Moving out of the rented flat

mooncake

I am going to give the vacatig notice to the landlord tomorrow. My landlord is a very difficult person. I am very worried about that the landlord will ask for unreasonal amount of money for things such as repairing, cleaning etc. And I have no ideathe cost for those things such as professional cleaning.

How should I know the money my landlord asking for is reasonable or not? If not, what kind of lawyer shall I contact for help?

Yorkie1

Are you in England / Wales?

Was an inventory taken when you moved in, and did you sign a copy to agree with it?

Your obligation is to return it in the same condition as it was when you moved in, less any fair wear and tear.

Are you sure that you've got your dates for giving notice correct? Are you in the fixed term? If not, what was the date your fixed term previously ended?

Is your deposit protected and have you been given the prescribed info about it by the LL?

G_M

As Yorkie says, check if your Deposit is registered (if Eng/Wales).

Re correct notice, read this:

Ending/Renewing an AST (what happens when the Fixed Term ends?)(What is a Periodic Tenancy?)(How can a LL remove a tenant?)(How can a tenant end a tenancy?)

mooncake

The reason I am so worrying is because my landlord is a very difficult person. There were mice in the house. He claimed because I was too dirty and brought the mouse in. Finally I found the huge gap between the wall and the floor behind the kitchen. It took him three years to fix the mice problem. When the 20-year-old fridge stopped working, he claimed it was a new one when I moved in 6 years ago and I should buy him a new one. There were so many things happend between us like this.


Are you in England / Wales?
Yes, I am in England.

Was an inventory taken when you moved in, and did you sign a copy to agree with it?
Yes, but in the old agreement. We signed a new agreement 6 months ago. There is nothing written in the new agreement.

Your obligation is to return it in the same condition as it was when you moved in, less any fair wear and tear.
It's impossible to keep everything as new as 6 years ago. Who defines they are in fair wear and tear? The landlord doesn't like to be disturbed. So I have been trying to be handy and fix everything myself. But there are things I can't fix like the doors of kitchen cupboards. I am worried about those things.

Are you sure that you've got your dates for giving notice correct? Are you in the fixed term? If not, what was the date your fixed term previously ended?
I have finished the fixed term. What do you mean by giving notice correct? I am writing him an email as a notice.

Is your deposit protected and have you been given the prescribed info about it by the LL?
Yes, it is protected, 1200 pounds. It's a very old and small one bed flat. Becasue I know aht kind of person he is, I am worrying that the landlord will accuse much more than the deposit. So I think I should prepare myself in advance.

G_M

mooncake wrote: »

Was an inventory taken when you moved in, and did you sign a copy to agree with it?
Yes, but in the old agreement. We signed a new agreement 6 months ago. There is nothing written in the new agreement.
The baseline for condition at the start of your tenancy is whatever the inventory says

Your obligation is to return it in the same condition as it was when you moved in, less any fair wear and tear.
It's impossible to keep everything as new as 6 years ago.
Of course. Hence the "less fair wear and tear"!
Who defines they are in fair wear and tear?
if you cannot agree this between you, then either the deposit scheme arbitrator or the court

I have finished the fixed term. What do you mean by giving notice correct? I am writing him an email as a notice.
In that case, no notice is needed - read my link above.

Is your deposit protected and have you been given the prescribed info about it by the LL?
Yes, it is protected, 1200 pounds. It's a very old and small one bed flat. Becasue I know aht kind of person he is, I am worrying that the landlord will accuse much more than the deposit. So I think I should prepare myself in advance.

Learning your rights in advance is wise. If you do not agree with any deductions he wishes to make, you raise a dispute via the depsoit scheme - that's why it is there. They are impartial and objective. They decide what is fair wear and tear after 6 years.

More here on wear & tear.

Yorkie1

Just need to clarify when you say that you "have finished your fixed term".

Are you leaving on the final day of your fixed term, or has that date already passed and you are on a rolling tenancy?

G_M

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Just need to clarify when you say that you "have finished your fixed term".

Are you leaving on the final day of your fixed term, or has that date already passed and you are on a rolling tenancy?

Good quesrion. I jumped to a conclusion but the OP is ambiguous on this important point.

Shamus01

I think you better better move out..

mooncake

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Just need to clarify when you say that you "have finished your fixed term".

Are you leaving on the final day of your fixed term, or has that date already passed and you are on a rolling tenancy?

The old agreement was one year and then rolling on. Six months ago I signed a new one (becasues the landlord doesn't want to pay for the EA anymore). It is still a one-year agreement but with a 'break clause' -- may leave after six months with two months notice.

In this case, if I want to leave, is that what I need just giving the landlord a notice?

I threw a very old and dirty sofa out, broke the edge of a box in a 20-year-old fridge. There are some stains on the mattress but I will try to clean them up. How much will these things cost me? All other things are under normal wear.

Last time when I talked about moving out, he shouted at me that I am dirty and I made his flat dirty. I expect much mor than dirty this time. If he comes for inspection and accuses the money that I don't think I should pay, what should I do? Shall I pay him in advance and then go to court, or do not pay him until going to court?

G_M

mooncake wrote: »

.....Six months ago I signed a new one (becasues the landlord doesn't want to pay for the EA anymore). It is still a one-year agreement but with a 'break clause' -- may leave after six months with two months notice.

In this case, if I want to leave, is that what I need just giving the landlord a notice?

Without seeing the exact wording of the break clause it is difficult to advise you properly. Please quote the clause exactly.

Please also give the exact date your new 12 month fixed term started.

However it seems that you must

* give two months notice
* this is probobly calander months, but may not be
* give the notice IN WRITING. Send your letter to the landlord at the address on the tenancy agreement "for the serving of notices"

Getting this right is much more important at present than worrying about the deposit.

However, regarding the deposit, and possible LL claims for dirt etc, see theposts above. All answered already!