Imagine this. You packed everything, hired the bakkie, moved your furniture, and finally handed back the keys. Two weeks later your landlord sends you a message. They are keeping R4,000 of your deposit. The oven was not clean enough. There was a mark on the bathroom tiles. The extractor fan still had grease in it.
That money was yours. And now it is gone.
This happens to tenants in Johannesburg every single month. Not because they were bad tenants. But because they did not know exactly what a landlord or letting agent checks during a move-out inspection — and how high that standard actually is. Getting professional move out cleaning in Johannesburg before you hand back the keys is one of the most important things you can do to protect your deposit.
This guide will show you exactly what to do so you walk away with every cent.
What can your landlord take money from your deposit for?
Your landlord is allowed to use your deposit to cover unpaid rent, unpaid water or electricity, and damage you caused to the property.
But there is an important difference between damage and wear and tear.
Wear and tear means the natural way things change over time when a home is used normally. Paint that has faded a little after two years is wear and tear. A big stain on the carpet from something you spilled is not. A tiny scuff on the wall is wear and tear. A cracked window is not.
You only have to pay for actual damage. You do not have to pay for the normal ageing of the property.
Step 1 — Clean the property properly
The number one reason tenants in Johannesburg lose their deposit is cleaning. Landlords and letting agents can tell immediately whether a property has been cleaned properly or just wiped down quickly.
Start with the kitchen. Clean inside the oven, the stovetop, the extractor fan and inside every cupboard. The bathroom must be scrubbed from top to bottom, including the toilet, basin, shower and tiles. Every room must be swept or vacuumed and mopped. Make sure no rubbish is left anywhere, including outside, in the garage or in the garden.
Here is the part most tenants do not expect. Letting agents and property managers in Johannesburg inspect properties every week. They can tell within five minutes whether a property was cleaned professionally or cleaned quickly by someone who was already exhausted from moving. They check inside the oven door hinges. They run a finger along the top of the extractor fan. They look behind the toilet. A clean that feels thorough to you may still fall short of what they consider acceptable — and that gap is where deposits disappear.
At Exceeding Limits Cleaning Services we clean to inspection standard because we know exactly what letting agents in Johannesburg look for. If you are moving out in Randburg, Sandton, Fourways, Midrand, Centurion or surrounding Gauteng areas, WhatsApp us on 064 515 4522 before you start cleaning yourself. We will give you a fast quote and get you booked in.
Step 2 — Fix any damage you caused
Walk through every room before the inspection day. Be honest with yourself about what you are responsible for.
Take out all nails, hooks and sticky strips from the walls. Fill the holes and sand them smooth. If your lease says you must repaint, do it. If you broke something like a towel rail, a door handle or a light fitting, fix or replace it before the inspection. Do not wait and hope the landlord does not notice.
Check every light bulb. Make sure no drains are blocked. Tidy the garden or outside area if there is one.
Step 3 — Take photos of everything
Once the property is clean and empty, before you hand back the keys, take clear photos of every room. Every cupboard. Every surface. Every corner.
These photos are your proof. If your landlord later says the kitchen was dirty or something was broken, your photos show what the property looked like when you left.
Compare your photos to the inspection report you signed when you moved in. Anything that was already damaged when you arrived cannot be charged to you when you leave.
If you did not take photos when you first moved in, make sure you do that at your next rental. It protects you from day one.
Step 4 — Do the final walkthrough with your landlord
This step is important. Do not skip it.
Walk through the empty property with your landlord or letting agent. Bring your move-in inspection report and your photos. If there are things that were already damaged when you moved in, point them out now so you cannot be charged for them.
At the end of the walkthrough, both of you should sign a final inspection report. This report says what condition the property is in and what, if anything, will be deducted from your deposit.
If your landlord refuses to do the walkthrough with you, this actually protects you. The law says that if no joint inspection takes place, the property is considered to be in a good condition. That makes it harder for the landlord to deduct money from your deposit.
Step 5 — Hand back the keys and ask for your refund in writing
Return every key, every garage remote and every access card or tag. If you hold onto any of these after your lease ends, the landlord can charge you a daily fee for every day you kept them.
Ask for written confirmation that the inspection was done and that both of you agree on the final amount. Under South African law, if no damage was found, your deposit must be paid back to you within 14 days of your move-out date. If there were repairs, the landlord must give you a written list and proof of every cost before taking money from your deposit.
What if your landlord makes unfair deductions?
If your landlord takes money from your deposit without showing you proof, do not just accept it.
Ask to see the actual paid receipts or written quotes for every repair. Your landlord cannot just guess what something costs. They have to show you real proof.
If they refuse to show you proof, ignore your messages or charge you for things that are clearly wear and tear, you can lodge a complaint with the Rental Housing Tribunal. This is free to do and landlords take it seriously. The Tribunal can order your landlord to pay back your full deposit plus interest.
How a professional move-out cleaning protects your deposit
Your deposit is your money. You earned it, you saved it, and you paid it in good faith. Do not lose it over a dirty oven or a bathroom that was not descaled properly.
A professional move-out cleaning from Exceeding Limits Cleaning Services costs significantly less than a typical deposit deduction. We clean to inspection standard, every single time. The owner personally inspects every job before we sign off. You get peace of mind and your landlord gets a property they cannot fault.
We cover Johannesburg and Gauteng including Northriding, Randburg, Sandton, Fourways, Midrand, Centurion, Roodepoort and surrounding suburbs.
Move-out cleans book up fast in December, January, June and July when most leases in Johannesburg end. Do not leave it to the last week.
WhatsApp or call us now on 064 515 4522. We reply fast, including after hours.
Your deposit is waiting. Let us help you get it back.
