Deposit return - quotes & confirmation work has been done?

Daisies

G_M wrote: »

By asking for quotes you are tacitly accepting rresponsibility for professional cleaning.
Do you wich to contest the need for cleaning, or the cost of the cleaning?

This is the part we're not sure about. We didn't cause the marks on the carpet but I can't see how we can prove that. We stupidly accepted the letting agent's advice that we didn't need to be there for the inventory check-out, and as we'd already moved out and cleaned (post already re-directed) we didn't see the property in the final days of the tenancy - when the agent was conducting viewings.

I also didn't realise we could dispute part of the deposit, and get the undisputed part returned now - at the moment it feels like we're being held to ransom for nearly £2000!

Daisies

hugheskevi wrote: »

Was a dual-signed inventory produced at the start of the tenancy? Did you take photos of the condition of the house? Is the deposit protected?

The check-in inventory is a bit dodgy. We arrived as the inventory clerk finished (we were told to pick up the keys from her), so we signed to say we'd received the keys but didn't do an inventory check with her. They're now claiming we were there for it!

We didn't take photos, but there is one general shot of each room with the inventory check-in. The deposit is with the DPS.

Daisies

ceh209 wrote: »

As for quotes, I don't know if you can make them get these, but it's worth asking. Maybe get them yourself and send them on?

Can we get them ourselves now we don't have access to the property? Just get a quote for cleaning the carpet of one room - not sure how these companies charge?

ceh209

Daisies wrote: »

I also didn't realise we could dispute part of the deposit, and get the undisputed part returned now - at the moment it feels like we're being held to ransom for nearly £2000!

Yep if for example the LA say they'll give you back £1500, and you think should get £2000, then I believe they have to give you the £1500. There's then a procedure (depending on which deposit scheme it's registered in i think) to dispute the remaining amount. Worth checking out now probably before you get into any arguments with them!

Daisies

ceh209 wrote: »

Yep if for example the LA say they'll give you back £1500, and you think should get £2000, then I believe they have to give you the £1500. There's then a procedure (depending on which deposit scheme it's registered in i think) to dispute the remaining amount. Worth checking out now probably before you get into any arguments with them!

Thank you! Yes, I'll look into it this weekend. We're happy for them to deduct the £80 + VAT for the check-out cost as this was in the original agreement, so only part of the sum they're asking for is in dispute. Again, it's not that much, but if we could get back most of the deposit now it would help!

hugheskevi

The check-in inventory is a bit dodgy. We arrived as the inventory clerk finished (we were told to pick up the keys from her), so we signed to say we'd received the keys but didn't do an inventory check with her. They're now claiming we were there for it!

This is crucial.

Did you sign only to say you had taken possession of the keys? It doesn't matter whether they say you were there or not, what matters is whether there is a dual-signed inventory from the check-in which they can produce. If not, they will have difficulty establishing the condition of the property when you moved in.

In your position I would definately not be accepting any liability for anything at this stage, and putting the onus firmly on the landlord to produce evidence of deterioration of the property over and above normal wear and tear, otherwise insist on a full refund of your deposit.

Daisies

I'll need to check the wording on the check-in one when I get home, but we definitely thought we were signing for the keys, rather than counter-signing the inventory.

Also, as we returned the keys two days before the inventory check-out was done, I don't see how they can prove the stains were made by us, or by someone going in during the time between the key return and the inventory check-out.

(we wanted to return the keys and do the check-out at the same time, but the inventory company wouldn't come out on a bank holiday (Good Friday) so it had to be done the following day. They wouldn't do it before the "official" end of the tenancy on Good Friday.)

Is it normal to do the inventory check-out after the keys have been returned?