'Professional Cleaning'

BitterAndTwisted

Ninjawombat wrote: »

No, the inventory didn't say how clean everything was. It just noted things like stains, chipped paint, scuff marks etc.

In which case they have no documentary evidence of how clean or otherwise you left the property. Dispute all of the deductions.


One thing that really annoyed me was that they have charged me for shampooing a carpet in a box room which was already grotty and on the inventory as 'very stained and marked.'

That would annoy me too! They cannot charge for cleaning something that was stained and marked at the end of your tenancy if you didn't lave it more stained than it was. They have no proof of this.

I've since emailed them and asked them for a copy of their complaints procedure. Unfortunately, the procedure is simply writing a letter to the person I've been emailing. I can't see this getting anywhere

Why should I have to pay for the whole place to be cleaned again when I had already spent ages cleaning it?

You don't! Don't bother with their pointless complaints procedure.

WRITE to the agent and the landlord a letter headed "Letter Before Action" (if this appropriate in Scottishland) telling them that as far as you are concerned the property was left in as clean condition as at the start of your tenancy. Their check-in inventory makes no mention of the cleanliness so you are of the opinion that they cannot prove that you left it dirtier. Give them 14 days to return your deposit or you'll start a claim in court. Then do it.

noodles86

A very similar thing happened to me a few years ago. But I had a photo inventory and they provided photo's to me when I moved out. As you said I left the house the same as I left it but they wanted 400 out of the 500 deposit for damage and cleaning. As prev mentioned the deposit was being held seperately and I raised a dispute over what they were claiming. I had spoke to the CAB who told me that it was tough and I had to expect this (Er, no way!) They were trying to claim for a broken window, which I had proof from the original inventory it was already broken, for the seal coming off around the bath, a dirty door mat and filthy carpets. O and at the time it was me and my 1 year old who was crawling everywhere, which the EA knew. Any hoo, I wrote a very detailed letter with the photo's (which weren't very clear!) saying that firstly the window was broke before I moved in, the seal around the bath was not my responsibility as this was maintenance and I had had an inspection 6 weeks before moving out with no problems, a dirty door mat, surely the point of a doormat is to get dirty?! and lastly the 'after' pics of the carpets were not very clear and I had cleaned them to the same standard as which I had received them in. I got my full deposit back (though I do feel that once I had discredited the window it showed what liars the EA were) so I would ask who is holding the deposit and to write to them. Good luck!!!

hcb42

I cleaned a six month old flat I had rented practically with a toothbrush before I left. It was absolutely spotless. It was laminate flooring throughout so no carpets to get dirty either.

They still deducted me over £100. I just think it is a scam, myself. Left a sour taste in my mouth about renting and treating someone else's property with the respect it deserves.

G_M

Ninjawombat wrote: »

Well, there was an inventory done when I moved in which I signed. That covered items in the house and described the condition of the paint, carpets, floors etc. What is a dilapidations statement? Should I be allowed to see a copy of it??

The inventory is critical. This (should!) describe the condition when you moved in. And that is how it should be when you leave.

My tenancy agreement stated that the property should be returned in 'immaculate' condition

This is only relevant if the check-in inventory describes the property as 'immaculate' when you moved in. You are not expected to leave it in a better condition at the end than at the beginning.

a box room which was already grotty and on the inventory as 'very stained and marked.'

Then that is how you can leave it at the end.

'Delapidations' should be listed. Each item, descrition of damage, and allowance made for 'normal wear and tear'.

I believe in Scotland you have to use the Small Claims procedure in the Sheriff's Court. Do so.

Ninjawombat

Thanks everyone!

Since my first post, the cleaning company have backtracked and said that they were not, in fact, instructed to to a full clean and were asked by the letting agent to do a few specific things. This actually makes things worse though, as their bill would now seem even more ridiculously high. Over £70 (in addition to the rest of the cleaning) to clean one small carpet.

I'm not going to let this drop. I was prepared to pay a reasonable amount to sort out a few things but I have been totally ripped off and I'm expected to just accept it!

Ninjawombat

Ok, here's the latest on this saga...

I got a copy of the dilaps statement today which included the things that I expected - but also shows that the LA instructed the cleaners to go over everything that I had already done. I hadn't seen the dilaps statement until today so I couldn't even dispute it before the LA sent the cleaners in.

I really don't know what to do about this now. The LA told me that the cleaning was done to bring the flat up to 'letting standard' but I thought the flat looked great when I left. The cleaning company sent in two people for four hours, which is essentially 8 hours spent cleaning the flat and it absolutely shouldn't have taken that long!

There's nothing on my tenancy agreement to say how clean the flat was when I moved in, so what do I do now?

If I still had to pay the cleaning bill I would obviously dispute it until satisfactorily resolved but now that they have my money, I feel like I'm stuck.

jjlandlord

Ninjawombat wrote: »

I got a copy of the dilaps statement today which included the things that I expected - but also shows that the LA instructed the cleaners to go over everything that I had already done. I hadn't seen the dilaps statement until today so I couldn't even dispute it before the LA sent the cleaners in.

That's the LA's problem.
Based on inventory, or lack thereof, you should still dispute the fact that they want you to pay for it.

Ninjawombat wrote: »

now that they have my money, I feel like I'm stuck.

How come they have your money? Do you mean your deposit?

BitterAndTwisted

Dispute the deduction IN WRITING! They have no documentary evidence that you left the property less clean than when you took on the tenancy therefore no deductions can be justified. Fight this tooth and nail.

Ninjawombat

jjlandlord wrote: »

That's the LA's problem.
Based on inventory, or lack thereof, you should still dispute the fact that they want you to pay for it.

How come they have your money? Do you mean your deposit?

Yes, they paid the cleaners with my deposit and sent me a cheque for the pitiful remainder.

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Dispute the deduction IN WRITING! They have no documentary evidence that you left the property less clean than when you took on the tenancy therefore no deductions can be justified. Fight this tooth and nail.

Thanks B&T, I'll prepare something tonight and send it tomorrow... when I've had a chance to calm down!

jjlandlord

Ninjawombat wrote: »

Yes, they paid the cleaners with my deposit and sent me a cheque for the pitiful remainder.

No they did not pay the cleaners with your deposit.
They paid the cleaners and propose to deduct the amount from your deposit.

You should dispute this deduction as previously advised.