Advice on end of Tenancy inspection

Dubs99

[FONT=&quot]I could do with some advice.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
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[FONT=&quot] I recently moved out of my rented accommodation and I asked the landlord and estate agents via email on several occasions about arranging the end of tenancy inspection in the weeks leading up to the end of our tenancy. There was some damage due to pets (which were allowed by the landlord) but we were prepared to take a small hit on the deposit and we had a professional cleaner for several hours to tidy up. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I was first told it was being arranged via an independent inspection firm who did the original check in inspection. However this then changed and I was told a family member of the Landlord was doing it instead. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I emailed the person doing the inspection to try and arrange a date to go round with them and received no response, then I got an email out of the blue saying he had done the inspection the day before our tenancy ended and that the agents would be in touch with a copy.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I handed back the keys and was told the landlord was not happy at the state the property had been left in and that the family member (who did the inspection) had to then clean it before the new tenants arrived. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After a week of asking for (and being promised) the checkout inspection/report I have still not received it, Instead I have had an email from the person who did the inspection outlining the problems with the property and asking for nearly £700 including over £100 for his time cleaning the property. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For the damage he said he will send me a checklist of prices paid in the past – the damage isn’t throughout but localised to one area of the house and I can’t see how it could cost this much and is just a general estimate. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]He clarified in his email that when he did the first inspection he didn’t see that the property was dirty and only realised this after our tenancy ended and new tenants were arriving.From what he has said he had to clean the oven hobs and hoover.
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[FONT=&quot]Could anyone clarify and offer advice on my situation and the following points?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]The inspection was carried out without prior 24 hour written notice as specified in our contract – does this make any difference to the inspection or our position. It is clear that the second inspection which he said was why it was dirty was done after our tenancy ended. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]We were not given any chance to attend the inspection[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]We have still not had an inspection report and just an email asking for us to sign a form agreeing to their deductions[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]4) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]The original inspection relates to some damage and specifically says this might be by pets. It also says the property did have some dirty areas when we moved in that needed wiping down and cleaning. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We will look to dispute this with the deposit scheme our money is held under, does anyone have any advice on this?[/FONT]

moromir

As you had a professional cleaner in, can you ask them to send you an itemised bill to show the arears were already cleaned?

Just because the landlord agreed to you keeping pets doesn't mean they have carte blanche to damage the property, what was damaged?

rentergirl

Did you take photographs of the damage, and inform the landlord when it happened, letting know the extent of it? The inspection does sound shoddily done, but if yuo cannot contest the damage, any charge must be reasonable.