letting inventory issues

clairet707

We half moved into the new house yesterday, went round the entire house with the inventory and a fine tooth comb..

For the second time running the inventory clerk has managed to misread the electricity meter ?? Hubby has photos to prove that our reading is correct..

The carpets and wood floors are absolutely filthy (wood - dusty, carpets big black mud stains all over), the whole place is caked in dust, looks like the landlady has repainted but not cleared up the mess

One of the electric sockets is hanging off the wall - dangerously so

The out buildings are still full of rubbish which we were told would be removed

Etc etc

Can we get them to pay to clean the place or should we just put up with the dust as its rectifiable easily but report the others or should we report it all and get them to fix it?

With regards to the dirty carpets, if we dont get them to clean them and we dont ourselves would we be forced to 'professionally' clean them when we leave?

poppysarah

Put it all in writing to them.

Make sure you have evidence (maybe copy the pics to a cd and give them a copy)
You're entiteld to leave it in the state you get it.

clairet707

poppysarah wrote: »

Put it all in writing to them.

Make sure you have evidence (maybe copy the pics to a cd and give them a copy)
You're entiteld to leave it in the state you get it.

Thats good to know, thanks,

We are going to scan in the inventory with all our comments on, email them a copy and then send it by post too, with the photos on teh email copy

paintpot

I would most definitely back all your issues up in writing with photos and send them recorded delivery to the agent/landlord. I would also be inclined to ask for a revisit by the inventory clerk to agree. At this stage I wouldn't sign the inventory, unless you have already done so, and state that you will sign it once the changes are noted and a redrafted inventory sent.

In terms of the socket, it may just have been unscrewed for some reason but whatever, you need to note this in your letter to agent and ask them to address it. Did you get an electical certificate? It isn't a legal obligation but is good practice by a landlord.

As for the carpets, you can ask for them to be cleaned. This may be refused but your only obligation is to return them in the condition in which you received them, fair wear and tear excepted. Again, note the state of them in your letter. Is there a clause in your AST about cleaning the carpets at the end of the AST?

Take detailed photos, even a video if possible of everything.

Ensure that your deposit is protected in one of the schemes and you receive the prescribed information. Also, have you been given a current gas certificate?

clairet707

paintpot wrote: »

I would most definitely back all your issues up in writing with photos and send them recorded delivery to the agent/landlord. I would also be inclined to ask for a revisit by the inventory clerk to agree. At this stage I wouldn't sign the inventory, unless you have already done so, and state that you will sign it once the changes are noted and a redrafted inventory sent.

In terms of the socket, it may just have been unscrewed for some reason but whatever, you need to note this in your letter to agent and ask them to address it. Did you get an electical certificate? It isn't a legal obligation but is good practice by a landlord.

As for the carpets, you can ask for them to be cleaned. This may be refused but your only obligation is to return them in the condition in which you received them, fair wear and tear excepted. Again, note the state of them in your letter. Is there a clause in your AST about cleaning the carpets at the end of the AST?

Take detailed photos, even a video if possible of everything.

Ensure that your deposit is protected in one of the schemes and you receive the prescribed information. Also, have you been given a current gas certificate?

Will send recorded....

Gas cert yes
Electrical cert no, teh socket doesnt actually look like it was ever screwed into the wall to be honest
We dont as yet have a copy of our AST, we signed it last week in the letting agents
Not sure about deposit yet, we only paid it last week

We have photos of 90% of the damage (have been bitten before by pesky inventories so made sure we are covering ourselves this time)

Hubby was forced to sign the inventory when he picked it and the keys up (wouldnt give him the keys till he signed etc) but was told he had 14 days to make any corrections to the inventory

paintpot

Ensure you get a copy of the AST, in fact state in your letter that you did not receive a copy upon signing. Ensure you note your changes to the inventory and state that you signed the inventory with the property "unseen" and would duly like to make changes/amendments. Be AS SPECIFIC as you can possibly be - don't try and squeeze it onto the inventory in biro, send a separate sheet if necessary.

Ask for an electrician to attend to sort the socket out. Like I said, a periodic inspection certificate is not a legal requirement but it is something I do and is good practice. You could enquire whether one has been done previously. Subject to the age of the wiring then they can last for 5 years so there may be one on the property. I provide copies to my tenant but it may be stuck in the filing cabinet of the agent.

You also need to ensure that your deposit is protected. Again, you could mention this in your letter. It should be protected and you should receive prescribed info within 14 days of paying the deposit. Ensure you check up that this has been done. I don't think you have made it clear whether the LA is managing the property. They may pay it to the LL who fails to protect it. The tenancy should also mention the deposit and the scheme but don't assume it is protected. If you are unsure you can check with all three schemes to ensure it has been. I use the DPS and they write to tenants but I don't know about the other schemes.

Good luck. Iron out these issues and I hope you have a happy tenancy!

clairet707 wrote: »

Will send recorded....

Gas cert yes
Electrical cert no, teh socket doesnt actually look like it was ever screwed into the wall to be honest
We dont as yet have a copy of our AST, we signed it last week in the letting agents
Not sure about deposit yet, we only paid it last week

We have photos of 90% of the damage (have been bitten before by pesky inventories so made sure we are covering ourselves this time)

Hubby was forced to sign the inventory when he picked it and the keys up (wouldnt give him the keys till he signed etc) but was told he had 14 days to make any corrections to the inventory

clairet707

paintpot wrote: »

Ensure you get a copy of the AST, in fact state in your letter that you did not receive a copy upon signing. Ensure you note your changes to the inventory and state that you signed the inventory with the property "unseen" and would duly like to make changes/amendments. Be AS SPECIFIC as you can possibly be - don't try and squeeze it onto the inventory in biro, send a separate sheet if necessary.

Ask for an electrician to attend to sort the socket out. Like I said, a periodic inspection certificate is not a legal requirement but it is something I do and is good practice. You could enquire whether one has been done previously. Subject to the age of the wiring then they can last for 5 years so there may be one on the property. I provide copies to my tenant but it may be stuck in the filing cabinet of the agent.

You also need to ensure that your deposit is protected. Again, you could mention this in your letter. It should be protected and you should receive prescribed info within 14 days of paying the deposit. Ensure you check up that this has been done. I don't think you have made it clear whether the LA is managing the property. They may pay it to the LL who fails to protect it. The tenancy should also mention the deposit and the scheme but don't assume it is protected. If you are unsure you can check with all three schemes to ensure it has been. I use the DPS and they write to tenants but I don't know about the other schemes.

Good luck. Iron out these issues and I hope you have a happy tenancy!

The LA manage the property and have said that the AST will be posted out to us, the AST mentions the deposit scheme that will be used (cant remember which one)

Most of the issues were noted by the inventory clerk but there are some that were missed, unfortunately hubby marked these on the inventory already...

I dont think an electrical check has been done, as far as we can tell we are the first set of tenants the house has had and the landlord lived there previously