Question about Carpet Cleaning When Exiting a Property

BitterAndTwisted

No, you're absolutely right: I failed to spot your post where you acknowledged that these "Exit Notes" had been passed to you recently. My comment about the wanton destruction was really referring to what these shysters might be accusing you of if you fail to produce an invoice for professional cleaning when they're expecting you to come up with one.

If I had more faith in the human race, I probably wouldn't have chosen the alias "Bitter & Twisted", I might have gone for "Sweetness & Light" instead. Hehe

robpitt

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Yes. they can insist on it being done ...

NO I'm sorry that is incorrect. The OFT has ruled that a term requiring tennants to prove they've paid professional cleaners to be unfair and unenforcable.
It's the condition the carpets are returned in that's paramount, not what steps you took to get them into that condition.

tbs624

robpitt wrote: »

NO I'm sorry that is incorrect. The OFT has ruled that a term requiring tennants to prove they've paid professional cleaners to be unfair and unenforcable.
It's the condition the carpets are returned in that's paramount, not what steps you took to get them into that condition.

The OFT offers guidelines - only a court can decide whether a contract term in "unfair and unenforecable".

The carpets have to be in the same condition as when the property was let, save for fair wear and tear. If the carpets had been professionally cleaned immediately prior to the tenancy ( & the LL could prove this) then it would be fair to ask that the T made sure that the carpets were cleaned "to a professional standard" on exit.

jweb2k

Thanks all for your help!

Jowo_2

Don't know the legality of the clause but unsurprisingly many agents and landlords are disappointed by outgoing tenants interpretation of cleanliness who can be amnesiac about the standard in which they received it.

For example, a quick hoover of a carpet caked with mud, wine stains and spilt coffee. In the tenants mind, they've thoroughly hoovered a fairly clean carpet. In the landlords mind, they've just received back a patterned carpet when they handed over a plain one...

head_in_clouds

The past two place we rented it was in our contract to do this, and to be honest we did it as it was £50 and meant we got our deposit back in a few days, rather than waiting ages while it gets sorted out!

Hermia

tbs624 wrote: »

The OFT offers guidelines - only a court can decide whether a contract term in "unfair and unenforecable".

The carpets have to be in the same condition as when the property was let, save for fair wear and tear. If the carpets had been professionally cleaned immediately prior to the tenancy ( & the LL could prove this) then it would be fair to ask that the T made sure that the carpets were cleaned "to a professional standard" on exit.

Does anyone know what happens if the carpets were totally disgusting when you moved in? My contract states that I must have the carpets professionally cleaned when I leave, but they were absolutely fillthy when I moved in. Not only were there numerous stains and gunge on them, but they also were covered with a thick layer of dust and crumbs. I actually tried to get the carpet cleaned with I moved in, but no company wanted the job because it's a tiny flat and I am on the top floor. I also couldn't hire a carpet-cleaning machine because I wouldn't have been able to carry it up all the flights of stairs. I'm not happy that I am expected to pay to have the carpet cleaned when it had clearly not been cleaned for years and it obviously needs replacing.

jweb2k

I hope you took photos as you moved in then proving the dirt on the carpet? You'd be in a great position to refuse then, and leave the carpets "as you found them"

Out,_Vile_Jelly

You may think the carpets look ok, but steam cleaning can make an amazing visual difference, especially when you see all the filthy water pouring out of the machine. I had it done on moving out of a 2 bed flat with a lot of beige carpet and the checkout agent made a note that it was probably in better condition than when we moved in and we got a 100% deposit refund with minimum fuss.

If it's not clearly stated in the contract then you have a case for not bothering though.

tbs624

Hermia wrote: »

Does anyone know what happens if the carpets were totally disgusting when you moved in? My contract states that I must have the carpets professionally cleaned when I leave, but they were absolutely fillthy when I moved in. Not only were there numerous stains and gunge on them, but they also were covered with a thick layer of dust and crumbs. I actually tried to get the carpet cleaned with I moved in, but no company wanted the job because it's a tiny flat and I am on the top floor. I also couldn't hire a carpet-cleaning machine because I wouldn't have been able to carry it up all the flights of stairs. I'm not happy that I am expected to pay to have the carpet cleaned when it had clearly not been cleaned for years and it obviously needs replacing.

Was there an inventory in place and if yes, did you note on there the condition of the carpets? The LL absolutely cannot ask you to return the property in a better state than it was at the start and s/he would have to be able prove that the carpet had been professionally cleaned prior to you moving in.S/he should also only ask that the carpet is cleaned "to a professional standard". How long have you been there?