Is this normal?

Hutchch0920

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

It's one done by somebody who you pay for the privilege despite their entire lack of 'professional' qualifications.

You'd think that but I contested the agency at one place through the Ombudsman and won.

In short the contract required a professional clean to ensure we were handing back the property in the same state, but it had also required the agent to supply us with a receipt at the start of the tenancy to confirm that it had been professionally cleaned in the first place...they didn't.

The check out inventory listed the property as "cleaned to a professional standard".

When the agent tried to deduct the cash to have it done professionally I contested it on the grounds that there was no evidence it had been professionally cleaned before we moved in and questioned what exactly the difference between "to a professional standard" and "cleaned by a professional" was. The Ombudsman ruled there wasn't one.

pmlindyloo

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Even if your tenancy agreement says you need to have the place "professionally" cleaned you don't have to pay someone to do it. It's an unfair term, all you need to do is leave the property in the same condition as it was in at the start of your tenancy minus any fair wear & tear. It does not matter if you apply some elbow grease to achieve this or if you pay someone to do it. Paying someone is no guarantee of quality.

Although this is true, things may be different if the landlady agreed to allow the OP to have a cat. It may then have become a term of condition that the place was professionally cleaned.

Having said that, I agree that a professional clean (having had one myself) is no better than someone doing a thorough clean themselves.

What was said/written down/ about any conditions for allowing you to have a cat?

Fireflyaway

sparky130a wrote: »

And what exactly has she offered to embellish this deal to YOU?

There was a mention of reduced last months rent but I said no. I don't want to be rushed or getting into some non binding verbal agreements and they start banging on the door trying to get us out etc! We were only there a year.

Fireflyaway

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Although this is true, things may be different if the landlady agreed to allow the OP to have a cat. It may then have become a term of condition that the place was professionally cleaned.

Having said that, I agree that a professional clean (having had one myself) is no better than someone doing a thorough clean themselves.

What was said/written down/ about any conditions for allowing you to have a cat?

I don't recall and stupid me can't find the contract right now. Part of me wants to pay just get this over and done with. However... The extractor fan was really dirty when we moved in. I don't want to pay for her to have the place cleaner than it was when I moved in.

bouicca21

Photos and inventory at check in? Can anyone prove the state of the place when you moved in? Because if they can't then they can't prove you are leaving it in a worse state.

FBaby

Ask the agency for the contract. Then check if anywhere in the contact/inventory, it mentions anything about the place having been professionally clean before you moved in.

If the contract says that it needs to be done, but yet you moved in and there is no evidence that it was done, then clean to the same level your inventory says it was.

If the inventory says it was professionally clean before, it is up to you to decide whether you clean to your absolute top standard, and hope that the LL is happy with it and therefore not bothered to challenge, or decide not to take the chance and see find a cheap 'professional' cleaner.

Do remember though that 'professional' standard could be argued to be beyond the standard of someone would apply for themselves, ie. no dust on skirting boards, deep inside cupboards, sockets, light fittings etc...

Pixie5740

FBaby wrote: »

Do remember though that 'professional' standard could be argued to be beyond the standard of someone would apply for themselves, ie. no dust on skirting boards, deep inside cupboards, sockets, light fittings etc...

Really? Is that the standard set out by the Royal Society of Cleaners? I know of plenty of so-called professional cleaners who don't clean those areas. In fact I remember being sorely disappointed with the very first cleaners I ever hired for what they advertised as a "deep" clean.

The inventory for the last rental property I left said it has been cleaned to a professional standard, whatever that means but I'm not a professional cleaner.

bouicca21

There is no such thing as a 'professional standard' for cleaning. The contract can say what it likes, if the term cannot be defined, it cannot be enforced. What matters is the standard of cleanliness at check in and check out.

G_M

1) read you contract - what does it say?

2) what condition was the property in when you moved in?

3) was it 'professionally cleaned' (whatever that means)?

4) Is there a check-in inventory? What does it say about the state of cleanliness, and what do the photos show?

5) did you sign/agree the inventory?

6) do you have permission for the cat? Were there any special conditions?

Additionaly

7) she wants you to move out early. Have you agreed? Because you want to or because you feel pressured? Has any special offer been made in writing? Are you willing to accept?

teddysmum

A lot of 'professional' cleaners only use a RugDoctor machine (I was told this by a repair shop who services their machines) and that's easily hired (in fact we bought one ; the blue version, as red is hire only) and , nowadays, it's easy enough to print off a 'professional's' receipt.