Move-Out Cleaning in Burnaby, BC

Choose a scope you can compare

Give each cleaner the same description: home size, bathroom count, floor types, remaining furniture, visible soil and the handover deadline. Send photos of the oven, shower, kitchen and any areas that need extra attention. Ask whether the provider offers a fixed total or charges for time, and how they handle work beyond the quoted scope.

Write down the tasks you want completed. For the kitchen, specify appliance interiors, cupboard interiors, counters and sink. For bathrooms, identify the tub or shower, toilet, basin and fittings. Add floors, baseboards, accessible window interiors and wall marks where needed. Ask the cleaner to confirm each item rather than relying on the phrase deep clean.

Request separate answers about carpet treatment, exterior windows, balconies, moving appliances and hauling waste. Ask who supplies equipment and products, whether they carry liability insurance, and who you should contact if you find damage or missed work. Confirm the total payable and any parking, access or cancellation charges in writing.

Set the cleaning and handover sequence

Plan the sequence as removal, cleaning, your own check and the final walkthrough. Leave room in your schedule to address missed areas. Confirm that the cleaner can enter the building, reach the unit and use the necessary utilities. For a condo or apartment, ask building management about elevator access, loading arrangements and any booking requirements before agreeing to an arrival time.

For a rental, B.C. guidance says the landlord and tenant should complete the move-out condition inspection together. The landlord should propose two meeting times. Use the inspection to document the condition and take photos; participation can affect deposit rights. Arrange the cleaning around the inspection time and keep your receipt and before-and-after photos. [1]

For an owner’s sale handover, review the cleaning obligations in your agreement and send the relevant task list to the cleaner. Ask the provider how you can review the completed work before they leave, including how they handle a return visit if you identify an omitted task.

Separate cleaning from repairs

B.C. assigns tenants basic upkeep responsibilities and responsibility for damage caused by them, their guests or pets. The province assigns landlords responsibility for normal wear and tear, including faded paint, minor floorboard scuffs and worn carpet. Flag existing damage before cleaning so you and the provider can agree which tasks belong in the cleaning scope. [2]

For rental carpets, the province’s move-out guidance specifies steam cleaning or shampooing when the tenancy lasted one year or longer. Ask whether the cleaner performs that work or whether you need a separate booking. Confirm the treatment, access requirements and drying instructions before choosing the appointment time. [2]

Report water damage to the landlord as soon as you notice it; B.C. guidance tells tenants to report it immediately. Describe the location and take photos. Ask the cleaner to identify work they cannot complete until someone addresses the underlying maintenance problem. [2]

Budget cleaning and disposal separately

Use a written provider quote for the cleaning budget. The official sources cited here publish tenancy guidance and disposal charges, rather than Burnaby cleaning prices. Ask for a cleaning total and, if you need hauling, a separate disposal total that identifies labour, transport and facility charges. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Metro Vancouver’s fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists a garbage minimum of CAD 25 per load during applicable peak hours and CAD 15 outside peak hours. The minimums include the transaction fee where applicable. These regional facility charges can help you plan a disposal trip, but they do not establish the amount a cleaner or hauler will charge. [5]

Metro Vancouver garbage minimum charges per load

Choose the work to arrange

Your hiring checklist

1. Remove belongings and identify anything that will remain for the next occupant.
2. Send each provider the same photos, task list and handover deadline.
3. Confirm appliance interiors, cupboards, wall marks and window scope in writing.
4. Ask whether carpet treatment and hauling require separate bookings.
5. Confirm keys, entry instructions, parking and building access with the cleaner.
6. Arrange disposal before cleaning and verify the destination accepts your items.
7. Inspect the completed work, photograph the rooms and retain the invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to hire a professional cleaner for a rental move-out?

B.C.’s moving-out guidance assigns tenants responsibility for cleaning the rental unit; it does not state a general requirement to hire a professional. Review the province’s cleaning expectations and discuss the task list with your landlord. Choose paid help based on the work you need completed and your available time. [1]

Does paying for cleaning guarantee my deposit return?

A cleaning receipt does not settle the condition inspection or damage questions. B.C. guidance addresses cleaning, damage, inspection participation and deposit procedures separately. Attend the inspection, document the condition and give your landlord your forwarding address in writing. [1]

Can I take leftover furniture to the Eco-Centre?

Burnaby’s Eco-Centre excludes furniture from both recycling and donation drop-off. Check Large Item Pickup eligibility and accepted items, or arrange another disposal or donation destination before loading the furniture. [3] [4]

What should I ask about carpet cleaning?

Ask whether the quote covers vacuuming, steam cleaning or shampooing, and request drying instructions. For rentals, B.C. guidance specifies steam cleaning or shampooing at move-out when the tenancy lasted one year or longer. [2]