Cleaning the house after tenancy - issue with lettings agent

damianjamesmcgrath

I have recently moved out of a property. I cleaned it, vacuumed it and made sure it looked in a presentable state, the same as when I moved in.

Since then, the lettings agent have said they will need to deduct £60 + VAT for cleaning the garden, and £120 + VAT for cleaning the house.

The garden is an acceptable charge, there was a bit of rubbish there that I couldn't get collected before I moved out so that's all fair enough.

However, I do dispute the condition of the house. For a start, I never signed the inventory and returned it to the agents, so I'm intrigued how they are making the comparison between when I moved in and now, in order to calculate what is "my mess" and pre-existing scuffs etc.

I asked the lettings agents for a breakdown of the £120 cost, and their reply was:

"You didn’t return a signed copy to us after move in so we would deem that you accepted the comments made.
Please bear in mind that the property had been redecorated throughout with new carpets and a professional clean before move in.

Apart from several scuff marks on the stairs which I think will wipe off, then no charge has been made for marks to walls.
Other than that, every surface needs a clean as well as white goods and a deep clean of the bathroom. All carpets need vacuuming and the lounge carpet needs cleaning to remove marks. Windows need cleaning inside and out."


I don't believe it is reasonable to expect me to have professionally cleaned the house. I vacuumed, and cleaned the surfaces using normal cleaning wipes or damp cloths or just normal household cleaning products.

I don't have any professional cleaning equipment, and it seems like the letting agents are nitpicking in order to keep as much of the deposit as possible.


Is there any argument I can make, or can they charge whatever they like?

G_M

damianjamesmcgrath wrote: »

I have recently moved out of a property. I cleaned it, vacuumed it and made sure it looked in a presentable state, the same as when I moved in.
Then raise a dispute via the deposit scheme on this basis

...
The garden is an acceptable charge, ..
When raising your dispute, state that you accept this deduction
However, I do dispute the condition of the house. For a start, I never signed the inventory and returned it to the agents, so I'm intrigued how they are making the comparison between when I moved in and now, in order to calculate what is "my mess" and pre-existing scuffs etc.
correct

I asked the lettings agents for a breakdown of the £120 cost, and their reply was:

"You didn’t return a signed copy to us after move in so we would deem that you accepted the comments made.
They cannot 'deem' that.
Please bear in mind that the property had been redecorated throughout with new carpets and a professional clean before move in.
If they have evidence of this (eg invoices from decorators /carpet shop) that would be enough proof - the inventory would not be needed. Do you agree the decoration/carpets WERE brand new?

Apart from several scuff marks on the stairs which I think will wipe off,
then wipe them off before you leave. Ooops - toolate!
then no charge has been made for marks to walls.
Other than that, every surface needs a clean as well as white goods and a deep clean of the bathroom. All carpets need vacuuming and the lounge carpet needs cleaning to remove marks. Windows need cleaning inside and out."


I don't believe it is reasonable to expect me to have professionally cleaned the house.
If it was cleaned to this standard when you moved in, it should be when you move out. The issue is whether it was, and whether they can prove it was.
I vacuumed, and cleaned the surfaces using normal cleaning wipes or damp cloths or just normal household cleaning products.

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damianjamesmcgrath

Thank you for the useful information.

If I want to raise a dispute with the deposit scheme, should I first agree to the deductions and the cleaning work, or should I continue to not authorise this?

I know under some appeal circumstances, people are better off paying (or in this case, authorising a deduction) first, then appealing after. Do you know if I should do that in this case?

Secondly, I have never seen any paperwork showing that the house was professionally cleaned and re-decorated prior to me moving in. However, even if it was, am I really expected to leave the house in a newly re-decorated state? After all, I've lived in it for 10 months, so obviously it won't be "newly redecorated."

It would seem unreasonable to expect the house to be absolutely pristine again.

What would your opinion be on this?

onlyroz

If the house was professionally cleaned before you moved in then it should be professionally cleaned when you move out.

pmlindyloo

When I leave a rented property I clean it to a standard such that a new tenant can move straight in.

When you moved in was the property really clean - oven, windows etc?

Did the inventory reflect that?

I personally would not think that a 'normal' every day clean would be sufficient (unless that was how you first rented it)

I think a 'spring clean' is more like it.

Did you give the bathroom and kitchen a 'deep' clean? Did you clean the windows?

Everything depends on how the property was when you moved in and whether you can prove what it was like.

Wear and tear is quite different from being thoroughly clean.

ognum

what does your tenancy agreement say?

For one letting agency that I use the letting agreement states the house will be professionally cleaned before you move in and the cost of a professional clean when you leave is £x.

This is clear in the agreement, the tenant does not need to clean one thing because they have agreed to a professional clean when they leave.

sadly everyone's opinion of clean is different, it's even different between my husband and myself and we live in the same house!

If the tenant came to me and said I would like to use x cleaner instead of the one stipulated providing they did the same job including oven, fridge etc I would be happy.

So read your agreement and what you have signed up for!

Reue

onlyroz wrote: »

If the house was professionally cleaned before you moved in then it should be professionally cleaned when you move out.

Disagree.

The house must be in the same condition. If someone can achieve this without having to use a professional cleaner, they are under no obligation to use one.

ognum

Reue wrote: »

Disagree.

The house must be in the same condition. If someone can achieve this without having to use a professional cleaner, they are under no obligation to use one.

it does depend on what the tenancy agreement they signed says!

damianjamesmcgrath

I have asked for a copy of the tenancy agreement from the lettings agent (as over the last 10 months, including the house move when I left, I have misplaced my agreement), and they said they will provide it to me, but for a cost of £25 + VAT.

This seems a little unfair!

ognum

Can you go in an read it in their office, take your phone or iPad and photograph it!

damianjamesmcgrath

Basically, this all comes down to me saying the house is clean, and the letting agents saying it's not.

I admit to not professionally cleaning it but at no point did they ever ask me to do so. They sent me a pre-checkout letter to say "leave by this time, and drop the keys to here, etc" but didn't mention the neccessity for a professional clean. As mentioned, I have misplaced my tenancy agreement so cannot check that.

I did clean the house to a standard that I would have been happy to move into.

I have no proof that the house was professionally cleaned prior to me moving in, nor do I have proof it wasn't.

I'm a little unhappy about paying the £120+VAT, and would dispute it, but I wanted to get people's opinions as to whether I'd be wasting my time.

If I refuse to pay it, I assume they retain the entire deposit, so I'd rather pay £120 than lose £795.