Rental Agents ridiculous!

DRP

Pixie5740 wrote: »

2) How does the check-out report compare with the check-in inventory?

Perhaps I 've missed it, but did the OP answer this question?

Usually if any deduction is to be made, it is critical that the landlord has a detailed check-in condition inventory.

moliver_93

lynsayjane wrote: »

As a landlord myself I find this rather insulting. SOME landlords may be that way but as usual the minority give a bad name to the majority. People are quick to complain and slow to compliment.

OP, I'm glad you took photos, that was going to be my first question. I'd also ask the agent to see what photos they have as evidence (they should have as they'll need to supply to the deposit agency to withhold if you argue). Playing devils advocate there may be something you missed? The pics should clear up precisely what issues they have.
I'd not regard scuffs on the wall as being wear and tear, especially if they were bad enough to require redecoration. Excess dust; well unless I walked into a complete pig sty I'd not be withholding deposit for that. At my change in tenants I fully expect the property not to be up to the standard that I have at home and I went prepared to give it all a clean before passing off to the next tenant.

When we left the property my father actually filled in the holes we had made for nails in the wall, we cleaned thoroughly throughout. I would never leave the property in a mess. Thanks for your feedback!

lynsayjane

maxboisvert wrote: »

When we left the property my father actually filled in the holes we had made for nails in the wall, we cleaned thoroughly throughout. I would never leave the property in a mess. Thanks for your feedback!

Then I'm sure when it comes down to the negotiations with the deposit agency there'll be no problem. I'm a big fan of this third party deposit scheme as it provides a cushion for both parties.

Good luck with it.

Pixie5740

Pincher wrote: »

I had a change over four years ago. I said to the old tenant that it was professionally cleaned when she moved in, but she insists that she will do a good job. As it turns out, she had a regular cleaner do a simple once over. I had to defrost the freezer, undo an earth pin she snapped in a power socket, etc. The new tenant wanted a professional clean, which I had to pay £500 for.

Please explain to me what constitutes a professional clean. What qualifications does the cleaner require and which professional body(s) does the cleaner have to be accredited through?

You did not have to pay £500 for a "professional" clean, you chose to. £500 is a ridiculous sum to pay for cleaning, you were robbed.

lynsayjane wrote: »

As a landlord myself I find this rather insulting. SOME landlords may be that way but as usual the minority give a bad name to the majority. People are quick to complain and slow to compliment.

I can count on one hand the number of full deposits I've received back. When I first started renting in 2000 it was generally accepted that as a tenant I was never going to see my deposit again. With hindsight I wish I had taken all those gits to Small Claims.

Since the introduction of the deposit schemes things have improved for tenants but letting agents have told me that I'll be charged for a "professional" clean regardless of what state I leave the property in. As though because I don't charge people for cleaning I am somehow less capable of flicking a duster around and brandishing a vacuum cleaner than someone wearing a tabard. It's much easier to challenge the spurious deductions now.

I had one landlord about 3 years ago who gave me my full deposit back without any shenanigans and another landlord who only gave me my full deposit back when she realized that I could take her to Sheriff Court for not protecting my deposit.

Perhaps you're the exception to the rule but my experience is that more landlords/letting agencies than not try to retain deposits without any real justification.

pinkshoes

Is there an inventory that both you and the landlord signed at the beginning of the tenancy, giving a clear description of the state of the property?

lynsayjane

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Since the introduction of the deposit schemes things have improved for tenants but letting agents have told me that I'll be charged for a "professional" clean regardless of what state I leave the property in. As though because I don't charge people for cleaning I am somehow less capable of flicking a duster around and brandishing a vacuum cleaner than someone wearing a tabard. It's much easier to challenge the spurious deductions now.

I guess the lesson here is to ask this question before taking on a tenancy and having the answer in writing. This may also not be the will of the landlord, there are certain things in agents contracts that the landlord has to adhere to. This is why I chose not to use an agent. I don't see why we need to pay out £100 for someone to do an inventory that both parties need to agree and sign. It may be that agencies now want to pay someone to clean the property inbetween tenants to guarantee the condition it's being left in. You may always clean well but that doesn't mean every tenant does.

Pixie5740

Who is the lesson for? Me? I have successfully challenged this BS practice using the deposit scheme. If the letting agency is daft enough to pay a cleaner to clean an already clean property then they can foot the bill not me. However, I'm sure there are some other tenants who just let them away with it.

Putting clauses about professional cleaning in tenancy agreements is unenforceable anyway.

oli_ro

Same story happened with us leaving a rented flat a few months ago.

Some landlords view the deposit as part of their budget to renovate/redecorate for the next tenant, so they come with as much sh*t as technically possible, hoping it will stick.

They even come with cheap tricks, like quoting price for cleaning and removing furniture using non round prices, like £253.

In the end, there are a lot of tenants, who for one reason or another don't dispute it. Happy to get, say 50% deposit and a reference rather than to take them on.

Out of £1400 my previous landlord wanted around £700 - ~£400 for removing some furniture and ~£300 for cleaning.

After 1-2 weeks of haggling, I ended up paying ~200 in total as I was fed up and wanted to get my life back.

P.S. This is after staying 7 years there and kept good care of the flat and almost never complained for non-critical jobs to be done.

Pincher

I had tenants that stayed for seven years and twelve years.
£200 for inventory is nothing.


The inventory is not for the long term tenants.
After twelve years of regular rent payments, I have no need to withhold any deposits.


The inventory is insurance against idiots who have no consideration for anybody, and try to fly-tip 20 bags of rubbish on a neighbour with the address in them, so the neighbour storms over to confront them just as they are leaving.

Guest101

Pincher wrote: »

I had tenants that stayed for seven years and twelve years.
£200 for inventory is nothing.


The inventory is not for the long term tenants.
After twelve years of regular rent payments, I have no need to withhold any deposits.


The inventory is insurance against idiots who have no consideration for anybody, and try to fly-tip 20 bags of rubbish on a neighbour with the address in them, so the neighbour storms over to confront them just as they are leaving.

How would an inventory prevent this?!

Is it magical??