brought a house - but it was filthy when i moved in!

pozalina

When we moved into our house it was filthy and stank of cat pee. I can't compain too much as it was clear it wasn't well looked afer when we viewed it - which was one of the reasons we could afford it. Didn't move in for several weeks while we cleaned the place. Sugar soap was a good cleaner, if I remember rightly. We ripped all kitchen cupboards out straight away so saved cleaning them! The cat pee took months to disappear completely. We tried every air freshener known to man and pulled up all the carpets - they must have been seriously incontinent felines :rotfl:

tanith

To be honest I'd be looking at how clean a house was before I even made a offer on it.. if things like the bathroom and kitchen were dirty it would put me right off even though I too would give it any house I bought a good clean before I moved in..

hazyjo

I find that people's definitions of 'clean' vary greatly!

The house we bought was filthy. Bits of it still are five weeks on! Took us the best part of a day just to clean the kitchen. Too much going on at the mo for us to worry about making it splotless.

We were really surprised though. Honestly thought she'd leave it immaculate. As it was her and her hubby split up just before completion. He was apparently in the house for the last week. She was there cleaning when we turned up and started babbling on about how annoyed she was with him and he was meant to clean it on vacating and she'd done it before she left, but no way had that been cleaned for months. I've never seen so many bloomin' cobwebs in a house! Nearly every corner. Yuck.

Jx

Errata

jackieblack wrote: »

Not sure how you could enforce this..... whose definition of clean?
People have different standards and one person's definition of clean may not be up a fussier person's expectations.

(Obviously this doesn't apply to your recent problem, I don't think anyone would have believed what you have described could be clean )

My thoughts exactly. Who defines what 'clean' is. My place is reasonable but my SIL is a freak-clean on steroids and thinks I'm a slovenly !!!!!!

GothicStirling

When we moved into this flat we had to scrub the place. The bathroom was filthy as was the fridge, we pulled out the oven to discover an inch of debris behind and mould on the sides [it took me a whole afternoon and Dettol mould cleaner to get rid of that.]

googler

decogecko wrote: »

Many thanks - I'd always thought it was part of the house sellers contract to ensure it was clean.

Another instance where the E&W Buying and Selling System could take a lead from Scotland - standard clauses in contracts, such as;

"1. FIXTURES, FITTINGS & CONTENTS
The Property is sold with:
(a) all heritable fittings and fixtures;

etc etc

The Seller warrants that at the date of settlement all items included in the Price are owned by the Seller, are or will be free of all debt, and are not the subject of any litigation.

The Seller undertakes that the Property will be left in a clean and tidy condition at settlement."

pimento

What is a "pair of cacks"?

steveymp

pimento wrote: »

What is a "pair of cacks"?

In Northern Ireland we call them Keeks or underbags

Generally a big pair of underpants;)

P.S. We just moved 3 weeks ago and my dear OH spent ages cleaning our house and leaving it spotless the couple moving in did really appreciate it thou as they commented on the condition when I called the next day. My OH is one of these people that wouldn't have anyone thinking she is a dirty cow:rotfl:

Welshwoofs

decogecko wrote: »

Never mind! Will make sure I stipulate house is left clean if/when I buy my next property.

That's really unenforceable and will add complications to your sale for no good reason.

On my last move I thoroughly cleaned the house as I was packing up. The removals arrived and it was tipping down, so they were traipsing back and forth leaving huge muddy footprints everywhere. I couldn't stay behind and clean it because the moment they were out I had to jump in the car and hotfoot it down the motorway to open up the new house before they got there.

...and that is what it's like on moving day for the majority of people. It's just not practical to expect a house to be 100%.

I'd also add - what if the house is empty when you buy it? The house I'm in now was a deceased estate and had been empty for a year - it was filthy!

starsandmoon

When I bought my house it was supposed to be empty and modernised which it was when I viewed it. Turned out builders were living in it whilst doing up another house nearby. When I got the keys and it was all mine I discovered a half eaten kebab in the kitchen and a chip pan full of fat, oven was filthy (supposed to be brand new) the yard which was full of rubbish and was supposed to have been removed was still full of rubbish, bathroom was minging but the worst thing was finding a load of large toenail clippings in one of the bedrooms:eek:. I contacted my solicitor over it and it would have been so much hassle to get the rubbish removed etc I sorted it myself. Luckily I was moving out of rented property and still had a week of tenancy left so I was able to postpone moving until I had scrubbed the whole house.