Help understanding tenancy agreement

money_saving_matt

Hi all,

I'm in the process of moving out of rented accommodation and the agent has informed me via their generic moving out "checklist" that I must pay for all the curtains to be professionally cleaned, which is not something I've had to do before.

From looking at my original contract the only point that refers to curtains is:

Pay for the washing of all the linen and the cleaning of all blankets, bedding, carpets and curtains which have been soiled during the tenancy (reasonable use thereof nevertheless excepted).

Can someone with a degree in legalese decipher the last 5 words please?

I am happy to pay to have things cleaned where they need it, but to pay for something that isn't dirty is something I'd rather avoid.

Many thanks
Matt

Guest101

Basically it means nothing, just clean them to the standard they were when you got them, less any wear and tear fading.

They cannot make you pay to do this.

Yorkie1

If you haven't made them dirty other than through usual use (e.g. opening and closing them) then that is fair wear and tear and not chargeable.

Was there a dual-signed inventory at the start of the tenancy?

How long have you been there?

Are the curtains soiled (dirtied) at all from your time there?

G_M

If you've been drawing the curtains with sticky fingers, or smoking in the room so they smell, then you need to clean them.

If all you've done is subject them to reasonable use then, you don't need to.

It is actually a good tenancy clause; so often here we see tenancies that demand tenants professionally clean carpets & curtains in all circumstances, without taking account of 'fair wear and tear', so it is refreshing to see a tenancy that is fairly written.

Yorkie1

G_M wrote: »

It is actually a good tenancy clause; so often here we see tenancies that demand tenants professionally clean carpets & curtains in all circumstances, without taking account of 'fair wear and tear', so it is refreshing to see a tenancy that is fairly written.

It's just the moving-out process / documentation, which appears to require all Ts to do this irrespective of the state of the place.

dancingfairy

Basically you will get the items cleaned where they have been made dirty during the tenancy but they will overlook any problems from normal use. Like Gm says if they are a tiny bit dusty or not smelling freshly washed then it's fine. If you have done something to make them dirty somehow then you should get them cleaned.
Also note that it is up to you how you clean them. You are required to return them in the same state (or cleaner) than you found them. How you go about this is up to you. You may take them to a dry cleaners, you may pay a specialist to come around and clean them for you or you may clean them yourself (obviously with curtains you are less likely to be able to clean them yourself) but you don't have to pay to get them cleaned and you don't have to use any particular company.
Watch that they don't recommend a mate's company or company they have a deal with to clean your items
df

money_saving_matt

Thanks for the feedback everyone, much appreciated. The curtains are basically in the same condition as when I moved in (they're clean and don't smell), so given your advice I don't think I need to worry about cleaning them.

Matt