Being a landlord is no walk in the park. Although it’s a great source of passive income, you’ll have to deal with some rather unpleasant things. For example, after one of your tenants moves out there could be a lingering odor from pets, certain foods, cigarettes, and even mold. Unfortunately, bad smells in your rental property can greatly impact your cash flow.
So, before you find a new tenant you need to rid your property of any unpleasant odors. We understand the urgency to fill the vacancy; however, neglecting to take care of the issue can make it impossible to find a suitable tenant.
In this article, we’ll discuss some tips for getting rid of pesky odors from your rental property. Let’s begin.
Deep cleaning the property after your tenant has moved out is the first thing you need to do to get rid of the smell.
Sanitize the counters and hard surfaces to remove bacteria and any odor left behind from cooking oils, food, spices, and more. You should also use shampoo to clean the rugs, carpet, and upholstery. Unfortunately, the fibers in your carpet and rugs tend to absorb and preserve bad smells. The same goes for the fabric on your furniture and drapes.
Also, it would be beneficial to replace the air filters and check for any mildew in the bathrooms.
If you come back a day later and the smell still isn’t gone then you may have to resort to different sanitizing methods.
The smells from specific spices and foods can linger long after the property’s been vacated. Spices such as curry and cumin are overpowering enough to seep into your drapes, carpet, chairs, and couches.
First things first, you can start by scrubbing the hard surfaces in your rental property. We recommend focusing on the kitchen and eating areas first. Here you’ll need to wipe down the stove, fridge, dishwasher, microwave, cabinets, and pantry.
Once you wipe down all the hard surfaces, you’ll likely have to use professional-grade cleaning equipment to remove the smell from your furniture, rugs, and carpet. However, if you’re rental property isn’t furnished then you won’t have to worry about this part.
Unfortunately, musty smells can be tricky to get rid of. The culprit can either be mold or the tenant didn’t air out the property enough.
The first thing you should do is open the windows and let the fresh air come in. Check the bathrooms and around the kitchen sink for any mold growth. If you do happen to come across some we recommend scrubbing the area with bleach and letting it sit for 10 minutes.
Another solution to get rid of musty smells is to use fans and dehumidifiers throughout the property.
If you’re unable to get rid of the smell you may need a professional to come out and inspect for any hidden mold growth. Mold can be very serious as it can cause various health issues.
If your previous tenants were smokers, there will be a lingering smoke smell in the house. Cigarette smoke permeates everything and can be extremely hard to get rid of. This can become problematic when trying to find a new tenant.
You may not know this but third-hand smoke can cause serious health issues or make current ones worse. For example, people with asthma or severe allergies may have a harder time breathing.
Your best option may be to replace your furniture and carpet if you have any. We also suggest repainting the walls in case there’s any toxic substances left behind that could affect the air quality.
To avoid issues like these in the future, we advice adding a section in your lease agreement regarding smoking or only rent to non-smokers.
Getting rid of bad smells in your rental property is difficult but not impossible. Try the given tips to make your rental smell fresh and new.
Sources
https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-bad-smells-tenants-leave-behind
https://www.rentecdirect.com/blog/odor-at-your-rental-property/