Cleaning requirement in tenancy agreement - still enforceable?

theartfullodger

Of course it's not enforceable.  It's - depending on circumstances - entirely unreasonable.  If the tenant was scrupulously clean, leaving the place in better condition than when they moved in & not having any pet nor any fleas themself such a charge is wrong.  We do have those fundamental British standards of decency & fair-play surely.. (discuss....)

If landlord/agent argue simply dispute through deposit scheme adjudication.

And before someone says that would never happen, tenants never improve things may I gently & humbly point out that I had a single lady tenant who did just that, place was sparkling and perfect when she left: she was a model tenant and I'd happily rent to her again any time, or give another excellent reference if asked.

Artful: Wicked & evil landlord since 2000

Comms69

theartfullodger said:

Of course it's not enforceable.  It's - depending on circumstances - entirely unreasonable.  If the tenant was scrupulously clean, leaving the place in better condition than when they moved in & not having any pet nor any fleas themself such a charge is wrong.  We do have those fundamental British standards of decency & fair-play surely.. (discuss....)

If landlord/agent argue simply dispute through deposit scheme adjudication.

And before someone says that would never happen, tenants never improve things may I gently & humbly point out that I had a single lady tenant who did just that, place was sparkling and perfect when she left: she was a model tenant and I'd happily rent to her again any time, or give another excellent reference if asked.

Artful: Wicked & evil landlord since 2000

And those are just your good points

martindow

If the OP has a pet you can never be certain that they don't have fleas as they can pick them up at any time.  Photos are not going to show whether the carpets have been treated against fleas which is what has been agreed in the tenancy agreement.  Presumably the OP could do this treatment themselves and present the receipt for the product used to counter any claim by the landlord.

dimbo61

Yes checked all the University websites and can't find one course on Professional cleaning either at diploma, degree or masters level so pointless asking for Professional cleaning.
However a rug doctor works well on carpets and Vanish on stains.
Overpride is £3 from lots of cheaper stores and works well.
Mrs Higgins is a good website for tips on how to clean with the right chemicals.
Take lots of photos when you leave and read/take photos of the meters.
Job done and dispute any deductions unless you have done damage above fair wear and tear.

Jumblebumble

ianos_2 said:

We'll be ending our tenancy soon - well, 30 days or so after we give notice - and I've been looking for clarification on one thing before we're out of here.

Basically there are a couple of added lines to our tenancy agreement when we signed for the property in 2018, and I'm wondering if they're still enforceable now the Tenant Fees Act has come into force for all assured shorthold tenancies. The lines are:

- "Septic tank at property - tenant's responsibility to empty" - ignore this one, am definitely liable for this

- "All floors and carpets to be professionally cleaned and flea treated at end of tenancy"

Neither requires we use a specific third party, but both require we do engage the services of a third party, so I'm genuinely not sure where the Act lands in this respect. I've been in touch with Citizen's Advice but they sent a response that was patently wrong (i.e. 'the act only covers new tenancies signed on or after June 1 2019', which is demonstrably false), and I've not been able to get anyone on Shelter's online chat as it's constantly - understandably - busy. So I've turned here!

For the record, neither I nor my wife wish to stiff the landlord - we'll be cleaning the house thoroughly before leaving - I'd just prefer to save a couple of hundred quid on these extras if it's reasonably possible.

Let us suppose that you have worked for a  cleaning company in the past.
Would you be forced to engage someone else
In any event one could easily argue that as there is no professional cleaners regulator and no bar to any Tom !!!!!! or Harry printing up business cards and calling themselves a professional cleaner there is no such thing as a professional cleaner in the context of this contract.