Onerous exit inspection

Our Experts Answer:

At the end of a tenancy you are required by law to leave the property "reasonably clean and tidy". There have been Tenancy Tribunal decisions that have rejected a carpet cleaning clause such as you describe. The reasoning is that at the start of a tenancy you cannot assume that the carpet will need cleaning at end of tenancy. That decision has to be made at the end. However, if the landlord's inspection reveals stains or badly trodden paths on the carpet, it may well indicate that carpet cleaning is required. 

In short, it is the condition of the carpet that will dictate whether it needs to be cleaned. Weeds and path edges are different. If the property was presented to you with the gardens weeded and path edges trimmed then it is reasonable that you should present it back to the landlord in a similar condition. If you have comparison photos from the start of tenancy you should be able to establish the standard that prevailed when you moved in.