End of tenancy inventory and cleaning

awatson_

Hi all,
My partner and I's tenancy ended on the 21st Feb and we had an inventory clerk come and do the inspection, she told us we could leave as she said it was going to take her around 45 minutes to complete, so we left thinking nothing of it. Looking back now we haven't actually signed the inventory report that the estate agents have now sent across to us so does this invalidate anything? They are also claiming on this inventory report that the cleaning is not good enough, so they are going to charge us for a 'top-up' clean. In our contract there are two clauses about cleaning, one says that it should be cleaned to a good standard or professionally cleaned, and then another separate clause says professionally cleaned, so I'm not sure now what to make of it as this is contradictory (we did not get a professional clean, instead we spent all of a Saturday doing it ourselves). 

The estate agent has also said that the landlord was going round to check he was happy with everything else in the flat, but I am under the assumption that the inventory cannot be changed once it has been completed by a third party? 

Any advice would be appreciated as currently feeling like we're really going to get screwed over this deposit. 

Thanks. 

[Deleted User]

awatson_ said:

Hi all,
My partner and I's tenancy ended on the 21st Feb and we had an inventory clerk come and do the inspection, she told us we could leave as she said it was going to take her around 45 minutes to complete, so we left thinking nothing of it. Looking back now we haven't actually signed the inventory report that the estate agents have now sent across to us so does this invalidate anything? They are also claiming on this inventory report that the cleaning is not good enough, so they are going to charge us for a 'top-up' clean. In our contract there are two clauses about cleaning, one says that it should be cleaned to a good standard or professionally cleaned, and then another separate clause says professionally cleaned, so I'm not sure now what to make of it as this is contradictory (we did not get a professional clean, instead we spent all of a Saturday doing it ourselves). 

The estate agent has also said that the landlord was going round to check he was happy with everything else in the flat, but I am under the assumption that the inventory cannot be changed once it has been completed by a third party? 

Any advice would be appreciated as currently feeling like we're really going to get screwed over this deposit. 

Thanks. 

Read the Deposits section in the sticky at the top of the board called "Tenancies in Eng/Wales" as it covers professional cleaning. 

Retired_Mortgage_Adviser

1. Irrespective of what the Tenancy Agreement says, your only obligation is to leave the property in a similar state of cleanliness to what existed when you moved in. You can contract it out or clean it yourself, doesn't matter.

2. The LL can go around, have a look and bring up issues not captured in the final inventory report (that has already been shared with you), but if it goes to dispute, the adjudicator will place reliance on the final inventory report.

Do you need the deposit back urgently for cash-flow purposes? If not, don't hesitate to take it to a formal dispute if you don't agree with the deposit deductions being proposed by the agent/LL. It's free, fairly straightforward and is likely to give you a better result than arguing with the agent/LL. Often, just the threat of opening a dispute and the sign that you know your rights, is enough to inject some reasonableness in these issues.