Deceptive Landlord

razzledazzlerose

He just got back to me and said this - JR Property Maintenance was a sole trader and not vat registered so no need for a vat number on any invoices. There was not a website just a one man band. JR Property as a company has rebranded and is now known as Regent House Property Maintenance LTD (with a website) and also vat registered.

razzledazzlerose

I'm confused as to why he would make an invoice for a company when clearly it was just his friend who cleaned the house. Maybe he's not being as deceptive as I thought?

Anyway, the house is still in a better condition now that when we moved in.

razzledazzlerose

Can he call it a "professional clean" if it was just his mate?

Pixie5740

Professional clean is one of these terms that doesn't mean very much. What would qualify someone to better use a vacuum cleaner than you or I?

"Professional" cleaners do not require specific qualifications, nor are there any professional bodies accrediting these cleaners and making sure they adhere to a certain standard.

Paying someone to clean doesn't make them a professional.

The onus is on the landlord to prove any deductions are reasonable. You haven't mentioned whether there are check-in and check-out inventories.

timbo58

Hmm can he call it professional?

IMHO - Yes, as long as the person is employed to clean - he's a professional cleaner.

It means he does it as a profession, i.e. a job.

I would say that some definitions stipulate it should be your only paid work to be your profession.

Frankly if you have no written tenancy agreement that stipulates a cleaning charge is required then there is no legal right to charge for such.

nidO

The whole business of whether he had a so-called "Professional Clean" done and how "professional" this was is neither here nor there really.

Do you have an inventory from when you moved in detailing the state of the house, and do you have an inventory from when you moved out detailing the state of the house?
If yes, do these show the house being in a comparable state now to then?

If there is no inventory, and/or these don't show the house being in a worse condition now than when you moved in, he can't charge you for the clean.
If there is no pair inventories or the inventories that exist show the house to be as clean or cleaner now than then, I would send one final reply to the landlord stating that the house is cleaner now than it was when you moved in, he has no evidence supporting that this isn't the case, and that he's welcome to have his mate "professionally" clean the house but he'll be paying for it, and you'll be reclaiming your entire deposit.

Then, get on with reclaiming it all through TDS and don't talk to the landlord any more.
The ball's in his court to then prove the condition of the house is worse now than then, the fact that he had it "professionally" cleaned then is irrelevant, as even genuine professional cleaning companies don't have any secret voodoo magic, just because a place is "professionally" cleaned does not in any way mean it's been cleaned better than you cleaned the place when leaving.

razzledazzlerose

No inventory.

The only evidence he has of the clean before we moved in is that invoice from his mate which has errors in it.

cavework

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Professional clean is one of these terms that doesn't mean very much. What would qualify someone to better use a vacuum cleaner than you or I?

"Professional" cleaners do not require specific qualifications, nor are there any professional bodies accrediting these cleaners and making sure they adhere to a certain standard.

Paying someone to clean doesn't make them a professional.

The onus is on the landlord to prove any deductions are reasonable. You haven't mentioned whether there are check-in and check-out inventories.

FYI



My professional cleaning company is approved by Construction Line and holds Acclaim Health and Safety accreditation..
We are professional ...

Pixie5740

cavework wrote: »

FYI



My professional cleaning company is approved by Construction Line and holds Acclaim Health and Safety accreditation..
We are professional ...

What does approval by Construction Line entail exactly? Who are Construction Line and why does their approval matter?

If I need a solicitor I would look for a member of the Law Society for Scotland. If I needed a doctor I would want someone who is a accredited by the General Medical Council. If I needed to employ an engineer I could look for a Chartered Engineer. Professionals.

cavework

Try googling..
It involves annual re- appraisals, up dates on insurance , references provided from clients (one offs and ongoing contracts) these are followed up to ensure they are genuine.Good working practice and staff training are also included.
Acclaim registration means you are fully informed and conform to all H&S legislation.
This is also reviewed on a yearly basis and all evidence of documentation has to be provided
Our line of work means we work within the construction industry but it also covers other work we do , including end of tenancy cleans.
Hope this helps