Return of deposit - deductions for cleaning.

lion-o

We have just received our check out report via email for our one bed flat in London, from our agency.

As usual, they wish to charge for cleaning.

Carpets £70 - happy to pay this as they were a bit grubby.
Cleaning of the flat - £135 - not too happy about this, seems quite alot of money to clean and are not some just not general wear and tear:

- dust on top of doorframes
- watermarks on shower screen/limescale in bath - not our fault.
- lime scale in WC pan.
- tarnishing and lime scale to kitchen sink
- spillage stain in front of oven (no such stain).

When we moved in the place was not clean, any they had to get the cleaners to return 3 days later. In our check in report we have noted down numerous things that were not clean (even after the cleaners came back) but the agency is picking up on other small things that we left dirty (above a few door frames etc).

They are also saying the bath had watermarks round it and needed further cleaning - it's because the shower leaked - which we informed them about.

Also the agency representative told me that on the way in, cleaners go around and make notes of how clean things are, say kitchen bin - dirty, sink - very clean. The agency representative then told me they do this agin upon us leaving and note the differences. Surely this is wrong as I though check in/check outs should be done by an independent party, but a cleaner has an interest in the place being dirty - so they can be paid to clean it.

The deposit is protected under TDS.

I was just wondering what the best way to approach this would be?

Just take the hit or should I bother to argue?

SerialRenter

Argue away!

You mentioned they did a check in report, was this presented to you and signed?
Do you have your own copy?

When you go to dispute, they must prove these issues where caused during the tenancy.
For example, you reported the issue with the shower leaking, as you were obligated to do. As they failed to make good the leak before it left marks on the bath, I see no reason how you could be found at fault.

G_M

lion-o wrote: »

When we moved in the place was not clean, any they had to get the cleaners to return 3 days later. In our check in report we have noted down numerous things that were not clean (even after the cleaners came back) but the agency is picking up on other small things that we left dirty (above a few door frames etc).



Also the agency representative told me that on the way in, cleaners go around and make notes of how clean things are, say kitchen bin - dirty, sink - very clean. The agency representative then told me they do this agin upon us leaving and note the differences. Surely this is wrong as I though check in/check outs should be done by an independent party, but a cleaner has an interest in the place being dirty - so they can be paid to clean it.

?

So at the start of the tenancy (professional?) cleaners did come in? And what'smore they responded to (presumably) your complaint and came back? So the property was professionally cleaned at the start?

There is no requirement as to who does the check in or check out reports. It can be the landlord, his mum, a letting agent, or a member of The AIIC

lion-o

I do have a copy of the check in report - I was not happy with the report for a number of reasons, one of which being that the report is incorrect and contradicts itself. The report also mentions that the flat was cleaned to a professional standard - despite the cleaners having to come back 3 days later and actually clean it properly.

I had to spend hours adding amendments to the report (I did this digitally through their system). For my efforts they gave me a free check out report (normal we would have to pay for this - around £100.)

Still after making the amendments I was not happy with the report - they just tacked them on to the end of the report, not changing the original document and you could not see the photos that I took as they were of thumbnail size. I was also annoyed as I spent 9 hours doing the photos and stuff and I could have easily missed issues - I had to make almost 200 amends.

I wrote to the agency and the landlord saying I was not happy with the report, they replied and said they would not produce another report. I think I sent them two letters on the matter - claiming it could not be used at the end of the tenancy. They said because I made additions to it digitally that I basically agreed to it - I have never signed the report and contested it (in writing) the day after it was delivered to me.

Before moving out I reminded the agency that they could not use the report - but they have done so anyway.

So how should I proceed - tell them how can they compare cleanliness levels when I contested the original report? And they don;t have a signed copy from me?

tbs624

G_M wrote: »

There is no requirement as to who does the check in or check out reports. It can be the landlord, his mum, a letting agent, or a member of The AIIC

However, it may be worth noting that the adjudicators will apparently take note of any potential for bias, such as that described by the OP, ie where cleaners have a vested interest in obtaining work for themselves.

Useful pdf available from one of the deposit schemes -mydeposits- intended as guidance for LLs when pursuing deposit retentions for cleaning issues here