Deposit return and charges advice please

lucasmeister

Hello,

I moved out of a property on 10th July.

The landlady then subsequently contacted me a week later with a load of things she wants cleaning.

I told her I'm happy to pay for a couple of these things, such as limescale build up in the bathrooms, but not the other bits, and I'm adamant it was like this when I'm moved in.

She then quoted from the tenancy agreement, that the property will be professionally cleaned throughout before I moved in. However this was certainly not the case. Firstly, am I within my rights to ask for the receipts for the professional cleaning from a year ago?

She's since be texting me about the limescale problems and that she's going to have to send in extra cleaners (as the first lot didn't clean it off), which I'll have to pay for.

The new tenants moved in a week ago, so should I really be paying for extra cleaning since others have been in there?

In addition to this, the agent says they cannot send me the check in or check out report. This will easily allow me to compare with the check in reports to ascertain what I should be paying for, and whether they voided the contract in the first place by not cleaning the property professionally, like it says they would. Do I not have rights to see these documents??

I don't think she's dishonest - I just think she's not seen the property when it was let to me a year ago, or she's forgotten what the cleanliness was like, so she's making a big deal about it.

Like I say, I'm happy to pay for some extra cleaning, but she's taking too long about it and I'm worried that I'm going to be screwed over a bit.

Many Thanks

walwyn1978

Did you raise the fact that in your opinion the place hadn't been cleaned to a 'professional standard' when you moved in? Is there an evidence trail of that conversation?

lucasmeister

walwyn1978 wrote: »

Did you raise the fact that in your opinion the place hadn't been cleaned to a 'professional standard' when you moved in? Is there an evidence trail of that conversation?

I did not. I didn't even get a copy of the contract from the agent, even after requesting it a couple of times. The agent is actually quite big, but were very incompetent throughout the renting process. Anyhow, this is my fault for not pursuing at the time.

Even if I did have the contact and the landlady's quote from it is correct, I cannot check the inventory and check if this matches up, seeing as they wont give it to me...

Pixie5740

So the first lot of "professional" cleaners she sent in didn't do a professional enough job and now she wants to send in a second lot of cleaners? How do you know that the property was cleaned prior to you moving in and to what standard since the term "professional clean" isn't defined anywhere. Paying someone to clean doesn't guarantee that they'll make a better job of it than you and putting a clause in a tenancy agreement doesn't make it enforceable.

Were you ever given a check-in inventory?

If you don't agree with the charges just say so and raise a dispute with the deposit scheme if necessary.

lucasmeister

Pixie5740 wrote: »

So the first lot of "professional" cleaners she sent in did do a professional enough job and now she wants to send in a second lot of cleaners? How do you know that the property was cleaned prior to you moving in and to what standard since the term "professional clean" isn't defined anywhere. Paying someone to clean doesn't guarantee that they'll make a better job of it than you and putting a clause in a tenancy agreement doesn't make it enforceable.

Wee you ever given a check-in inventory?

If you don't agree with the charges just say so and raise a dispute with the deposit scheme if necessary.

In that case, it's going to end up being check-in vs check-out report. In which case, I remember there already being limescale etc, so I should be ok, if I can get hold of the reports. This was done by a management company, which I assume the agent uses for all their properties.

She told me that the cleaners went in w/e 17th "but they didn't have time to do the bathroom". Then she text me saying they went in again w/e 24th. For the 3rd time she text me today, saying there is still limescale and she's not happy. So to date, there has been 3 cleaning visits, and I still don't have any idea of cost.

sacha28

Did you sign a copy of the sign-in inventory? Were photos of the condition prior to your moving in on the inventory? If you did sign the inventory, did you make any adjustments to it to ensure the limescale was noted?

lucasmeister

sacha28 wrote: »

Did you sign a copy of the sign-in inventory? Were photos of the condition prior to your moving in on the inventory? If you did sign the inventory, did you make any adjustments to it to ensure the limescale was noted?

Unfortunately I have not received a copy of the inventory. I was present when the person did it a year ago, however I cannot remember what was written on it, or if I signed it.

lucasmeister

I have actually just dug out the inventory - turns out that I did have it. Most things are listed as "Clean". Nothing is listed as professionally cleaned - even though the contract states that the property would be. A couple of things - like the windows state "Further clean required", which I'm happy about, as this is one of the things she is trying to claim for. However the shower is listed as "Clean" and no mention of limescale, so I guess I will concede on that one.

G_M

I fail to understand what the distinction is betwen "clean" and "professionally clean".

lucasmeister

G_M wrote: »

I fail to understand what the distinction is betwen "clean" and "professionally clean".

It states on the check in - "Cleaned by 3rd party (professionally cleaned)"

Apparently the only difference between professionally cleaned, and clean, is that it was paid for and receipts are available.

G_M

Sorry - my question was rhetorical.