can landlord deduct their own labour from a deposit

hostie

Hi,
I rent out a flat in Scotland and have had to spend a few days cleaning it after the tenants moved out. Is it legal to deduct money from their deposit to cover my own labour? If so, what would be a reasonable amount for this?
Thanks.

mchale

I charge £8.00 p/h

creditboy

mchale wrote: »

I charge £8.00 p/h

How would you prove how many hours you have spent cleaning? £8.00 an hour is a bit steep to clean and im probably sure you would drag it out and add a few hours on the just take more money from the deposit :mad:

Jowo_2

creditboy wrote: »

How would you prove how many hours you have spent cleaning? £8.00 an hour is a bit steep to clean and im probably sure you would drag it out and add a few hours on the just take more money from the deposit :mad:

Based on this, the OP is just better off sending in a professional cleaning company for £10-15 per hour which might draig it out and add a few hours on, just to add more onto the invoice....

creditboy

Jowo wrote: »

Based on this, the OP is just better off sending in a professional cleaning company for £10-15 per hour which might draig it out and add a few hours on, just to add more onto the invoice....

Oh i see

Blacksheep1979

You can, I forget what the maximum you can charge is - have a quick google or go to landlordzone (I believe the forum is). Best to take photos before and after of what was needing cleaning incase of disputes.

poppysarah

If they claim £8 an hour for cleaning their own property, do they have to declare that in addition to other profits?

scottn

if they are charging for their own labour, they should be declaring that as self employed income and potentially paying tax on it.

jmt

When my last tenant left she did not turn up for the checkout meeting, so I asked a neighbour to witness me entering the property and I took timed and dated photo's to show the dirt and grime (like others have said general wear and tear is part of the LL costs of running a business).

I then charged my hours at the national minimum wage for the necessary cleaning. My tenant denied that the property was dirty, but when sent a CD with all the timed and dated photos on she agreed to my deduction.

I don't like cleaning after my tenants, but I would prefer to do it myself rather than get a professional cleaning company as whilst you are doing the cleaning you are also checking nothing is broken or leaking (our shower hose was leaking but she had not told us).

jmt

poppysarah wrote: »

If they claim £8 an hour for cleaning their own property, do they have to declare that in addition to other profits?

I show everything I receive as income - rent and deposit deductions.

mchale

creditboy wrote: »

How would you prove how many hours you have spent cleaning? £8.00 an hour is a bit steep to clean and im probably sure you would drag it out and add a few hours on the just take more money from the deposit :mad:

Get real, if the tenants don't leave it dirty in the 1st place the is no charge (so who's fault is it that they have to incur a cleaning charge), I have to supply cleaning equipment and travel to the property in my own time.