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Landlord Dispute - Any advice?
colink24
Posts: 73 Forumite
Hi all
I was hoping someone here can help me with some advice regarding a rental we just moved from.
We vacated the premises last week, and upon final inspection the property management company said that the property needed some additional cleaning and also that, as part of a pet clause in the tenancy agreement, we would need to have the carpets professionally cleaned. He provided me with a price of £360 for the cleaning of both the carpets and the house, which was left in a good condition but I think its fair that some additional cleaning was needed.
I argued the fee's as I felt they were high. He said that if I challenged them, the landlord may ask for additional expenses to cover some minor things (which the landlord had agreed to verbally cover with me). Anyhow, the landlord did subsequently add another £170 for a chip in a sink and some marks on a wall that my daughter made with a felt tip. No quotes were given to me, and when I asked him to provide them, he said the work had already been done so its too late. We have been out less than a week.
The case is now being sent to the TDS, and the property company have said that it is very likely that all costs will be upheld by the adjudicator. I am naturally very dissapointed and I was wondering where I stood legally? There is no mention of the minor chip in the sink in the inventory but also no pictures.
In addition, we had some incidents during our tenancy whereby the property company left plaster hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen and living area's, which occured a result of the boiler leaking. This was not fixed until we moved out, and the incident occured in December. I wasnt bothered by it but now that we are having issues with the management, I am tempted to raise a complaint about this. When I asked the company for pics, he said its too late as it had already been repaired in the last few days.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
I was hoping someone here can help me with some advice regarding a rental we just moved from.
We vacated the premises last week, and upon final inspection the property management company said that the property needed some additional cleaning and also that, as part of a pet clause in the tenancy agreement, we would need to have the carpets professionally cleaned. He provided me with a price of £360 for the cleaning of both the carpets and the house, which was left in a good condition but I think its fair that some additional cleaning was needed.
I argued the fee's as I felt they were high. He said that if I challenged them, the landlord may ask for additional expenses to cover some minor things (which the landlord had agreed to verbally cover with me). Anyhow, the landlord did subsequently add another £170 for a chip in a sink and some marks on a wall that my daughter made with a felt tip. No quotes were given to me, and when I asked him to provide them, he said the work had already been done so its too late. We have been out less than a week.
The case is now being sent to the TDS, and the property company have said that it is very likely that all costs will be upheld by the adjudicator. I am naturally very dissapointed and I was wondering where I stood legally? There is no mention of the minor chip in the sink in the inventory but also no pictures.
In addition, we had some incidents during our tenancy whereby the property company left plaster hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen and living area's, which occured a result of the boiler leaking. This was not fixed until we moved out, and the incident occured in December. I wasnt bothered by it but now that we are having issues with the management, I am tempted to raise a complaint about this. When I asked the company for pics, he said its too late as it had already been repaired in the last few days.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
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Comments
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Have you submitted evidence to the TDS?
In the majority of cases they find for the tenants. (for a number of reasons)0 -
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Anyhow, the landlord did subsequently add another £170 for a chip in a sink
That must be a very expensive sink!!!!
What sort of sink is it?
I would claim fair wear and tear and I would claim the LL is claiming for betterment. LL cannot claim new for old.
An enamel chip doesn't cost that much to fix.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cramer-Ceramic-Enamel-Repair-Counter/dp/B001RQ5TMK:footie:
Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. 0 -
Yes, you should contact the Deposit Scheme and ask how you should put your side of the case to the dispute arbitrators. Otherwise, they will only have the landlord's/agent's version of events to go on.
Was there a full inventory taken when you moved in, to which you agreed in writing? Was another independent inventory done when you moved out?0 -
camptownraces wrote: »Yes, you should contact the Deposit Scheme and ask how you should put your side of the case to the dispute arbitrators. Otherwise, they will only have the landlord's/agent's version of events to go on.
Was there a full inventory taken when you moved in, to which you agreed in writing? Was another independent inventory done when you moved out?
There was only inventories taken by the proprerty management company. They have taken close ups of tiny marks on the carpet, well within wear and tear range. There is no pics of any of the damage before we moved in, just a written inventory. In fact the living room carpet was in such poor conditon when we moved in, that the landlord agreed to replace it about 2 months into our tenancy.
They are saying that it doesnt matter what the condition was when wer moved in, but that as we agreed within the tenancy agreement to have them professionally cleaned, we have to do this.0 -
There was only inventories taken by the proprerty management company. They have taken close ups of tiny marks on the carpet, well within wear and tear range. There is no pics of any of the damage before we moved in, just a written inventory. In fact the living room carpet was in such poor conditon when we moved in, that the landlord agreed to replace it about 2 months into our tenancy.
They are saying that it doesnt matter what the condition was when wer moved in, but that as we agreed within the tenancy agreement to have them professionally cleaned, we have to do this.
That's absolute rubbish just FYI.0 -
I'm confused by this because they shouldn't have needed to send the money to the TDS - it should have been held in a scheme all along. Do you know if your deposit was properly registered?The property management company said that they had sent the money to the TDS and we should await their outcome? Do I also need to speak to them?0 -
fairy_lights wrote: »I'm confused by this because they shouldn't have needed to send the money to the TDS - it should have been held in a scheme all along. Do you know if your deposit was properly registered?
The agent wrote in an e-mail to me
I will arrange for the monies to be sent to the TDS for the ADR process (please note this can take up to 12 weeks for a case to be settled).
I can see on the TDS website it was lodged with them when the tenancy started though.0 -
When I called the TDS yesterday and spoke to someone, she said that if its in the tenancy agreement then they will uphold it becauses its there. I have read online that that isnt the case but TDS told me otherwise.
The person you spoke to has about as much knowledge as my 9 year old. Its a call centre.
The LL has suffered no loss, as long as the property is returned as received, and cannot claim your money0
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