Returning deposit - time limit

mrxry

Interesting thing on the carpets for me, it must be severe damage as you can hire a cleaning machine for about £20-£30 a day and do it yourself unless I assume its deep.

That being said if you did that what would you take into account for wear and tear?. I am not a LL just interested.

tracey29

mrxry wrote: »

Interesting thing on the carpets for me, it must be severe damage as you can hire a cleaning machine for about £20-£30 a day and do it yourself unless I assume its deep.

That being said if you did that what would you take into account for wear and tear?. I am not a LL just interested.

I had the house professionally cleaned before these tenants moved in and they're supposed to leave it in the same state of cleanliness and leave a receipt to show it's been done.

It clearly states that carpet cleaning has to be done professionally and that the DIY machines aren't enough.

jjlandlord

tracey29 wrote: »

It clearly states that carpet cleaning has to be done professionally and that the DIY machines aren't enough.

They are the same, though.

Pixie5740

tracey29 wrote: »

I had the house professionally cleaned before these tenants moved in and they're supposed to leave it in the same state of cleanliness and leave a receipt to show it's been done.

It clearly states that carpet cleaning has to be done professionally and that the DIY machines aren't enough.

I'm not sure that is legally enforceable. As long as the property is in the same state of cleanliness at the end of the tenancy than it was at the start it doesn't matter who does the cleaning (professional cleaner or tenant) or how the carpets are cleaned as long as they have been.

mrsmazza

I have owned 6 properties for the last 10 years.

I agree if you have the carpets and ovens professionally cleaned at start if tenancy then the tenant should have them professionally at end of tenancy.
£90 sounds about right for oven etc, but normally carpet cleaning costs about £120 for a 3 bed house.( Surrey prices ).

However oil marks on a driveway, a driveway is meant to be tough after all you park a car on it, and cars pick up all sorts . You can,t exactly cover a drive with a big sheet to protect it. The marks could of come from anywhere, someone might of used the drive to turn around or the inventory clerk might of parked her car there and they came if her car.

I think you have to inform them re- deposit within 14 days of them moving out.

ali_hire

Something doesn't quite add up here. You state that you've only just received the check out report, yet you immediately have exact costs for the items you wish to charge for.

In any case I think you'll have a tough time getting costs for the driveway if the tenants dispute it. If I were your tenant I would claim that one of the neighbours has been parking on the drive in the month since they left and it could well be them who caused the oil leak.

Do you have photos of before and after? Are they time and date stamped? I've had cases where the deposit scheme's arbitrator has rejected a claim because the photos weren't date stamped.

With regard to the cleaning you will also find it difficult to enforce the "professional cleaning" clause. I don't like the term in tenancy agreements personally and I've reworded it "cleaned to a professional standard".

What if the tenant is a professional carpet cleaner? Or had a friend who cleans ovens for a living?

The arbitrator will only be interested in the different of the condition of the property before and after and will want proof of both. If he's satisfied that your carpets and oven are clean enough then he'll likely disregard the statement about needing a receipt from a professional.

Sorry to sound negative but you have to jump through so many hoops to get a positive judgement from the deposit schemes.

AndyT678

mrsmazza wrote: »

I agree if you have the carpets and ovens professionally cleaned at start if tenancy then the tenant should have them professionally at end of tenancy.

And how do you define this? Is there a Royal Institute of Carpet Cleaners or a professional qualification in carpet cleaning requiring a series of exams and continual professional development? Or can any idiot with a carpet cleaning machine be a "professional"? In which case what is the difference between them and a tenant with a carpet cleaning machine?

topdaddy_2

tracey29 wrote: »

I had the house professionally cleaned before these tenants moved in and they're supposed to leave it in the same state of cleanliness and leave a receipt to show it's been done.

It clearly states that carpet cleaning has to be done professionally and that the DIY machines aren't enough.

Clean is clean. Doesnt matter if its a pro with 15k worth of kit or an amateur with a tooth brush on their hands and knees.


why has it taken so long to get the check out details? How much do you pay for that?

mouthscradle

mrsmazza wrote: »

£90 sounds about right for oven etc, but normally carpet cleaning costs about £120 for a 3 bed house.( Surrey prices ).

Agreed, whoever quoted you for the carpet cleaning is trying to pull a fast one. We've just had quotes of around £130 for a 4 bed 3 storey house including two sets of stairs. And that's South East prices.