Moved into a house that was apparently cleaned!

KitSan

Hello myself and friend moved into this place on the 29th February 2020 and whilst signing the contract and inventory forms the agent was saying how it was professionally cleaned the day before so we thought ok it's going to be cleaner but as soon as we got to the place our hearts dropped and our family was shocked which led them to out rage on the agent which seemed in a massive hurry to leave after signing the keys over which we found out why the whole place was absolutely filthy!! Which honestly brought me to tears because it werent even basic cleaned and I honestly dont know how the agency can let it out in that condition. We even went to them about all the stuff and they said that we have to pay for it to be redecorated and recarpetted along with the kitchen cupboards to be fixed which he made the comment saying it was quickly cleaned and if they did all the repairs and redecorating they would put the rent up twice the amount. So to them letting properties in this condition is fine by them which is disgusting. 

KatrinaWaves

Many of your pictures show damage (broken window, cracked bath) and very grubby run down areas, rather than typical 'dirt' (the mould, the rusty white grill etc)

It certainly does appear to be a proeprty in pretty awful condition, but 99% of these issues will have been visible on viewing and clearly not something any amount of cleaning could fix in the vast majority of cases. Why did you agree to rent this place?

martindow

First the good news - with your evidence of the condition at the start of your lease you will not have to worry about cleaning at the end.  I would write (pen and paper) detailing all of the faults and lack of cleanliness - email as well with the photos so there is no question of them being aware.

The bad news is that this landlord doesn't seem to care too much and you may have problems getting them to repair the cracked windows, leaking sink or anything else that may crop up. 

I assume that this house was a tip when you viewed it - I think I might have given it a miss.

oystercatcher

What was the state of the house when you viewed it? It must have been pretty obviously awful, did you honestly expect it to be magically made spotless ? It needs a lot of money spent on it replacing windows, carpets, extractor fan, complete redecoration. If that wasn't done before they showed you around I would very much doubt it would be done before you moved in. Landlord is either penniless or just taking whatever he can get for no input. Keep the pictures for checking out and move onwards as soon as the contract allows, choose more carefully next time !

Cakeguts

When you viewed the property did you go into the bathroom to look at? If so did you look at the plumbing arrangement for the shower and the fact that there is supposed to be a shower curtain?   What did you think about the shower curtain arrangement when good properties will have a piece of plastic to stop the water rather than a shower curtain? 

I can tell that this is a cheap property just from the plumbing over the bath. 

Renting is the same as everything else you get what you pay for.   If you try to rent a cheap property this is the situation you find yourself in. You get a landlord who doesn't care.

There are a lot of repairs that need doing to that property.

foxy-stoat

Shocking, the agent really needs to issue P45's to all staff and shut the doors to the public.  Landlord probably not aware of even cares.  Find another place to rent.

leftism

I found myself in a similar situation to this a year ago. It's very easy for people to say you should've known when you looked around. But when you look at a place when other people are in it with all of their furniture etc for 20 mins, while an estate agent is telling you about how it will be cleaned and done up before the next tennants move in, you can buy into the fantasy they are selling. 

We got tonnes of apologies etc and assured we won;t have to clean it when we leave (no help to us at all). The truth is, they just want to get you in, and while you're in there they don;t care that much. They just want to keep you in and spend as little on it while you're there. There are probably some decent letting agents, but the industry isn;t really designed to care for people I'm afraid. It's all about the cash. 

What we did was carry on phoning and emailing. If they promised a professional clean, make them deliver. They should come in and do it now and if you have to leave the place while they do it, they should refund you for the time spent away. If you can quote your contract or any emails they've sent to help your case, do that. 

You shouldn't even have to do this, I know how you are feeling. It's not fair. 

[Deleted User]

If the flat is £500 a month and round the back of Harrods, I'd say it'd be worth staying put and making the repairs and refurbishment yourself over time.   If not, get out of there!!!!

Smodlet

OP, you do not have to pay for it to be redecorated, re-carpetted or to have anything fixed; these would all come under the heading of "betterment" to which LL's are not entitled by law.  I would be inclined to report this letting agent/whatever to the Trading Standards Authority and the state of the property to Environmental Health at your local council.  They actually have the power to force LLs to make repairs but it won't be a quick process.  Shelter is also a good source of information, as is this board.  I strongly recommend you spend some time finding out what your rights are.

Have you been issued with a Gas Safety Certificate if there is a gas supply?  How about a Right to Rent booklet?  Come on, LL's, what are all those other things?  You'd think I would know by now but my memory just is not what it was.

need_an_answer

Shocking...and I'm a LL.

what you do have is some evidence of how the place was when you moved in so keep that as there ios no obligation for you to return it any other way than in the state you received the property.
I'd be tempted to name and shame the agent....or at least give us an indication of the area of the country you are renting in and the price you are paying for such facilities.
places like this give LL's a bad name and I'm sorry you have even got to live there.

I agree that to some extent you do get what you pay for but that is not an excuse to provide a dirty environment...Areas can be old or slightly dated but that's not the same as unclean and broken which clearly some of your pictures evidence.

Seriously I'd be looking to see what else you could rent in your price bracket and get out of there.

m0bov

OP should have raised these issues before signing contracts, they've accepted the property as is. Might be worth just trying to find somewhere else and try and get out of the contract.