Signed tenancy....for a dump

ssparry

Ok, viewed a property a month ago, had someone living in it at the time, she had lots of furniture etc.

Picked up keys yesterday, went in and the house was filthy (blood down the wall near toilet, hair and filth on window sills, not hoovered, rubbish in house and in garden, carpets filthy, smily faces and biro over the walls, used razor in shower etc....

Called letting agents who said oh I have cleaner on standby will send her in tomorrow (today). Popped in at lunch time today, 70yr old lady doing the cleaning. She said she'd not been asked to do the carpets but was giving the house once over.

Have since been back and although cleaner, the smily faces remain on the walls (drawn in biro) paintowrk is in very poor condition, cracks and holes in the walls, shower needs re-grouting, carpets still filty dirty, lino in kitchen is completely ripped under and infront of washing machine.

I have paid £2500 for this house so far, is it acceptable for me to request that:

Carpets cleaned throughout
Paintwork & cracks repaired/re-painted
Lino replaced in kitchen
Shower re-grouted

Thank you in advance...Please don't think I am being fussy or over the top, have a 3yr old (who doesn't draw on walls) and a 3 week old baby who I would place no where near the carpet, that incidentally I was told when viewed property carpet would be cleaned/

clutton_2

why did you sign the agreement before revisiting the property ?

Jowo_2

Did you sign an inventory?

See the Shelter advice on how to report repairs, such as the lino, cracks and grouting. Always keep good records of correspondence.

Generally landlords have no obligation to redecorate or carry out improvements of any sort - tenants get it in the decorative condition in which they viewed unless agreed otherwise. The Shelter website should give pointers on this. If the landlord has no desire to redecorate, you could offer to do this and seek permission in writing from the landlord before going ahead with it. Sometimes landlords are happy to pay for the paint and equipment.

poppysarah

Video it in detail.
Duplicate. Send copy to LA signed for mail. Speak to LA and get them to create an inventory based on that vid.

adg1

ssparry wrote: »

I have paid £2500 for this house so far, is it acceptable for me to request that:

Carpets cleaned throughout
Paintwork & cracks repaired/re-painted
Lino replaced in kitchen
Shower re-grouted

Do as others have said - video it/photograph it and go to your LA and ask for them to get it sorted out. I'd guess you'll probably find that the LA will say that unless you asked for the above to be done prior to tenancy it can't be done now, LL won't agree to it - typical response.

You'll have great trouble ending your tenancy so I'd document the evidence and get a paint brush out. Approach the LA/LL and see if they will cover some of the costs to put the house into a livable condition.

Ensure the situation is logged with the LA in the form of an inventory that is signed by both you and the landlord. Then give the house back to them in a state - the inventory (or indeed lack of) will leave the LL without a leg to stand on.