Leaving a flat and letting agent is taking the Michael :/

TeamMCS

G_M wrote: »

Ignore the clause and see your responsiblity as explained above.

"our obligation is to leave the flat as it was at the start, less fair wear and tear. How it was at the start is determined primarily by the inventory - did you sign one?

How you achieve this is up to you. Professional clean. DIY. Your mum. What matters is the condition of the property not how you achieve it."

Is that defined anywhere I can use?

topdaddy_2

TeamMCS wrote: »

"our obligation is to leave the flat as it was at the start, less fair wear and tear. How it was at the start is determined primarily by the inventory - did you sign one?

How you achieve this is up to you. Professional clean. DIY. Your mum. What matters is the condition of the property not how you achieve it."

Is that defined anywhere I can use?

Yeah. Here: clean is clean.
Dont matter how it gets there. Is professional clean any cleaner than high stand of clean done by a amatuer?

00ec25

TeamMCS wrote: »

Is that defined anywhere I can use

although the OFT guide is now a bit long in the tooth and is NOT law, if it comes to a dispute it is regarded as being a guide that should be followed - go read the one on "unfair terms in tenancy agreements" http://www.oft.gov.uk/about-the-oft/legal-powers/legal/unfair-terms/guidance#named6 which is where the whole question of what is meant by "professional" is explained in the context of cleaning charges

ging84

it seems the agent know very well how to load on fees, they almost certainly will have loaded the tenancy with clauses which allow them to charge substantial fees if you were to not pay the rent on time or try to withhold rent

TeamMCS

ging84 wrote: »

it seems the agent know very well how to load on fees, they almost certainly will have loaded the tenancy with clauses which allow them to charge substantial fees if you were to not pay the rent on time or try to withhold rent

Yeah that's very true, there's quite a juicy clause and it gets expensive fast...

TeamMCS

00ec25 wrote: »

although the OFT guide is now a bit long in the tooth and is NOT law, if it comes to a dispute it is regarded as being a guide that should be followed - go read the one on "unfair terms in tenancy agreements" http://www.oft.gov.uk/about-the-oft/legal-powers/legal/unfair-terms/guidance#named6 which is where the whole question of what is meant by "professional" is explained in the context of cleaning charges

Hmm, so it potentially comes to deposit dispute which you'd then question the clause (as said above, clean is clean).

TeamMCS

00ec25 wrote: »

although the OFT guide is now a bit long in the tooth and is NOT law, if it comes to a dispute it is regarded as being a guide that should be followed - go read the one on "unfair terms in tenancy agreements" http://www.oft.gov.uk/about-the-oft/legal-powers/legal/unfair-terms/guidance#named6 which is where the whole question of what is meant by "professional" is explained in the context of cleaning charges

I spotted this in addition, http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/housing_e/housing_renting_a_home_e/tenancy_agreements.htm#h_is_the_tenancy_agreement_unfair

I've actually dropped them a mail so (budget cuts aside) hopefully I'll get a response

00ec25

TeamMCS wrote: »

Hmm, so it potentially comes to deposit dispute which you'd then question the clause (as said above, clean is clean).

your deposit is registered/protected so they must go through the dispute process for the relevant scheme or, if they refuse that arbitration, then you sue then in court for the return so yes at that time the validity of the clause will be examined and could be found wanting