Tenants - Cleaning Exterior of Windows

Kevie192

Hi all,

In the process of moving out and the agent has sent us a letter stating we MUST clean all windows inside AND out before we hand the property back.

I always thought it was the landlords reaponsibility to clean the windows on the outside... Can anyone shed any light on this? And are there any links that may help with this?

Tried looking at the OFT guide on unfair terms but it doesn't make a distinction between inside/outside cleaning.

Thanks,

Kevin

LEJC

it depends what your tenancy agreement says.


We let through an agent and the agreement is that windows are cleaned as part of the tenant responsibility.


On check out there is to be cleaning to a professional standard of both inside the property and the external windows

donfanatico

I rent and have always understood that cleaning windows (both in and outside) is the tenants responsibility, as is keeping the gutters clean etc but you need to read you inventory and see if it is mentioned, if not, they have NO PROOF of the state is was when you moved in so cannot claim anything back

19lottie82

Of course it's the tenants job to clean the windows. Or more specifically to make sure that they are no dirtier when you return the property than when you got it.

Pay a window cleaner the £5. Is it really so much of a hassle?

AnnieO1234

Unless this is a tower block where exterior maintenance would be done by the freeholder (still at residents cost) it will invariably be the tenants responsibility.

dgtazzman

£5 sounds good, the ones round here charge £11 for a 3-bed town house and they don't do a very good job of it. We already kindly asked them once never to come round again, till we heard them cleaning the windows again a few weeks ago while we were still in bed.

Our tenancy agreement actually makes a big point stating the windows must be cleaned inside and out in the last 2 weeks of the tenancy.

Kevie192

Thanks.

It's a 4 bedroom detached house with a conservatory. A window cleaner would be considerably more than £5.

The contract states "To clean or have cleaned both internally and externally all reasonably accessible windows of the premises as necessary during the tenancy, and within one month prior to the end of the tenancy."

The inventory doesn't mention the state of cleanliness of the windows, though the disclaimer at the beginning states "It is assumed that all d!cor, fixtures and fittings, etc are in good order unless otherwise stated."

The windows were not particularly clean when we moved in (much like the rest of the property), hence my issue with having to clean them now...

Thanks,

Kevin

princeofpounds

The inventory doesn't mention the state of cleanliness of the windows, though the disclaimer at the beginning states "It is assumed that all d!cor, fixtures and fittings, etc are in good order unless otherwise stated."

The windows were not particularly clean when we moved in (much like the rest of the property), hence my issue with having to clean them now...

Well unless you corrected the inventory at the time you are going to have to

Kevie192

princeofpounds wrote: »

Well unless you corrected the inventory at the time you are going to have to

Why? How does 'good order' imply 'cleaned' ?

Surely the burden of proof lies with the agent and/or landlord to prove the condition of the property?

comeandgo

I live in a four bedroom house and it takes me less than 15mins to clean all outside windows. I presume you have cleaned them during the time you have been there so will know how long it takes you. Is it really worth the hassle of risking getting your deposit back in full?

Kevie192

I already have the deposit back in full... Agent didn't protect it within the required 30 day period so I pressed to get it back before they served the S21.

It's not the time, it is the principle... And the fact that there is a conservatory!!!

I also wanted to ask the question so that people know... Tried to find something similar and failed. I did find this link which suggests it is the landlord's responsibility, hence the question!