Urgent help please - cleaning after moving from rented place

vira1369

We were renting a 2 bed, 1.5 bath house for the past 2.5years. We bought our own house and moved out last Monday (a week ago). We got the house professionally cleaned when we moved out and paid £160 for the cleaning (the receipt was handed to them) - but we did not get the carpet cleaned as we always kept it clean (had a toddler at home). The garden has been mowed, but it need to be de-weeded.


When we moved in, the house was being cleaned and fixed by the landlady herself (though they have receipt from the previous tenant for professional cleaning). There were stains on the carpet (as has been noted in the checkin report - but they noted just as "light stains" though they were big heavy stains and we did not make a big deal of it back then).


The estate agent and the owner are now telling us that the house should be in a "pristine" condition as they left it for the new tenants - they are getting quotes to get the entire house cleaned again, garden set up for the new tenants and to have the windows washed in and out. We have a deposit of £1425 with them and we are getting very anxious that they might deduct 100s of ££s! Any ideas on what we should be doing next?


Thanks in advance!

Guest101

Claim from the deposit scheme

david1951

vira1369 wrote: »

We were renting a 2 bed, 1.5 bath house for the past 2.5years. We bought our own house and moved out last Monday (a week ago). We got the house professionally cleaned when we moved out and paid £160 for the cleaning (the receipt was handed to them - did you keep a copy?) - but we did not get the carpet cleaned as we always kept it clean - did you take photos when you left? (had a toddler at home). The garden has been mowed, but it need to be de-weeded.


When we moved in, the house was being cleaned and fixed by the landlady herself (though they have receipt from the previous tenant for professional cleaning). There were stains on the carpet (as has been noted in the checkin report - but they noted just as "light stains" though they were big heavy stains and we did not make a big deal of it back then - so you signed a document admitting they were light stains?).


The estate agent and the owner are now telling us that the house should be in a "pristine" condition as they left it for the new tenants - they are getting quotes to get the entire house cleaned again, garden set up for the new tenants and to have the windows washed in and out - sounds like the usual rubbish they try on. We have a deposit of £1425 with them and we are getting very anxious that they might deduct 100s of ££s! Any ideas on what we should be doing next?

Ask for their evidence that you have left the house in a state different to how you received it. Assess whether this amounts to normal wear and tear. If you think it does then challenge them and say that you will not agree to any deductions out of your deposit. Say you are happy for this to be referred to the (free-of-charge) dispute resolution service.

I'm assuming your deposit is in a protected scheme - is it?

theartfullodger

Guest101 wrote: »

Claim from the deposit scheme

Indeed:

Start dispute with deposit scheme.

vira1369

Yes, our deposit is protected in a deposit protection scheme.


And unfortunately no - we did not take photos when we left the place.


We did not keep a copy of the receipt - but I suppose I can get a copy from the cleaners (if the estate agents refuse to give us a copy).


And yes, we signed a document that said there were stains on the carpet.


Also, annoyingly, when we spoke to the checkout report person, he said everything looked good except for some dust and now they have a 50 page checkout report which says things like "dust in the corner of the bedroom handle - needs dusting" - which is simply ridiculous!


We are probably ok with them deducting something like £100 for maintenance - but we are worried that they will take off something more like £300 - has anyone had such amounts being deducted for just cleaning?

AdrianC

vira1369 wrote: »

Yes, our deposit is protected in a deposit protection scheme.

And unfortunately no - we did not take photos when we left the place.

That's OK - it's up to your landlord to provide photographic proof that the condition when you left was worse than would be expected from adding reasonable wear-and-tear to the condition when you moved in.

If they can't do that, then they aren't deducting anything...

david1951

As above. Don't enter a discussion; just start a dispute (you can do this now).

Just say you do not believe any deductions are warranted, have raised a dispute with deposit scheme and will await the outcome of their investigation.

vira1369

Ok. Thank you. We will immediately start off the process.

We want to concede that the garden is not weeded - but nothing more than that. Our fear is if the dispute is resolved (even if partially) in their favour (for whatever reason) - would that mean that they will be allowed to deduct any amount it would take them to clean the property - what if they call cleaners who charge them £300 for the remaining cleaning?

AdrianC

No, any deductions have to be reasonable and proportionate.

david1951

At the moment it is classed as your money, not the landlord's, and not in between. Yours. The LL has the burden of proof and must prove, with evidence, that you owe them to cover a loss.

For this reason, don't concede anything. You could put forward no evidence and the landlord would still need to provide adequate proof themselves.

Of course, if you do have evidence (a replacement cleaning receipt?) then put that forward.

justme111

Do not worry. If your deposit protection scheme will believe there is a need for carpet cleaning let's day they will stipulate how much money can landlord deduct for it. Re garden - weeds regrow in a matter of couple of weeks so I reckon it will be difficult for them to prove anything.