Deceptive Landlord

razzledazzlerose

I have been renting a property for the past year from a private landlord I found on gumtree (no letting agent involved). The end of the tenancy was today and the landlord has informed us he will be charging for professional cleaners to come in, despite the fact we had cleaned the property thoroughly. We are leaving the property in a much better state than it was when we arrived, as there were still possessions from the previous tenancy there and we had to do things such as clean out food from the fridge and arrange for a waste collection for belongings that were left on the street.

He and I disagree that the property is in a better state than when we moved in as he says he paid for professional cleaners at our move in date and sent us an "invoice" for the clean he had done last year before we moved in. However, the invoice appeared to be from a company which don't appear to exist online -
JR Property Maintenance
33 Talbot Grove
Leeds
LS8 1AB

The bank account number which is listed the money was paid into do not exist. It is a Lloyd's sort code but an invalid account number. The account number ends in "23456" - obviously made up.

When I rang the number on the invoice it was his friend Jamie who when I asked if he worked for the company listed he said "err yes".

The date on the invoice is also wrong - we moved in on the 19/5/14 but the invoice says 1/7/14.

It's quite laughable he could expect us to believe this but still says he will be charging us for it.

The deposit is registered with TDS - should I just go through them?

Old_Git

razzledazzlerose wrote: »

I have been renting a property for the past year from a private landlord I found on gumtree (no letting agent involved). The end of the tenancy was today and the landlord has informed us he will be charging for professional cleaners to come in, despite the fact we had cleaned the property thoroughly. We are leaving the property in a much better state than it was when we arrived, as there were still possessions from the previous tenancy there and we had to do things such as clean out food from the fridge and arrange for a waste collection for belongings that were left on the street.

He and I disagree that the property is in a better state than when we moved in as he says he paid for professional cleaners at our move in date and sent us an "invoice" for the clean he had done last year before we moved in. However, the invoice appeared to be from a company which don't appear to exist online -
JR Property Maintenance
33 Talbot Grove
Leeds
LS8 1AB

The bank account number which is listed the money was paid into do not exist. It is a Lloyd's sort code but an invalid account number. The account number ends in "23456" - obviously made up.

When I rang the number on the invoice it was his friend Jamie who when I asked if he worked for the company listed he said "err yes".

The date on the invoice is also wrong - we moved in on the 19/5/14 but the invoice says 1/7/14.

It's quite laughable he could expect us to believe this but still says he will be charging us for it.

The deposit is registered with TDS - should I just go through them?

go with TDS let them sort it

csgohan4

Gumtree can be hit and miss sometimes

razzledazzlerose

True. Thanks for the advice. He's also asked us to do private viewings on the house ourselves which we did as a favour so thought he would be nice in return and give us our full deposit back!

G_M

Use the scheme arbitraion process - that's what it's for. Give them all the information you have, in writing.

Pixie5740

What a cheeky git! I'd be interested to know the outcome of this one. I wonder if your landlord will back down or if he will let it go all the way to arbitration.

Are there check-in and check-out invoices?

becca5391

He isn't backing down yet.

He won't accept that the house is in a better state than when we moved in, despite the fact we also had to do these things on move in -
1) arrange for a waste collection for the large amounts rubbish that the cleaning company left outside on arrival (the council will have records of this)
2) wipe inside of cupboards etc in the kitchen
3) box the belongings that were left in the kitchen and put them in the cupboard
4) defrost the freezer on move in

fairy_lights

Just go through the DPS to get your deposit back, if you've already moved out you don't need to have any more contact with the landlord directly.

stator

If he is trying to recharge the invoice to you pass it on the the police as that would be fraud if it really is fictional

eddddy

stator wrote: »

If he is trying to recharge the invoice to you pass it on the the police as that would be fraud if it really is fictional

I don't think the LL is trying to recharge the invoice. The LL is using it as evidence that the flat was professionally cleaned before the tenant moved in - and hence demonstrating that the tenant needs to pay for another professional clean.

But even so, it is probably Fraud by False Representation:

Fraud by false representation

..(1) A person is in breach of this section if he —
....(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, [e.g. shows you a false invoice] and
....(b) intends, by making the representation —
.......(i) to make a gain for himself or another [e.g. by charging you for another professional clean], or
.......(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.

(2)A representation is false if —
...(a) it is untrue or misleading [e.g. the invoice is fake], and
...(b) the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading [e.g. the LL knows the invoice is fake].

Link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/section/2

TBH - I don't think the police will really be interested in something like this. But threatening to report the LL for fraud may (or may not) make the LL reconsider.

DaftyDuck

Well, tongue in cheek, I admit, but I'd agree for a full professional clean. Use the company he used.... You will, of course, have already paid Jamie in advance for his services, using the bank details provided so helpfully by the LL.....