End of Tenancy Cleaning

G_M

There are only two key questions

1) how clean was it when you moved in?
2) did you sign a check-in inventory and does it decribe the condition?

OK, now the advice:

3) ignore the tenancy agreement.
4) you must leave it as you found it (Qs 1&2 above)
5) how you achieve this is up to you: get your mates round and clean it yourselves; pay the cheapest cleaning company; check newsagent window for cleaners adverts - £5 per hour? Get your mum round
6) as long as you leave it how you found it (1&2 above) the LL cannot demand 'professional cleaners' so
7) take photos when you leave in case of dispute. Have a friend inspect it as a potential 'witness'

G_M

Datolite wrote: »

It was actually quite bad when I first moved in. Was not impressed.

These people are just out to make money, completely.

See my post above. Do you have evidence of how it was?

Does the LL/agent have evidence that it was 'professionally cleaned"?

Blackpool_Saver

Have you got photographs of the standard of cleanliness when you moved in?
Do it yourself, take date stamped photos, inside oven, hob, inside fridge/freezer etc, floors/skirts, sanitary fixtures, don't attempt to wash anything that says dry clean, get that done at cleaners. Good luck and WHEN they try it on send your evidence (which can also be video) to the deposit scheme, don't let them get away with it.

Datolite

Thank you for all of your advice! Lot of things to think about and I'll discuss with my flatmate.

SuzieSue

If it was filthy when you moved in then the chances are they won't get it cleaned at all after you leave and will just pocket your money.

As others have said, you just have to leave it in the same condition as it was before you moved in.

Beware that the landlord may have taken photos when the place was spotless years before you moved in and might use them to prove the condition of the place when you moved in. I am not sure whether the deposit dispute service will only consider date-stamped photos.

It is really up to you. It will cost you and your flatmate £75 extra each to stop them disputing your deposit and you have to decide if £75 is worth a stress-free move out.

Datolite

I think £75 definitely is.

SuzieSue

Datolite wrote: »

I think £75 definitely is.

It's just a shame that such low-life letting agents get away with it time and time again because people can't be bothered to fight, but I don't blame you at all.

skintandscared_2

When are you moving out? I just cleaned each room as I packed and gave myself a day at the end to properly do the floors/inside cupboards when they were all empty. Depending on how bad it is, the oven can sometimes take a few goes (use Oven Pride, it's fantastic) so I'd have a go at that ASAP. I've never paid a cleaner and never had any deposit withheld.

Datolite

I'm just wary* as I rented from this same agency previously (yes, my own fault for doing it again) and I'd cleaned everything nicely and they charged me £120. Just don't want it to happen again. Moving out this Thursday.

chickaroonee

I'm shocked at how much they charge to clean! I've just paid £60 for a 4 bed terrace to be cleaned prior to moving in and they did a brilliant job.