Quick question about cleaning - Landlord Forum thread 355051

Quick question about cleaning by Anonymous on November 12, 2017 @22:26

I have looked all over and cannot find the answer to this-how much may I legally charge a tenant for cleaning (inside all cabinets, laundry room specific to unit, bathroom, sinks, floors, ceiling fans etc.) per hour? Thanks

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Re: Quick question about cleaning by Garry (Iowa) on November 12, 2017 @23:29	[ Reply ]

A lot depends on what state you are in. Many cleaning companies in cities along all the coasts would be higher in hourly labor, than in midwestern states. Call up several cleaning companies in your city/state and see what they charge per hour. Then use about 1/2 of the average you find, to charge for YOU doing the cleaning. I'm in Iowa. I would charge about $15/hr if I as the LL did the cleaning.

Re: Quick question about cleaning

Re: Quick question about cleaning by Stephen (WA - Washington) on November 13, 2017 @22:25	[ Reply ]

Remember that whatever you charge for you doing the cleaning needs to be reported on your taxes as income to you. Example #1, you have a $500 deposit. The only expense is the cleaning you do for which you charge the tenant $100. You return $400. The $100 is income to you. There is no off-setting expense. Example #2, you have the same $500 deposit. You hire someone to do cleaning for you. You pay them $100. On your Schedule E you include a $100 expense for cleaning. This reduces the profits from the rental and betters your taxes. The person you hired is supposed to report the $100 as income and pay taxes on it. Example #3, you have the same $500 deposit. You do your own cleaning but don't charge the tenant for it. Down side: you don't punish the tenant. Up side: you don't have additional income to report. On balance, I haven't figured out whether the income in my pocket after taxes is better under example 1, 2, or 3. My bookkeeper (wife) thinks example 2 is best because then I don't have the wear and tear on me.

Re: Quick question about cleaning by Anonymous on November 17, 2017 @11:10	[ Reply ]

I put it in my lease that if they move out and the place is not as clean as it was when they moved in (spotless) then I use a cleaning company who charges $20 per hour per cleaner and I deduct the charge from the security deposit. If you do all the cleaning yourself, you will eventually burn out and start hating people and your rentals.

Re: Quick question about cleaning by Robert on November 29, 2017 @09:19	[ Reply ]

My lease states $45/hr plus materials for all work I do. I use a move out cleaner that charges less than that rate and I just pass that cost on to the tenant. I dont charge travel time which is 40 minutes round trip to my property. If it's in the lease and they sign it, then that is what it is. I have been to small claims a few times and no judge has ever questioned that rate.