Rented flat - Property Inspection

vixx

Hoping someone can advise.

My boyfriend and I have lived in a rented flat for three years now and we love it, apart from one thing.
Every quarter, we have a property inspection by the letting agent. This in itself does not bother me, I understand that they want to make sure we aren't wrecking the place or using it as some illegal crack den.
Every three months does seem to be very often though, I don't know anyone else who has them as much.

The problem is that, every time, without fail we get a letter a few days after the inspection with a list of things they want us to do.
The flat is not filithy by any means but it is lived in, we both work full time so sometimes it's not as tidy as it could be. The funny thing is that my OH has borderline OCD so he is a complete neat-freak and I would say our flat is cleaner than most!

In the letters, they list things like:

"dusty skirting board in places"
"splash marks on bath tiles"
"washing-up left in bowl"

This really, really annoys me because as far as I am concerned, as long as we aren't trashing the place, what business is it of theirs if we have a couple of mugs in the sink from the morning, or if some of the surfaces have got a bit dusty?

When we first moved in, we blitzed the place from top to bottom before every inspection, but we still got letters so now we just give it a quick tidy and we still get the same letters!

Can anyone tell me, or point me in the direction of, where we stand with this?

Guitar

Unless you're actually a lodger with the landlord, these inspections should just be to check the property isn't damaged or needs any repairs. Your lifestyle has nothing to do with the landlord.

I get inspected twice a year and I certainly don't get called up on not doing the washing up.

diable

"dusty skirting board in places"
"splash marks on bath tiles"
"washing-up left in bowl"

I think they are going over the top if they are complaining about that lot, did they miss the toilet roll that wasn't torn on the perforations or the upside tooth brush in the glass?

I think they must justifying there fee to the LL in some way.

G_M

I think they must justifying there fee to the LL in some way

.
True.

They are also covering themselves for the future: In 3 years time you move out, they inspect and list a number of 'problems' for which they wish to withold your deposit. You dispute it. They then point to your 'history' of poor maintenance.

I would a) not get paranoid about cleaning before these inspections b) not do any additional work after receiving the letters but c) I would write back (and keep a copy) denying the skirting boards are dusty etc etc. Then you have your own record too. You could even take and keep photos.

But frankly the only time you need worry is if they claim there is actual damage that needs repair, or when you move out and have an inspection.

tbs624

Vixx - ignore them.Your LA needs to get over himself. How a T lives for the duration of their tenancy has absolutely nothing to do with the LA/LL *unless* the property is being damaged and/or criminal acts are being committed. I am sure you have much better things to do with your time that write letters after each inspection.

So long as , when you leave, you return the property in the same condition as let, save for fair wear and tear, you have nothing to worrry about. You are entitled to treat the place as your home during your tenancy and if that includes a bit of dust, and some washing up in a bowl so what? The LA should be grateful he doesn't have one Barnaby Bear as a T.:D (search recent posts)

A huge number of those who work as LAs have no qualifications, no training etc, very little personal charm and probably couldn't hold down a job in any other sector.

Never, ever feel intimidated by these idiots. Go around each room with him and if you want to put him in his place tell him to take his shoes off the front door when he arrives. Make sure that you also use the inspection as a two way process - "We'd like x fixing by such and such a date..."

Just for the record, if the date and time of these inspections is inconvenient to you then you can ask them to change it - ignore any comment to the effect that they will simply let themselves in to the property in your absence.

bluecandy5

I get the same thing. We never have letters but there is one guy who constantly belittles us for not doing the ironing.

I mean what the hell does that have to do with the actual physical properties of the flat?!?

vixx

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys!

We have no plans of moving out any time soon so I am going to try to not let it bother me and just make sure we leave the place spotless when we leave.

@tbs624 - As they come so frequently, they just let themselves in mostly as it's always during office hours when we are normally at work. It's always the same man, and the funny thing is that the couple of times that I have been in, he is really nervous and just glances around and leaves in about 5 mins, not reallly looking at anything. Obviously, when we are not there, he has a good poke around!

The letter they send every quarter says something along the lines of "we are coming on ... to inspect the property. We are not able to change the date of the inspection but if we come and can't get in, we will charge you an admin fee" !!!
We then have to call themevery single time and remind them that they have a spare set of keys, aaaargh!

If I didn't love the flat so much I would move, but it's massive and a total bargain for where we live.

franklee

Do keep all the letters, they may come in handy to show the unreasonableness of the agent should there be a dispute over the deposit when you leave. I'd guess anyone on seeing those letters would think the agent nuts

Debt_Free_Chick

I would be tempted to write a very detailed explanation to every single criticism, with a liberal dash of humour thrown in. Then just hope that the LA either gets bored or sees that their approach is somewhat excessive

Jomo

Think the LL has OCD...

nervousftb_3

vixx wrote: »

As they come so frequently, they just let themselves in mostly as it's always during office hours when we are normally at work. It's always the same man, and the funny thing is that the couple of times that I have been in, he is really nervous and just glances around and leaves in about 5 mins, not reallly looking at anything. Obviously, when we are not there, he has a good poke around!

The letter they send every quarter says something along the lines of "we are coming on ... to inspect the property. We are not able to change the date of the inspection but if we come and can't get in, we will charge you an admin fee" !!!
We then have to call themevery single time and remind them that they have a spare set of keys, aaaargh!

i could be wrong, but i'm pretty sure you don't have to let them in when you are not there! and they shouldn't be charging you an admin fee if the time they give you is inconvenient. this would make me very uncomfortable.