar from someone smoking in the home prior to our move-in and the carpet wreaked of wet dog. When we informed our landlord of moving out he was disappointed to lose us as tenants but obviously eager to get a new one in. Well every week he calls us pestering us about cleaning and making sure it's ready for the new tenant to move in. My husband and I don't think he quite understands about normal wear and tear on the carpets plus us having a dog and child. We carpet cleaned but some spots just won't come up. We don't know how else to explain to him that carpet-wise the home will not be ready plus I don't feel it's my job to get it ready for his next tenant. We aren't expecting our deposit back. Yes, we should clean to the best of our ability but to have it ready for someone else to move in??

Answer 1

My dads a landlord, and he expects the tenants to clean it to the condition it was when they moved in, then he'll come round and repaint and get new carpets in (with student houses we repaint some rooms every year!).  I think it sounds like you kept the house neat while you lived in there and you've done enough.  

Just point out to the landlord that a lot of the stains were there before you moved in, and that if you've already been there a few years he ought to expect some wear and tear.

Answer 2

You are only expected to leave the house in the same or close to the same condition it was in when you got there. Normal wear and tear is not you're responsibility. The landlord has to paint the house before he can rent it out again. It is his responsibility to get it ready to rent out to new tenants. Hope this helps and good luck.