Can our landlord force us to pay anything?

squ1rrel5

We have just moved out of our rented property into our new home (bought).

Before we moved out we spent a back breaking day cleaning the house from top to bottom, making sure everything was as clean and tidy as it was when we moved in, if not more!! We are a professional couple who like things to be spick and span!!
Due to the age of the property we were in there is general wear and tear which could probably do with some maintenance/TLC but we have looked after the property well and felt we had done an excellent job of cleaning.

The landlord has just contacted us by email to say that he is not happy with how we have left the house and that its very dirty. It certainly isnt so first and foremost I am really insulted as we spent ages on this but our standards obviously differ somewhat.

Our rental agreement was only on a very casual basis (someone a friend knew) and we have never had a written tenancy agreement nor have we ever paid a deposit. (we have basically just been housesitting for the last 2 years) Our rent was paid on a month by month basis.

I know under normal circumstances the landlord would withhold the deposit to pay for a professional cleaner but as we didnt pay one, can the landlord actually do anything about this?

I have drafted an email response back to the landlord to say how insulted I am with their 'critique' of our cleaning skills but I feel its a little defensive.
If they cant force us to pay anything, I may just brush it under the carpet and forget about it (or was that the problem in the first place!)

Any advice?

lovinituk

As there is no written tenancy agreement there is nothing to say how the property should have been left so I doubt he has a leg to stand on.

As a landlord myself, I have had tenants in the past whose idea of 'clean' was questionable! I can't comment on you personally of course but what you say about standards differing is very true.

Werdnal

To prove the condition at the start and end of tenancy, LL should have taken a pre and post tenancy inventory, stating the condition of all fixtures and fittings, which you and he would both have signed. As this did not happen (I assume by your casual verbal arrangement), even if LL decided to take you to court, he would not be able to prove his case.

spadoosh

Id ignore him tbh. He hasnt taken a deposit and or put it aside so not created a tennancy as such. If he asks for money mention you will see him in court and sure enough he will back down quick enough when he realises theirs a good possibility of him publishing the fact hes been tax evading for the last few years

G_M

Id ignore him tbh. He hasnt taken a deposit and or put it aside so not created a tennancy as such.

Not so. He's provided a property and accepted rent so there was a tenancy. Perfectly valid.

As there is no written tenancy agreement there is nothing to say how the property should have been left

The lack of a written tenancy agreement is not relevant. What matters, as Werdnal correctly says, is whether ther was an agreed/signed check-in inventory. Was there?

You duty as a tenant is to leave the property at the end of the tenancy as you found it at the start (less wear and tear). In case of dispute, the LL will need to prove the state of the property at the start - hence the LL's need for a signed check-in inventory.

Since you have moved out, and there is no deposit, and (I assume) rent is up to date so nothing owing, the only action the landlord can take is to
1) put pressure on you with emails, letters, etc - which you can choose to ignore or
2) go to the Small Claims Court where he will need to show evidence (including the check-in and check-out inventories)

Either ignore, or write back politely asking for a copy of the signed check-in/check-out inventories, and receipts for the work he claims was done.

Personally I'd ignore. Not worth the time and you just encourage an ongoing and pointless exchange of correspondance.

PasturesNew

No inventory = nothing to pay.
No deposit = nothing to lose.
No chance.