Cleaning Filthy rented flat where to start!?

thisuseridistakenagain

I have just moved into my first flat with my BF and its really scruffy, when we viewed it the agent said it would be fully cleaned and it hasnt been. We complained and he sent a cleaner round, who only did the loos, and the hob.
The carpet is flithy and the bathroom carpet smells like wee!

I'm going to try to have to get a huge bathmat to cover it as we cant afford a carpet cleaner and it will give me the creeps stepping on to skinky wee carpet after a bath!

amyway, the whole place needs a good going over, I was tempted to ebay a mini steam cleaner but my mam said these only steam for 20 mins so i'd be on ages filling the thing up and waiting for it to heat up. so its OS for me!

Any tips of where to start, what to use?

I've got Ibcol and stardrops to start with, but live near a pound shop so can get other bits.

Thanks in advance!

CCP

I'd go back to the letting agent and insist they clean it again, and do it properly this time. They said they would so it's their responsibility, imo.

Oh, and put the request in writing so they can't claim they haven't had it. (Been there, done that! :rolleyes::D)

hotcookie101

I would get the agent round again, and make sure you refuse to sign any inventory unless it states the state of the carpet. If its that bad a decent landlord would probably replace carpet (I hate bathroom carpet-I know its toastier than tiles, but it gets wet from showers, and unless its an all girl household-you have the problem you have!)
If they really refuse to clean/replace, I suppose you could try washing with bio powder mixed with water, dry thoroughly, sprinkle with bicarb of soda (am I right-that is the deoderising one?) and leave overnight then hoover.
You shouldn't have to try and clean other peoples wee out of carpet though-that is def a job for the landlord!!

wigglebeena

Have you paid a bond? I wouldn't be happy about that: maybe ask for half the bond back on the basis it was paid for provision of a CLEAN flat, or else they pay for proper cleaning? (All in writing!)

Essex_Maid

I would put it in writing - and then take the letter round to the agent. If you are very young, they may be trying to pull the wool over your eyes - be polite but firm. If you don't have the confidence take someone with you. As per previous post you could get the agent round again. Be insistant that it is resolved.

Butterfly_Brain

check out the direct gov website they have advice as to you legal rights and give you the information you need.It is surprising if you quote the law how quickly things get done.
Or try calling in the local councils enviromental health department and if they agree with you they will take up your case.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/LettingYourHome/DG_4001391

valk_scot

Write a list of what's wrong with it. Take some dated photos asap. Write a firm letter, including pictures. Then either take it round in person or send the agent it by signed-for post. Keep a copy. Ask for a professional cleaner + cleaning of the carpets + anything else you feel is required. If you think the carpets need replaced, say so. You don't have to live in an unhealthy environment. Yes, take your most intimidating parent or friend with you...mums are ideal, actually!

Save your cleaning efforts for when you leave!

BexInLondon

Just to echo everyone else this really isn't good enough. You shouldn't have to clean it. Take photos of the condition (most phone cameras these days are good enough) and get a letter in writing to the agents immediately. As hotcookie101 says, refuse to sign the inventory without being satisfied that the condition is as described.

If it's not too late, I found with our incompetent lettings agency that pretending to assume the best worked. So in this case I'd be writing/calling to say "when is the cleaner coming back to finish the job?". Be very, very nice but very, very firm.

Good luck with it.

Wine_of_the_World

I was really stung once for my deposit after moving into a really filthy / dirty rental. We left it cleaner than when we moved in but in the contract it stated the house had to be left clean and the letting agents decided it wasn't clean enough - even though they admitted it was far cleaner that we had moved in - so make sure you sort this out with the letting agency.

I "line" the kitchen cupboards with cardboard, after cleaning them out as this makes me feel more hygienic.

You can also hire a carpet cleaner- they really do make a difference especially with smells and things. But really that should be sorted out for you because you will often (in my experience of renting) have to clean the carpets when you leave.

Another thing - a small scrubbing brush with a handle (if this makes any sense) is great for scrubbing bathrooms. I find even if the house is clean I like to give it a going over. I'm not obsessive about cleaning, just after that its 'my 'dirt so it doesnt seem as bad!

Good luck with your first place!

IlonaRN

In my current flat I completely scrubbed my kitchen cupboards before I would put any of my things in! They looked clean enough, but in actual fact LOTS of grime came off!

Olliebeak

I would definitely write a firm, but polite, letter to the Letting Agents with a copy for the landlord as well. The Landlord trusts the Letting Agents to act on his behalf and obviously they charge him for all jobs done on the property - he needs to know that he receives the service that he pays for.

My only experience of Letting Agents has been through my daughter having rented privately on a couple of occasions. The first one used an 'odd-job man' who did so-called repairs on the property before she moved in. One room was supposed to be decorated prior to her moving in - he had cut patches of non-matching Anaglypta to cover torn bits of wallpaper and then emulsioned over the patches instead of decorating the entire room and then emulsioning. My OH also visited one morning when he was doing jobs, and found him messing with the wiring of an electric socket while smoking a joint :eek: - wasn't even an electrician. Who knows if that Agent had charged the Landlord for a decorator and an electrician .

Obviously, this is probably not a practical solution, BUT if they refuse to have that bathroom carpet sorted out, I'd feel inclined to lift the carpet that's down, roll it up and deposit it in their offices - perhaps waiting until there's a queue of people in there - naughty naughty .