How much to tidy for landlords?

dizziblonde

Last scheduled inspection we had I was incredibly apologetic about the state of the porch (my car had been in a crash and was in for repairs so the contents of the car boot were stacked up in there)... LA was just like "oh don't worry about it we see tonnes worse every day."

Generally I make sure the place is hoovered, dusted, bathroom cleaned, kitchen cleaned and it's always been enough to pass muster and get the place rated clean and tidy on their reports. As for clutter wrecking carpets... we've got that many flipping rugs down to protect this place (and my sanity - black cat, cream carpet) - it's my rug that would get wrecked anyway - I'm paranoid about keeping the carpets good!

At the end of the day though, even though you're renting - it's your home at that moment in time and places get lived in... I'm never ever going to be able to keep a house to House Doctor standards (wish I could - my MIL manages it and I'm jealous). Plus my husband can make a room look untidy just by virtue of standing in it - I don't quite know why he has this knack but he does.

I think there's a distinct distinction that needs to be made between clutter and mess though. Clutter I define as the natural stuff that we all have lying around by virtue of living in a place (my kitchen worktops are cluttered with gadgets and cookbooks that I use), mess isn't acceptable (if I had dirty dishes lying all over the worktops and food crumbs around - that I'd count as mess). I always take the line that if I treat a property like a relatively house proud person - I'm doing about as much as can be expected really - if they expect more, then I don't want that person holding the power of the roof over my head over me.

funkymonkey849

This is why I was so desperate to buy a house of my own (just completed today!)

Once we had a landlord complain that the house was messy because we were cooking at the time of the inspection - don't come at lunchtime then!!

Another complained there was a plate with toast crusts on the sofa and actually wrote this on the report, while conveniently not noticing the state of disrepair in the house (shower leaking through ceiling, plaster falling off walls, leaking roof)

I am moving into my own house tomorrow and I am so excited not to have to answer to anyone! If I want to leave toast crusts on a plate on the sofa then I damn well will!!! I am fairly confident that this will not damage the house in any way so I will take my chances

Doshwaster

dizziblonde wrote: »

At the end of the day though, even though you're renting - it's your home at that moment in time and places get lived in... I'm never ever going to be able to keep a house to House Doctor standards (wish I could - my MIL manages it and I'm jealous). Plus my husband can make a room look untidy just by virtue of standing in it - I don't quite know why he has this knack but he does.

It's amazing. Some people are naturally tidy - I have friends whose homes are kept in show home condition even with kids around. I don't know how they do it. I'm more like your husband. I can walk into an immaculate room and it's a mess within seconds.

My inspection is actually due this afternoon. All I'm going to do is do a quick vacuum, make sure the dishes are done and there's nothing on view which shouldn't be. The grass needs a cut (hasn't been done since last year) but I'm feeling too lazy today.

coper

As a landlord, all Letting Agents or me want to do in an inspection is check the property to make sure it's not being damaged in any way, and if it is, work out who will fix it and how asap.

In terms of cleanliness, a quick vacuum and wipe all over the place should be absolutely fine. Think along the lines of "if it was my place, what would I want to see?".

Don't be like Jake (an ex-tenant of mine) - a muddy bike on the nice, beige, 6 month old carpet in the entrance hall is definitely not fine as I'm sure you could tell from the look on my face! At the very least, use a rug!!

Blacksheep1979

Yes you can be awkward and stomp your feet not allowing access or say that it doesn't mention anything about clutter in the contract but remember if you're on a rolling contract the landlord can quite easily boot you out...

Fleur1104

I'm a long-time lurker on the forums, but I had to write something on this thread. My letting agent inspects my flat every 3 months (with written notice a week or two before and it's written into the AST so can't object to it really) to check up on it. They have a list of things that I get sent after they've been round - always during the day so I'm not there - and boy are they picky.

The wooden blinds are always too dusty despite my best efforts, the powder drawer of the washing machine needs cleaning, the skirting boards are dirty, the windows need washing on the inside, the carpet in the spare room needs vacuuming and the bathroom sink is covered in limescale! This is just the most recent visit, I'm obviously going downhill in their eyes!

I wouldn't mind if they were coming to live here, but this drives me mad when I've made a special effort to get the place looking nice! I don't think my home is dirty, just lived in.

Anyway, hopefully the OP's LA is nice than mine and just wants to see it's all stil in one piece.

lynzpower

Fluer, welcome to MSE :wave: Shame your first post is about something so

Are they a member of http://www.arla.co.uk/ if they are I would make a complaint to them that they are nowt allowing peaceful occupation. If you want to have washing powder in the drawer ( rolls eyes) then that is entirely your preogative.

I would make a seirous complaint about this.

I think you still can refuse the 3monthly inspections based on the quiet enjoyment aspect. Maybe someone who knows more will let you know on here.

personally if it was me Id be turning up at their office in a pair of Kim & aggie white gloves and give the desk/ printer and everything else a thorough going over- shoving the dusty glove right under thier nose preferably when they are with another tenant signing in and really make a show but then I have no shame and this sort of thing makes me very angry. :mad: Out of interest do you have an inventory with photos.

Doshwaster

Doshwaster wrote: »

My inspection is actually due this afternoon. All I'm going to do is do a quick vacuum, make sure the dishes are done and there's nothing on view which shouldn't be. The grass needs a cut (hasn't been done since last year) but I'm feeling too lazy today.

As usual it was a 5 minute look around to make sure the roof hadn't caved in - and a suggestion that I cut the crass at some point

Little does he know that I have just bought a house ("subject to contract") and will be handing in my notice in a few weeks. They have been the best landlord/agent I have ever had - but it's time to move on.

samhuzz

Doshwaster wrote: »

As usual it was a 5 minute look around to make sure the roof hadn't caved in - and a suggestion that I cut the crass at some point

Little does he know that I have just bought a house ("subject to contract") and will be handing in my notice in a few weeks. They have been the best landlord/agent I have ever had - but it's time to move on.

Congrats on buying a house, it must be a great feeling. I have just done the next best thing (in my eyes) which is moved into a Housing Association place, so no more petty inspections or panic attacks if something gets spilled on the carpets!

lizzielondon

the first time i had an inspection we cleaned the flat so it was spotless (4 girls v. small flat) and we were quite nervous as we didn't know what to expect..

The guy just popped his head in every room quickly- as he was leaving i asked him if he thought it was ok and he said

'oh yeah, it's great, i just needed to check you haven't got a bunch of illegal immigrants in every room and that you aren't growing drugs' :rotfl: