List of Leaving Requirements from Letting Agent

gazfocus

Today, I emailed my letting agent with a letter of notice to leave. I specifically asked the letting agency to acknowledge the email and I sent it via email because last week I posted 2 items by recorded first class delivery and they have still not arrived at their destination a week later.

Anyway, the LA responded with a letter thanking me for informing them of my intention to leave and basically a list of demands (i.e. how the property should be left when I leave).

On the list are 'Carpets to be vacuumed prior to a professional clean', ' Lawns mowed, gardens weeded, edges trimmed, swept and cleaned' and ' Please ensure that wheelie bins are not left full. And bags are not left inside or around the property'

Now, normally I would be more than happy to leave the property in prestine condition, however, when I moved in, their were stains on the carpets (which are still there), the gardens were mega overgrown and it took 4 days of strimming and mowing to get them to a 'suitable' level and no rubbish in the bins?? What am I meant to do with my rubbish then? There is also a shed full of garden chairs, rotten boxes, etc that were there when I moved in - surely I shouldn't have to remove them.

Also, it says 'If you have painted the property, it must be returned to the original colour' however, I had permission to pain the house (and negotiated a lower rent because of it) as the bedroom in particular was black and red (and is now cream and sky blue). Should we have to repaint this?

I didn't sign an inventory when I moved into the house and I don't think the deposit was protected as when I asked about it on Friday, they replied yesterday saying that the details should have been forwarded to me but to put my mind at ease they protected it yesterday and sent me the certificate.

caeler

I would imagine this is just a standard thing they send to all leavers. I suggest you organise a pre-checkout meeting to discuss all the points you raise. You can't be expected to remove rubbish and stains that were their when you moved in. I trust you have all this listed on your inventory?

caeler

Sorry I didn't see your last point, although you didn't sign an inventory, was there one do you know? Did you make comments at the time for inclusion? Did you send emails to the Letting Agent commenting on these issues as evidence?

mlz1413

it really does sound like a standard check out list, but if you didn't have a dual signed inventory at check in then there isn't anything for you to have the property checked against at check out.

Did you get the permission to paint the bedroom in writting?

I would get the LA and/or LL round for an inspection prior to moving out and as said above discuss all your points direct with them.

If the deposit is now protected then that is the main point, yes the LA may have been lazy or un-organised but courts will not take that into consideration as it was protected during tenancy. If the LA is a registered member of a governing body then you could always write to them and advise them of the email - but I'd wait and see what happens.

gazfocus

bluefuzzybug wrote: »

Sorry I didn't see your last point, although you didn't sign an inventory, was there one do you know? Did you make comments at the time for inclusion? Did you send emails to the Letting Agent commenting on these issues as evidence?

No idea if there was an inventory, although I know the LL had a look around the house before I moved in. Didn't make any comments about the inventory because I thought it may work in my favour in the long run (I was expecting to stay in the property for a few years with a few years worth of wear and tear). Unfortunately, I didn't send emails or letters to the LA about the issues - the issues I did raise have still not been resolved which is why I'm leaving so didn't see the point.

gazfocus

mlz1413 wrote: »

Did you get the permission to paint the bedroom in writting?

Thanks, no I didn't get permission in writing, but I did have permission to redecorate as much of the house as I felt necessary (e.g. the wallpaper in the living room was literally hanging off the walls). And I can probably find an email somewhere where I notified them of the rooms that needed decorating which was used to negotiate the rent down a bit.

Fire_Fox

The point of reporting problems in writing and getting permission in writing is to protect yourself in the event of a deposit dispute. You should submit your notice to quit in writing, if recorded delivery isn't working use special delivery or normal post and confirm that it was received via e-mail. Now you have been given a list of unreasonable demands you should deal with the remainder of the negotiations in writing so you have a paper trail. You may wish to ask for a copy of the dual signed inventory.

tbs624

Firefox - did you not have a strong sense of deja vu as you posted on the importance of doing things in writing....?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=21745159&highlight=#post21745159

Fire_Fox

No it was more like .... :wall:

gazfocus

Hmm...Although I agree reporting things in writing is usually the best way to do things, it's not always the most reliable!!

G_M

email cannot be 'relied on' in court. Recorded delivery can.

Which is more reliable?