Tenant is withholding part of rent for oven cleaning that wasn't agreed

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't be happy with an oven in that condition. However I would clean it myself and not dream of keeping back rent.

How much is the tenant talking about keeping back from the rent? I doubt its that much. Let her keep a tenner (the oven really isn't clean) and leave it at that.

You can of course keep on that this wasn't agreed. Arguing that the oven is clean enough when it isn't, that it wasn't agreed, is going to create resentment and possibly turn a potentially good tenant into a bad tenant. Is it really worth the hassle?

missile

jonstarling wrote: »

This is only her first month

Sounds like she will be an ongoing problem and I would want her out.
Did you get reference?
Can you ask previous landlord if she was a pain.

lookstraightahead

If I were the tenant I would have made a note that the oven was grubby in the inventory. She shouldn't hold back rent, but sorry op, you're high expectations of what s tenant will put up with has lead to this dispute. Why not get it cleaned before she moved in?

I liken it to a grubby mattress. Why would anyone want other people's grime to deal with? Or a hotel room with a stained toilet. Not nice.

Norman_Castle

You need to be clear she cannot withhold any part of the rent for any reason, it needs to be paid in full and if not she will be in arrears. Any payments for items such as this have to be agreed by you.

She cannot dictate the terms and conditions of her tenancy or the amount of rent she pays.

FBaby

From experience, pictures don't do justice to dirt. The door seems to be what is filthy. I wouldn't be surprised at all if one of the leasing agents indeed said to her tsht it would be cleaned, then someone else wrote the email and the other one is denying having said anything.

I would go and have a word with her and see how much she is considering withholding. Considering the picture, I would agree to something reasonable like £20.

snilloct1957

As above, go round for tea and talk to her about the oven and the condition of the flat in general. Find out her background - has she previously been in rentals or is this her first time away from home? Her pickiness may be due to her feeling vulnerable in a situation that is new to her, try and meet in the middle. Look around the flat whilst you're there; is it tidy and clean or a teenager's bedroom? That may be a good indication of her expectations and attitude to the flat. A kind word and an explanation of the tenancy agreement inventory may be all it needs to resolve the problem.

diggingdude

You can get Oven Pride for £3 in B&M. Brought mine up amazing which i bought in a much worse state, though i did leave it all soaking in the bag for about 3 days. That picture isn't the end of the world however in all honesty you have her on technicality. Yes she signed for it so can't withold rent, however for a rental you provided an oven which is a disgrace. You can win this battle but i would worry what state you will get the property in, and if the inventory has pictures like this you won't be getting a deposit Brucey bonus to clean it up for your next tenant either

lookstraightahead

sillyhilly wrote: »

That's more than adequate.

Subjective comment really. Tenant obviously doesn't think so. That's why it's better to be clean, rather than not.