check out inspection, tenants right to be there?

Petra_70

Good luck getting your £850 back. Many landlords will try and deduct at least half, just for the hell of it, no matter how much effort you make to leave the place clean and tidy, and in the condition it was when you moved in.

mrginge

Petra_70 wrote: »

Good luck getting your £850 back. Many landlords will try and deduct at least half, just for the hell of it, no matter how much effort you make to leave the place clean and tidy, and in the condition it was when you moved in.

Don't be so pathetic.

DaftyDuck

Well, as a LL, I'd have to say there's a little truth in that. As {I hope!} a fair-minded LL, I was always a bit perturbed by the tendency of so-termed independent inventory specialists to slightly side with the LL's description. Obvious, really; it's the LL and agency that select the inventory agent and, for many a LL and agency, a slight bias is rewarding - and likely to be rewarded in return by a repeat commission.

While I was directly involved in running my properties, I always used to try to arrange pretty much what the OP would prefer; an informal inspection at the time of vacation, and immediate agreement as to what needed to be done. Which, because I seem to exist in a parallel Universe where most people are nice and talk to one another, always resolved itself within hours, with never (!) a recourse to withholding any deposit. Ever. Cakes were even exchanged. Kisses (Cheek only, I hasten to add).

Mind you, my tenants did tend to need me as a referee for employment, or ended up working directly with me... which tended to concentrate minds rather.

In this case, the Agent appears to be behaving correctly and, from what the OP has stated, most things should be OK. Lightbulbs should probably have been replaced, and it might be as well to send a brief note explaining why this was not performed, as you feared further damage might have been caused, had you fixed them.

G_M

DaftyDuck wrote: »

.....and it might be as well to send a brief note explaining why this was not performed, as you feared further damage might have been caused, had you fixed them.

Indeed.

In fact, was this the first time you'd chabged a lightbulb?

It is always wise to report, in writing, any repairing issues to the LL as soon as it arises. This not only means he can deal with it, but also puts the problem on record so that when the tenancy ends............

choccywoccy

G_M wrote: »

Indeed.

In fact, was this the first time you'd chabged a lightbulb?

It is always wise to report, in writing, any repairing issues to the LL as soon as it arises. This not only means he can deal with it, but also puts the problem on record so that when the tenancy ends............

I never replaced the bulbs in the bathroom no! I just used the landing light and mostly used the ensuite bathroom anyway. I changed all the other bulbs in the house. There were 8 led down lights in the bathroom I just couldn't get them out they were welded in! I have emailed the agent to explain...

I did report other repair issues - one being a rotten balcony that only got fixed last weekend after we moved out - I'd reported that months ago so not very happy that I haven't been able to appreciate it oh well ...!

LEJC

Petra_70 wrote: »

Good luck getting your £850 back. Many landlords will try and deduct at least half, just for the hell of it, no matter how much effort you make to leave the place clean and tidy, and in the condition it was when you moved in.

thats a rather sweeping statement....I'm glad you use the word "many"....rather than going all out and saying all "for the hell of it"!


You clearly are not one of my ex tenants!

tara747

choccywoccy wrote: »

I never replaced the bulbs in the bathroom no! I just used the landing light and mostly used the ensuite bathroom anyway. I changed all the other bulbs in the house. There were 8 led down lights in the bathroom I just couldn't get them out they were welded in! I have emailed the agent to explain...

I did report other repair issues - one being a rotten balcony that only got fixed last weekend after we moved out - I'd reported that months ago so not very happy that I haven't been able to appreciate it oh well ...!

You may have had a lucky escape: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_balcony_collapse

franklee

choccywoccy wrote: »

I did report other repair issues - one being a rotten balcony that only got fixed last weekend after we moved out

Ah so that's proof workmen have been in between your vacating and checkout. So those muddy footprints on the carpet etc. aren't yours and I expect they created a bit of dust If it comes to a dispute I'd mention that too.

franklee

G_M wrote: »

Many check-out inspections are done by independant professional inventory clerks. They have a job to do, and the last thing they want is someone breathing down their neck as they go round trying to influence what they note down.

I've always been present at checkout even if done by professional inventory clerks. I didn't breathe down their necks but being on hand to answer any queries smoothed the process and saved everyone time as they really don't notice everything!

Nearly snagged some rather nice curtains for free once as the same clerk who had done the initial inventory was doing the checkout and was sure the curtains bagged up in a cupboard weren't initially there - they were. After a bit of to and fro with me saying they weren't mine, I was just at the point of offering to take them away with me when he backed down. Pity really, I quite liked them LOL.

Anyway if the DPS are going to arbitrate the LL is going to start on the back foot if he hasn't followed their guidance and offered the tenant a chance to attend checkout.

choccywoccy

Well!!! It is now over a week since the check out inspection and yesterday the landlord has decided that scuffs and marks on the wall require a COMPLETE REDECORATION at our cost!!! The quotes he got from decorators exceed the £895 deposit so he is withholding the entire amount!! The agent was rather snotty with me on the phone saying that "the landlord quite rightly wants it redecorated for the new tenants"! And I have argued that a family of 6 - that's 4 children a dog and two cats living in the house for 2.5 years is going to create scuffs on walls and this is wear and tear NOT damage! The report did not mention the scuffs detailed as it was - it shows marks in photos which is what the landlord is going by as he is living abroad! I have had to dispute this through the DPS and it is now going to an adjudicator but could take weeks! I'm fuming as you can tell. The rest of the property was immaculate - we had oven professionally cleaned, gardens mowed in stripes by gardener lol and carpets cleaned at £250 cost..! non of that will be considered, please someone tell me he hasn't got a chance with this?