Landlord left property a mess

Grenadia123

Hello

This is my first time renting privately, as I have lived in University Halls for a while, 
I arrived at the property where the letting agent just handed the keys and left. Nothing was explained, and I walked in and it was a mess, the floors had not been swept or cleaned, there was empty paint bucket and wall chippings spread across the kitchen floor, the Fridge/ freezer was filled with old wrappers and bits of food, the oven was left with burnt trays and bits of food in, the cupboards had glasses and other appliances that were really dirty. The shower was covered in limescale and was blocked because the plug was filled with hair and other dirt that nearly made me throw up. The mattress is covered in stains and crumbs and the windowsills were filthy. With 2 other peoples help we brought endless cleaning products and cleaned everything, and I spent the weekend cleaning after they had left. We bagged up everything that we could not wash and make clean , thinking they were from the past tenant, but I emailed the landlord to see if I was able to chuck this stuff away they emailed 3 days later saying not to as they were left for each tenant and said to store them under the bed, which I did. A complaint was made to the letting agent, saying that with Covid 19 , the property should not have been left in a state and I should not be keeping dirty items, they contacted the landlord, then the person who lives in the house that my flat is attached to was banging on my door whilst I was trying to work, then peered through my window, and knocked on my window asking to talk and turns out is the Landlords daughter, saying I should not throw the stuff away , which I haven't anyway, and I explained that they are too dirty and that her mother took too a long time to reply. I tried not to have an argument with her, then she said that she washed some of the items, I stated everything is under the bed and I have my own stuff. She said any complaints I should tell her, but she's the same age as me and not the official landlord. I just do not know what to do, I'm worried that if I do make complaints her daughter is going to keep being so demanding and constantly disturbing me. Is this a bad sign of things to come? Should I think about ending my contract early? I just feel so disappointed and very let down.

Many thanks in advance for your reply.

Marvel1

What was the state of the place when you viewed?

Were you given an inventory om the condition of the place? If yes what does it state?

Take loads of pictures and videos with a timestamp of its condition.

Ignore the daughter, she is not the landlord, any issues directly to the landlord.  She knocks (daughter), then ignore.

Grenadia123

Thank you for your reply, The place seemed clean when I viewed however this was over video due to Covid-19, I was not given an inventory, I was given the keys and then the letting agent just left, we took some photos of the conditions and some small mold that is on the wall.

onwards&upwards

Don't sweat it, it just means you are under no obligation to tidy up when you leave. 

I hope you took photos?

dimbo61

Now you and your friends have done all the cleaning what is the place like ?
If the mattress is stained does it need replacing ? Could you manage with a mattress topper or does it smell and is old /uncomfortable.
Take photos and email the Letting agents.
Inform them you do not want visits by the Landlords daughter as you feel your being harassed.
It has been a very difficult time with Covid19 and social distancing and many cleaning firms are not working due to staff concerns about visiting other properties.
Do you want to leave the property or is it Now OK ?

Grenadia123

Thank you for your reply, After finishing cleaning the place has become better, and now have a mattress topper, I understand that they may not have gotten cleaners in, but the state the studio was in would make some people throw up, I only have a six month contract so will to continue the tenancy, however just received a text from my letting agent saying if I did not want the stuff left, the daughter will pick them up when she does the inventory, I'm very confused, I thought this should be done as soon as I moved in, and I moved in over a week ago, and the place now has all my things in and is now cleaner. I feel like I am being taken for granted and do not want the daughter coming in and assessing everything I've done Many thanks

steampowered

What exactly are you being asked to store?

If it is unreasonable to store those items (i.e. if belong to previous tenants, but are not furnishings which come with the house), you could offer the landlord and her daughter two options:
- Option 1: You will throw them away if you haven't heard from them in the next 7 days.
- Option 2: The landlord or the daughter can put them into storage, or store them under their own bed. The daughter lives nearby so presumably she is perfectly capable of collecting and storing the items.

dimbo61

I am afraid this will happen up and down the country at the moment.
Cleaners should have cleaned the property.
Inventory should have been done.
The daughter of the landlord is not an independent inventory company doing a video or photo inventory with written report before you moved in so not worth the paper it's written on.
Dispute any and all deductions when you leave as LL is failing in his responsibilities.
Did you get an EPC, Gas Safe Certificate, PAT testing, EICR or electrical certificate ? Proof of deposit protection and prescribed information 

Grenadia123

Hello 
I was not given any certificates , I have a information on the tenancy agreement about the deposit and it states the landlord should inform me of what deposit agreement they are under within 30 days. I have created a document with photos and videos of the conditions of the flat and any conversations that have been made.

Things that are stored are glasses and bowls, mixers, and sheets that we were not able to clean properly as they were covered in mould and dirt, this included a washing basket that I had placed outside as there was no place to store this and had mould at the bottom. I thought these belonged to the past tenant, but emailed the landlord to check if I could chuck them away , but got a reply 2-3 days later saying to store the stuff under the bed, and then had her daughter knocking demanding that everything should be stored under the bed. 

wilfred30

If I were you, I wouldn't let the daughter come and do an inventory - it's too late now.

It would be unfair on you for an inventory to be produced after you had cleaned the place as it wouldn't be a true reflection of the condition when you moved in.

dimbo61

Well you can check yourself if the property has an EPC by going onto the EPC registry.
Wait and see if the Landlord registers the deposit within 30 days of you paying it to him by checking all 3/4 deposit schemes.
Don't say a word if he fails to register the deposit. ( Save that for when you leave or he tries to evict you )
Does the property come with a fridge/washing machine any other electric items with PAT testing stickers.
Not really a legal requirement but good o have done as proves items are safe to use.
How safe are the electrics ?