Landlord Wants to Charge for Cleaning

clashofclans

Hello.

I'm currently a student renting a property directly from a landlord, no agency, with a contract set out by the student union.

Basically, we're living in the house now, our contract is 12 months long, and we've signed the contract to live in the house again next academic year (1st September 2015 to 31st August 2016).

However, the landlord wants to come in during the summer and clean the property, and therefore charge us for it, out of our deposits at the end of our tenancy. We have proposed cleaning it ourselves to a high standard but he is insisting on cleaning it with a professional cleaning service.

At the start of our tenancy, the landlord was supposed to provide us with an inventory, as per the contract, which he didn't do, and we are highly sceptical it was properly cleaned before we moved in, which would mean that we would have the

We obviously don't want to pay for a pointless cleaning, but he is insisting it can't not be cleaned for two whole years!!!

Where do we stand? What should we tell the landlord? Is this something that we negotiate about when we get the deposit back? Has anyone else ever heard of a landlord wanting to clean a property mid-tenancy?

Also, he came around the other day and told us we need to tidy up our rooms, in my room there were a lot of clothes on the floor. This is none of his business how tidy the house it, as long as it isn't damaging the house, right?

G_M

The Landlord has no right to come in without prior notice, for certain reasons. What does the contract say?

He certainly cannot charge for cleaning mid-ternancy. I'm assuming there is no break? The first tenancy ends on x date and the new fixed term starts the next day? ie the tenancy continues?

If so, it is your home and you can live there as you wish. Of course, when eventually the tenancy does end, and you leave, you must leave the place as clean as you found it.

Write to the landlord (yes, a letter) politely thanking him for his offer, but say that you will be maintaining the property yourselves during the tenancy and do not require his cleaning services.

If, on the other hand, your current tenancy ends at the end of term and there is a gap before your next tenancy starts, then yes, the tenancy ends. So he can inspect, and if cleaning is required, can deduct the cost from your deposit.

See also:


* Deposits (payment, protection and return)

Note: if this is an HMO, then the LL has the right to enter the common (shared) parts.

HMOs (Licencing of Houses in Multiple Occupation in England: A guide for landlords and managers)

clashofclans

He did give prior notice but we didn't realise he would be critiquing our choice of cleanliness in our bedrooms.

There is no gap, our current contract ends on the 31st August 2015 and the new one begins again on the 1st of September.

We have written to the landlord explaining that we are more than happy to clean it ourselves, and that we wouldn't be comfortable with a cleaner being in the house with our personal possessions. However, he said: "Clearly the house cannot be left uncleaned for 2 years. What happens is that fridges the cooker,bathrooms and any repairs are undertaken at cost. This is £12 per hour. This charge is then taken pro rata at the end of your tenancy."

If he comes in and cleans anyway, without our permission, would our declining the use of his services via email be enough for the Deposit Protection people to side with us?

G_M

Once you have put on record, via a formal, letter sent to the correct address "for the serving of notices", that you do not consent to being charged for the cleaning, he cannot charge you.

Well, he can, but you will not have to pay, and yes, the deposit scheme will agree.

Write back and say "We agree the property should be cleaned during the two year tenancy, and as tenants it is our responsibilty to do this. We certainly do not consent to a charge for cleaning by the landlord. However, we thank you for the offer."

Gigervamp

clashofclans wrote: »

However, he said: "Clearly the house cannot be left uncleaned for 2 years. What happens is that fridges the cooker,bathrooms and any repairs are undertaken at cost. This is £12 per hour. This charge is then taken pro rata at the end of your tenancy."

Is he planning on charging you for repairs too?

Did he do an inventory and just hasn't given you a copy, or has he not done one?
If there is no inventory, he won't be able to claim any of the deposit as he has nothing to prove the condition before you moved in.

clashofclans

Hello.

Yes it appears he will be charging us for repairs, again, out of our deposits, although we can't see any repairs in the house.

We don't know about the inventory. We have never seen one, and we certainly haven't signed one. Should we ask for it?

G_M

clashofclans wrote: »

Hello.

Yes it appears he will be charging us for repairs, again, out of our deposits, although we can't see any repairs in the house.

We don't know about the inventory. We have never seen one, and we certainly haven't signed one. Should we ask for it?

No.

Without an inventory it becomes much harder for the landlord to charge you for anything.

Repairs: are there any that need doing?

You have a duty to act in a 'tenant-like' manner, and report any repairs that need doing. again, do this formally by letter.

If you break something, and it is simple to fix, you can just fix it. If it is structural or dificult, best to get the LL to fix it and charge you, as you might make it worse if you DIY.

Many repairs are HIS responsibility to fix. read the tenany agreement, and also the

Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 section 11.

and:

Shelter (Repairs in private rented homes)

silvercar

Student landlords typically do a deep clean and repairs in the Summer between tenancies.

For some it as an opportunity to make a profit on deposit retentions that will be part of their expected income.

Students are often not experienced tenants and can fail to report essential repairs, so an inspection over the Summer gives landlords an opportunity to attend to repairs.

Most houses can do with a deep clean annually and most students don't spring clean, so I have some sympathy with the landlord wanting to ensure the place is cleaned once a year.