Being a landlord in Solihull comes with specific challenges and opportunities. The area attracts a range of tenants — young professionals, families, and retirees — and maintaining your property to a high standard is essential for attracting quality tenants, achieving strong rental yields, and protecting your investment long-term.
This guide covers the cleaning and maintenance aspects of property management that many landlords overlook or underestimate.
Between-Tenancy Turnaround
The period between tenants is your opportunity to reset the property. Cutting corners here leads to problems: tenant complaints, negative reviews, and ultimately lower rental income.
The Professional Clean
Always book a professional end-of-tenancy clean between tenants, even if the outgoing tenant has done their own clean. Reasons:
- Consistency: A professional clean ensures the property meets the same standard every time, regardless of how thorough the previous tenant was.
- Documentation: Professional services provide before-and-after photographs that serve as evidence of the property's condition at the start of the new tenancy.
- Inventory alignment: A professional clean matches the standard described in your inventory, making future deposit disputes straightforward.
- Time saving: Turnaround periods are often tight. A professional team can clean a 3-bed house in 4-6 hours.
What to Check Beyond Cleaning
During the void period, inspect:
- Damp and ventilation: Check corners of rooms, around windows, and in bathrooms for signs of mould or condensation damage. Address any issues before the next tenant moves in.
- Silicone sealant: Bathroom and kitchen sealant degrades over time and harbours mould. Replace it between tenancies — it costs under £10 in materials and takes 30 minutes.
- Grout condition: If grout is stained beyond cleaning, consider re-grouting. Professional-looking grout elevates the perceived quality of the entire bathroom or kitchen.
- Paintwork: Touch up scuff marks, clean or repaint skirting boards, and address any wall damage. A freshly painted property lets more quickly and commands higher rent.
- Carpets: Professional carpet cleaning is recommended between every tenancy. Replace carpets that are stained, worn, or odorous — they create a poor first impression.
- Appliance condition: Run all appliances and check they work correctly. Clean the oven, fridge, and washing machine thoroughly.
Ongoing Maintenance During Tenancy
Quarterly Inspections
Most tenancy agreements allow for quarterly inspections with reasonable notice. Use these not just to check for damage but to identify maintenance issues early:
- Check for signs of condensation or mould
- Inspect gutters and drainage from outside
- Test smoke alarms and CO detectors
- Check for dripping taps or running toilets (these waste water and increase bills)
- Note the general cleanliness — persistent poor maintenance by a tenant may indicate issues
Planned Maintenance Schedule
A preventive approach costs less than reactive repairs:
Annually:
- Gas safety check (legal requirement)
- Electrical spot-check
- Boiler service
- Gutter clearance
- External woodwork inspection
Every 2-3 years:
- Professional carpet deep clean (if not done between tenancies)
- Re-sealant in bathrooms and kitchen
- Redecoration of high-wear areas (hallways, kitchens)
Every 5-7 years:
- Full interior redecoration
- Carpet replacement
- Appliance assessment and replacement if needed
Cost-Effective Improvements
Small investments that improve tenant satisfaction and reduce turnover:
- Quality kitchen taps: Cheap taps drip, stain, and look dated quickly. Invest in mid-range taps and they will last the lifetime of the kitchen.
- Proper extractor fans: Inadequate ventilation causes mould, which leads to tenant complaints, deposit disputes, and expensive remediation. A good extractor fan costs £50-80 fitted and prevents thousands in damage.
- Hard flooring in kitchens and bathrooms: Easier to clean, more hygienic, and lasts longer than carpet or cheap vinyl. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is the current standard for rental properties.
- Decent lighting: Bright, well-lit properties photograph better, show better, and feel cleaner. Replace yellowing plastic light covers and dim bulbs.
Managing Deposit Disputes
Deposit disputes are one of the most common pain points in property management. Here is how professional cleaning helps:
The Inventory
Your inventory should include photographs of every room, surface, and appliance at the start of the tenancy, accompanied by a written description of condition. The cleaner the property is at the start, the higher the standard you can reasonably expect at the end.
Setting Expectations
Include your cleaning expectations in the tenancy agreement. Specify:
- The property must be returned in the condition described in the inventory, accounting for fair wear and tear
- A professional end-of-tenancy clean is recommended (but cannot be mandated — tenants can clean to the standard themselves)
- Specific items: oven must be cleaned inside, carpets must be clean, all rooms must be left clean and tidy
Evidence
If a tenant's clean is inadequate and you need to make a deduction:
- Photograph the specific issues
- Obtain a quote for professional cleaning to bring the property back to inventory standard
- Deduct only the cost of remedying the specific shortfall — not the cost of a full clean if only certain areas are below standard
- Respond within the statutory timeframe (usually 10 working days of receiving the tenant's deposit return request)
Solihull-Specific Considerations
Conservation Areas
Some areas of Solihull (parts of Knowle, Dorridge, and Solihull town centre) are conservation areas. External property maintenance — painting, rendering, window replacement — may require planning permission. Check with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council before undertaking external work.
Flood Risk
Properties in low-lying areas near the River Cole or River Blythe may have flood risk considerations. Ensure adequate insurance cover and consider flood-resilient furnishings for ground-floor rooms.
Energy Performance
Since 2025, rental properties in England must meet a minimum EPC rating of C for new tenancies. Improving insulation, upgrading the boiler, and installing double glazing are common routes to compliance. These improvements also reduce tenant energy bills, making your property more attractive.
Working with Scrubster as a Landlord
We work with a number of landlords and letting agents in the Solihull area. Our services for landlords include:
- Between-tenancy turnaround cleans: End-of-tenancy standard, with photographic documentation
- Move-in cleans: Preparing the property for new tenants
- Regular maintenance cleans: For furnished short-let or Airbnb properties
- One-off deep cleans: For properties that need attention after long tenancies
All cleans include before-and-after photographs as standard, which landlords find invaluable for inventory management and deposit protection.