Flat inspection (renting)

sandsni

spugzbunny wrote: »

They want to make sure you haven't painted the house pink, installed a water feature in the downstairs loo and moved in 50 mexican midgets.

What I would love to know is, how do they know you haven't just magically relocated the Mexican midgets for the day of the inspection, with every intention of moving them back in :eek:?

dodger1

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Who cares whether the property is tidy or not? It's no business of the agent or the landlord what their tenant's standard of house-keeping is. That doesn't necessarily stop some agents being completely impertinent. Unless there is any damage the agents can keep their opinions to themselves! What is important is that there are no repair issues which either the tenant hasn't noticed or hasn't reported. What does impact on the landlord is what the condition is when the tenants vacate. Until then, they can keep coal in the bath if they want to.

I agree with you 100%, however there will be agents and landlords who are more likely to offer new tenancies to the shall we say average tenants who keep the place reasonably tidy. Also I believe the inspection will be a lot quicker if the property looks neat and tidy, first impressions do count even if they shouldn't.

As I say you are completely correct but unfortunately some agents and landlords will want the very untidy tenants out as soon as the tenancy has run it's full course. It just may be worth a tidy up every six months if the tenant wants to stay. They shouldn't have to but it could be worth it, they might find the tv remote they lost last week

Out,_Vile_Jelly

nick_ wrote: »

If I was in the LL's position (the LA is acting on their behalf) I would want to know that the tenant is looking after my house. That includes it being tidy - would you not agree that an untidy house is usually a dirty house? Whilst I agree it doesn't have to be spotless, letting the LA view it as an untidy mess is just asking for trouble. I am speaking from experience here.

So you how do you define "tidy" and how will you quantify it? For example, my nan would call square shaped coasters not at right angles to the table edges "untidy". My brother would call kicking his dirty washing into a pile in the corner "tidying up".

Lifestyle habits that impact the property are things like drying washing indoors without ventilation, leaving bags of rubbish languishing for rats to enjoy etc. Dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor and unalphabetised CD racks are irrelevant and none of the landlord or agent's business.

jules-2005

I have an inspection every 3 months ... normally they find the same faults as were reported the last few times they've been round lol. ie poor finishes and poor decorating by the landlord ! They are always amazed that a) the garden now looks stunning thanks to me and b) that the house is being gradually decorated to a high standard by me !! Think it shamed the landlord into keeping up with me and doing some essential work to the exterior of the house

lowlitmemory

Thanks all. As I say we don't mind being inspected and am happy to use it as a kick up my lazy bum wrt tidying! Just wanted to know what they were looking for. We do dry clothes indoors (don't have any choice as there is no dryer in the property and no outside space, so I'm not sure what else they'd expect us to do) but always leave the vents open (they're quite big window ones). Will take all the clothes down before the inspection though.

I am definitely quite lazy normally and just give the flat a half-@rsed go with a hoover every week or so... so for me a 'good' clean will involve cleaning the lino with floor wipes, hoovering properly, putting things away, cleaning and polishing the kitchen/bathroom surfaces. Should suffice, we've no damp/mould issues or any major repairwork needed that I can tell.

tbs624

nick_ wrote: »

I think this advice is a bit misguided. The LA doesn't want to come into an untidy house, it really doesn't give a great first impression. If they come into a bomb site, they're likely to think, "christ, this tenant isn't looking after the place".

Thanks for your response. We'll have to agree to disagree.

What constitues being "untidy" is subjective and a lack of tidyness does not mean that a T "isn't looking after the place" . Absolutely don't care if T isn't anally retentive about place being tidy - its not judging them/their lifestyle, its about checking whether there are any repair or maintenance issues.

Obviously, if T has a hoarding tendency which after a couple of months tends to mean its harder to assess the property's condition that' has the potential to become a different matter and LL/LA may have to ask for T to temporarily move stuff about

If a LL/LA wants a nice shiny, perfectly ordered property then they'd be better keeping it empty and just popping in now and again to admire it, whilst counting their financial losses. It's the LL's property but its the Ts home - its not about LLs exerting some kind of Victorian power over how Ts may live..

tbs624

dodger1 wrote: »

.... unfortunately some agents and landlords will want the very untidy tenants out as soon as the tenancy has run it's full course.

Muppet inexperienced LLs and /or LAs with an ego problem may do.

In reality, if a T pays their rent on time and has not caused the property to actually deteriorate the LL would daft to do so and run the high risk of a void
( remember that awful untidyness from the sloven of a current T will put off any potential new Ts , assuming that the said sloven will allow viewings at all) And of course, there'd be no guarantee that the next T will be any more tidy

dodger1

tbs624 wrote: »

Muppet inexperienced LLs and /or LAs with an ego problem may do.

In reality, if a T pays their rent on time and has not caused the property to actually deteriorate the LL would daft to do so and run the high risk of a void
( remember that awful untidyness from the sloven of a current T will put off any potential new Ts , assuming that the said sloven will allow viewings at all) And of course, there'd be no guarantee that the next T will be any more tidy

I quite agree, unfortunately there are muppet agents and LLs and indeed tenants.

nick_

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

So you how do you define "tidy" and how will you quantify it? For example, my nan would call square shaped coasters not at right angles to the table edges "untidy". My brother would call kicking his dirty washing into a pile in the corner "tidying up".

As adults i think we are expected to exert a certain degree of common sense over such a situation. But if you want to split hairs then fine.

Anyway, this has turned into a rather pointless argument over which i feel partly responsible....good luck to the OP and your inspection.