Dirty Carpets in newly rented flat

ohmsoft

Hi all

I've just signed the lease on a flat and am looking to move in over the weekend. When I viewed the place a few weeks back the carpets were a little untidy (bits of cardboard etc scatered around - perhaps from the old tenants packing boxes to move - and a number of dark stains/scuffs). The LA told me that once we set a date to move cleaners would be instructed etc.

However, having looked at the flat now this has not been done and the stains/mess remains. Its not really that bad - although one of them does look like a spec/drop of blood?!.

Just wondered how you guys think I should approach the matter. I havent completed an inventry yet so will note it there but should I do anything else? Also, do you think I should just accept it and wash the stains out myself or insist the LA arrange a cleaner?

Grateful, as always, of any advice

plane_boy2000

If its bothering you which I guess it is, then ask the LA to have the carpets cleaned as they agreed to, but also read your tennancy agreement as it may have a clause in which requires you to clean the carpets before you move out. If this is so an dyou do nothing then they may hold you responsible for any damage / staining to the carpets when you move out.

horace_2

And the Estate Agent was very plausable.

And you have `signed`.

The problem is what?

horace

niceguyed

ohmsoft wrote: »

Hi all

I've just signed the lease on a flat and am looking to move in over the weekend. When I viewed the place a few weeks back the carpets were a little untidy (bits of cardboard etc scatered around - perhaps from the old tenants packing boxes to move - and a number of dark stains/scuffs). The LA told me that once we set a date to move cleaners would be instructed etc.

However, having looked at the flat now this has not been done and the stains/mess remains. Its not really that bad - although one of them does look like a spec/drop of blood?!.

Just wondered how you guys think I should approach the matter. I havent completed an inventry yet so will note it there but should I do anything else? Also, do you think I should just accept it and wash the stains out myself or insist the LA arrange a cleaner?

Grateful, as always, of any advice

If the letting agent is worth their salt they will have arranged to complete an inventory with you in attendance on your moving in day. Whether it is cleaned or not it is important a record of the condition of the carpet is made by the LA in their inventory.
Unless you're the messy type (sounds not) then if it isn't cleaned it sounds like you'd do it yourself. I personally think it is down to the LA as this would be best practice. It may be in the lease that you clean the carpet before you leave. Or it may say on the lease that you leave it in the condition you found it. The problem being you leave it as you found it and then the LA claim it was clean when you moved in and take some of your deposit.

It sounds like you're asking whether it is reasonable to force the matter more with the LA. I think it is. I would, in anycase, take photos of all rooms in the property on the day you move in. Just incase.

devils_advocate

You have 2 choices, both of which get you back to the same place.

i) tell the agent that the carpets need claened. The agen tarranges this, and the landlord pays, but in order to put th eflat back to the same situation it was in when you move out, you'll probably have to pay for the cleaning again at the end of your tenancy.

ii) get the carpets cleaneed yourself, point this out to the agent, and tell him to get stuffed if he tries to sck you with the costs of a carpet clean when you move out.

ohmsoft

Thanks for all your replies.

I was a little supprised that an inventry wasn't carried out with both parties present (It is one of the big national LAs) - They simply said they would send me one shortly to which I would make objections/additions. I signed my letting aggreement on the basis that this inventry would follow and I would return the propery in the same condition as stated in it.

Devils Advocate good point you highlighted - I hadn't thought about my doing a great cleaning job now and not worrying as much as I normally would at the end of the lease.

pingu79

Were with a large LA and there pretty rubbish TBH, they actually gave us an inventory that related to a similar flat that was in our building but not our flat, their excuse being that we moved in earlier than expected, but surely the inventory should of been done when the last tennants moved out and updated for any repairs.

When we moved into our flat we had to argue for curtain poles to be put up in the bedrooms (top of windows are 3m up, so hard to do ourselves) and fire doors to the main bedroom and kitchen wouldnt close and we had to complain lots & wait about 2 months before they were finally sorted out. I think its worth mentioning to the LA that you were assured when you had viewed the property that the carpets would be cleaned prior to your moving in and they haven't. Personally i think its likely they will do eff'all if anything like ours but if you complain enough to the right people in the office (not the sales ppl) then you have a chance of it being sorted, although they may try to sting you for it later.

Topsy1_2

ohmsoft wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

I was a little supprised that an inventry wasn't carried out with both parties present (It is one of the big national LAs) - They simply said they would send me one shortly to which I would make objections/additions.

Generally inventories are not carried out in the presence of others. A professional inventory involves an awful lot of talking into a dictaphone, getting down on hands and knees to check things, counting teaspoons, and can take anything from an hour upwards. Not particularly interesting for a prospective tenant, and very off-putting for an inventory clerk. Check-ins, where the previously prepared inventory is checked through with the tenant, should be a matter of course for LA or private LLs.

ohmsoft wrote: »

I signed my letting aggreement on the basis that this inventry would follow and I would return the propery in the same condition as stated in it.

It is a point of best practice that inventories are handed over at the same time as the tenancy agreement, and there is an argument that a tenany (not tenancy agreement) is not valid unless presented at the same time with a valid inventory. If inventories are not handed over at the point of the tenancy sign-up then the LA (and tenant)has a very dodgy leg to stand on when it comes to the check-out. If, unfortunately, it can be proved that the inventory was not handed over.