Being potentially charged for oven cleaning

Sponge_Cake

I’ve lived in this rented property for two and a half years.
We are cleaning the house ready to hand the keys back on Friday.
We’ve cleaned it from top to bottom, including the oven. It doesn’t look too bad, although there’s some grease at the bottom that won’t come off easily.
I messaged my landlord about this to see what she thought (thinking she’d be lenient about it) she said it was professionally cleaned before they bought the house so they want it in the same state. Or else they’ll be deducting from our deposit.

This is notwithstanding the fact I have had to vacate my previous bedroom as there was mould growing on the wall and we have been without a boiler for over a month due to their repairs, even though nothing has yet been done.

Am I right to be a little put out by this? We’ve been model tenants and have always paid the rent on time.

G_M

Sponge_Cake wrote: »

.....she said it was professionally cleaned before they bought the house so they want it in the same state. Or else they!!!8217;ll be deducting from our deposit.
That's how it works. You must leave it in the same state as when you moved in.
But you don't have to get it 'professiionally' cleaned (whatever that means) - it's the state of cleanliness that matters, not who does the work.

This is notwithstanding the fact I have had to vacate my previous bedroom as there was mould growing on the wall and we have been without a boiler for over a month due to their repairs, even though nothing has yet been done.
These are unrelated matters which should be dealt with during a tenancy as repairing issues.

Am I right to be a little put out by this? We!!!8217;ve been model tenants and have always paid the rent on time.

Just clean the oven so it is as clean as when you moved in.


See also


* Repairing Obligations: the law, common misconceptions, reporting/enforcing, retaliatory eviction & the new tenant protection (2015)

* Deposits: payment, protection and return

Sponge_Cake

So will we need to pay for a professional to come in?

Sponge_Cake

Because I!!!8217;m not sure we can clean it to the same standard as a professional cleaner with all the specialist equipment.

anselld

Sponge_Cake wrote: »

Because I!!!8217;m not sure we can clean it to the same standard as a professional cleaner with all the specialist equipment.

To do yourself you need a product like Oven Pride or equivalent.
I gave up doing it myself when I found a chap who does it for £20 to a really good standard. It really isn't worth getting the gloves on for that much.

G_M

Sponge_Cake wrote: »

Because I'm not sure we can clean it to the same standard as a professional cleaner with all the specialist equipment.

If you doubt your own abilities and don't have a local and willing mum (sexism raises its ugly head....), then pay someone.

need_an_answer

Mr muscle is a very good product as is oven pride

I use these overnight in our ovens and the results are very good.Ive used them as a LL for many years.

You don't need a professional oven clean but you do need to leave it in the same condition as when you moved in as documented by an inventory.

If the oven had grease in when you moved in then you can leave the grease but if it was the only item in the property that was clean you must try to return it that way too.

The deduction from your deposit for a professional clean is likely to be in the region of £50-70 if you choose not to clean it.


Trust me a £4 pack of oven pride and a little time really does give the same result.

mattyprice4004

I'm a domestically useless man, and I managed to get my oven back to as new condition with off the shelf stuff - think it was Oven Pride.

Trust me, if I can do it - you can

saajan_12

Sponge_Cake wrote: »

I!!!8217;ve lived in this rented property for two and a half years.
We are cleaning the house ready to hand the keys back on Friday.
We!!!8217;ve cleaned it from top to bottom, including the oven. - okay, as is your responsibility. It doesn!!!8217;t look too bad, although there!!!8217;s some grease at the bottom that won!!!8217;t come off easily. - that can happen if you don't regularly clean. If there wasn't grease at the start then you should return without grease at the end, as this is a cleaning issue not wear and tear.

I messaged my landlord about this to see what she thought (thinking she!!!8217;d be lenient about it) she said it was professionally cleaned before they bought the house so they want it in the same state. - yes, as is their right / your responsibility. Or else they!!!8217;ll be deducting from our deposit. - thats the LL's remedy if you don't fulfill your obligation of returning in the same state of cleanliness.

This is notwithstanding the fact I have had to vacate my previous bedroom as there was mould growing on the wall and we have been without a boiler for over a month due to their repairs, even though nothing has yet been done. - separate issue, not relevant to the deposit / inventory. This can only be dealt with during the tenancy, once its over then the issue is over.

Am I right to be a little put out by this? We!!!8217;ve been model tenants and have always paid the rent on time. - again, as is your responsibility, no prizes.

Apologies for my direct tone, but your responsibilities include
- paying rent on time
- returning the oven as clean as it was at the start

Doing one of these doesn't let you off the other. The oven must be returned atleast as clean as it was at the start, or the LL has the right to charge you for getting it cleaned to the same standard. They may do it themselves or pay for a cleaner and pass on the charge to you.

Sponge_Cake wrote: »

So will we need to pay for a professional to come in?

Sponge_Cake wrote: »

Because I!!!8217;m not sure we can clean it to the same standard as a professional cleaner with all the specialist equipment.

I don't know how good your cleaning is. The crux is cleaning to the same standard it was at the START. You can:
- clean it yourself using household products
- purchase 'specialist' products and clean it yourself
- ask a friend who is good at cleaning to do it for you
- pay for a cleaner who does this as a job
- pay for a 'professional' cleaner who has a certificate in oven cleaning
- ..

tacpot12

Oven pride is available from Wilko for about £5.

Marvel1

Alternative is to appeal against the deductions with the relevant depoist protection scheme and let them decide what is fair.

Was there an inventory about the state of the oven? Or anything else?