End of Tenancy Clean

pinktortilla

Afternoon all!

I have just left a rental flat that stated in the lease that the flat had to be "professionally" cleaned. I then brought in a load of parents etc to help me clean it to a high standard (the agent that came round during the check out even commented about the standard and how impressed she was). The letting agency are now asking to see receipts of both the professional cleaning and the carpet cleaner (which I was informed in writing was NOT allowed to be a RugDoctor). As I obviously dont have these receipts is there potential for me to loss my deposit?

She made it clear that the reason they wanted receipts was to show the next tenants to prove it had been professionally cleaned before their tenancy started. So the letting agency have no indention of re-cleaning it.

Any advice or help would be really appreciated!

Pixie5740

The letting agent is pitiful.

You do not have to hire "professional" cleaners, it is perfectly acceptable to clean the place yourself. To get your deposit back all you need to do is leave the property in the same condition (minus fair wear & tear) as it was in at the start of your tenancy. How you achieve that does not matter and as long as you have achieved the same standard then no deductions can be made from your deposit for cleaning.

As for the receipts, the letting really should know better. The check-in and check-out inventories are what's important for the landlord when determining whether or not deductions need to be made from the deposit at the end of a tenancy, not waiving around some receipts in the incoming tenants face.

In short you do not have to provide receipts and as long as you cleaned well enough deductions will not be made. If the letting agent/landlord tried to deduct anything for cleaning then dispute it using the deposit scheme.

G_M

ap1985 wrote: »

I had the same issue when I left my rental property. Unfortunately, I had to get it professionally cleaned and show receipts to my EA to prove that it was cleaned.

No - you didn't.

As has been explained, what matters is the state of cleanliness when you leave, comparative to when you arrived.

How you achieve this is entirely up to you (whatever meaningless clause may be inserted into the tenancy agreement!)

Pixie5740

ap1985 wrote: »

That's very rude! How do you know I didn't! It was stated in my tenancy agreement just as yours did that we had to get it professionally clean!

Eh...because it's not an enforceable clause. Deductions can only be made from deposits if there is a justifiable reason such as the tenant caused damage to the property or the tenant didn't leave the property as clean as it was at the start of their tenancy. It makes no difference whatsoever how the tenant achieves that level of cleanliness. If taken to the scheme's ADR then the adjudicator won't give a witch's left tit if the tenant applied some elbow grease or paid someone to clean.

Pixie5740

ap1985 wrote: »

Unfortunately, our EA was very difficult to deal with!

They weren't "your" estate agent. You never had any contract with them, your contract is with the landlord. The letting agent has a contract with the landlord and it's the landlord that the letting agent acts on behalf of.

AndyBSG

ap1985 wrote: »

That's very rude! How do you know I didn't! It was stated in my tenancy agreement just as yours did that we had to get it professionally clean!

What's stated in the tenancy agreement is irrelevant because if it was contested then as long as you left it in the state you found it(minus wear and tear) then it would get thrown out as an unfair clause as the law overrides any spurious clauses.

G_M

Not rude.

Just explaining the law.

If you choose to ignore the law and rely on what the 'opposition' say (verbally or in writing' that's your choice.

always_sunny

I always cleaned it myself and always got the full amount back.
My AST had something like:

To clean to (or pay for the cleaning to) a good standard, the premises, its fixtures and fittings, including the cleaning of any carpets, curtains (including net curtains), blankets, bedding, upholstery etc. which have become soiled, stained or marked during the tenancy. To provide, upon request, receipts to the landlord or his agent to demonstrate compliance with this clause.

Badly worded cause it implies you can do it yourself, then suggest to have receipts if needed.
Take good, close up photos post cleaning (I am assuming you have taken when moved in) and contest any deduction. More likely they want receipts so the LL can claim in taxes as an expense.

I usually always do like for like. If I was given receipts at the beginning of the tenancy I will provide the same at the end (possibly from the same people!)

G_M

Pixie's example of 10 o'clock bedime was to demonstrate that not all clauses in a TA are enforcible. Such a ridiculous clause could never be upheld in court, just as a requirement to use professional cleaners would not be.

G_M

ap1985 wrote: »

Wasn't referring to you was referring to Pixie

We were saying the same thing albeit in different words.

Guest101

ap1985 wrote: »

That's very rude! How do you know I didn't! It was stated in my tenancy agreement just as yours did that we had to get it professionally clean!

Which is totally not relevant to actual real life solutions.