My landlord having to prove how much cleaning was needed - not sure where I stand?

Hannah85

My old landlord is trying to claim it took 16 hours to clean my old house. I find this very hard to believe given that we spent several hours cleaning it ourselves before we moved out and the place was pretty much spotless, I would say the same as when we moved in. I'm assuming if he produces a reciept saying it took that long then I have to pay, but does he have to show me one? I've asked poiltely and he's fobbed me off, not sure if I should ask again?

jjlandlord

Hannah85 wrote: »

I'm assuming if he produces a reciept saying it took that long then I have to pay, but does he have to show me one? I've asked poiltely and he's fobbed me off, not sure if I should ask again?

No. He has to prove that the condition of the property when you left was significantly worse then when you moved in.

Was an inspection and schedule of condition done when you moved in and when you left?

Hannah85

jjlandlord wrote: »

No. He has to prove that the condition of the property when you left was significantly worse then when you moved in.

Was an inspection and schedule of condition done when you moved in and when you left?

If one was done, we've never been aware of it.

So if I ask him to prove it was significantly worse than when we moved in, he has to do so? What happens then?

jjlandlord

Refuse deductions to your deposit and raise a dispute to the protection scheme (assuming AST and deposit protected).
From what you said he cannot prove anything so his claim will be rejected.

Remember that it is always up to the landlord to prove that deposit deductions are justified.

KRB2725

I would contest it. There is no way it takes 16 hours to clean a house - I am making the assumption here that it was a run of the mill house and not a mansion!

If he can't prove what condition it was in when you moved in I wouldn't think he has a leg to stand on.

If you want to be charitable over it, I would offer to pay for 4 hours max. I do not believe it could realistically take any longer than that.

Hannah85

emmatthews wrote: »

I would contest it. There is no way it takes 16 hours to clean a house - I am making the assumption here that it was a run of the mill house and not a mansion!

If he can't prove what condition it was in when you moved in I wouldn't think he has a leg to stand on.

If you want to be charitable over it, I would offer to pay for 4 hours max. I do not believe it could realistically take any longer than that.

That's what I was thinking - Ok, if we'd left the place as a pig sty I could see how it would take 16 hours. But this is a fairly small 2 story house which we'd already cleaned!

jjlandlord wrote: »

Refuse deductions to your deposit and raise a dispute to the protection scheme (assuming AST and deposit protected).
From what you said he cannot prove anything so his claim will be rejected.

Remember that it is always up to the landlord to prove that deposit deductions are justified.

Thanks for your help!

G_M

Is the property in Eng/Wales (not Scotland)?
And is the deposit protected in a scheme? (Contact each scheme to check).

Assuming yes and yes, then use the scheme's dispute process. The LL will have to prove what the condition was at the start of the tenancy (check-in inventory), in order to prove it was worse at the end.

clutton_2

no one on this site can give you any idea how long it took or may have taken, to clean your house because no one other than you and the LL know what condition it was in.... its pointless speculating on 16 hours 4 hours whatever... ALL that matters is what is in the inventories. No inventories ? no deductions.

Mind_the_Gap

clutton wrote: »

no one on this site can give you any idea how long it took or may have taken, to clean your house because no one other than you and the LL know what condition it was in.... its pointless speculating on 16 hours 4 hours whatever... ALL that matters is what is in the inventories. No inventories ? no deductions.

I agree...it has actually taken me 16 hours to deep-clean a particularly filthy house before now, but that's academic. Assuming (as GM mentions) that this is an AST in Eng/Wales, what matters is whether the LL has evidence (preferably agreed by OP at start of tenancy) as to its initial condition, and equivalent evidence of its state as soon as you moved out. Photos are best. Without that evidence he is going to struggle to justify any deductions to a deposit protection scheme adjudicator.

donnap83

Out of curiosity, what does a 'deep clean' involve?

Also, I need to clean the inside of my oven, it's bloody filthy. Any ideas/products i can use? Don't want to pay a person 50 notes to come and clean it for me.

Thanks

Sensible_Jess

donnap83 wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what does a 'deep clean' involve?

Also, I need to clean the inside of my oven, it's bloody filthy. Any ideas/products i can use? Don't want to pay a person 50 notes to come and clean it for me.

Thanks

I've tried a paste made from bicarbonate of soda and water - left for a few hours / overnight works wonders! Better than the commercial products.
S-J