Cleaning bill after house sale

KAHULA

I sold my house a few months ago and I was a bit disorganized. I still had some items left in the garage at the property and had left behind a few old flower pots and things in the garden. The buyers said they would get in a skip and someone to load it up and invoice me. However they have invoiced me for a cleaner to deep clean the fridge, freezer and kitchen cupboards as well. I have sent a cheque for the skip plus £25 to cover someone to load it. They haven't cashed it and are now saying they will take me to court if I don't pay in full in the next 14 days. However i'm sure I don't have to pay for all this?
Please help, the buyer is a real bully and I've never owed anyone anything. i'm not sure what to do. 

davidmcn

You don't have to "deep clean" anything, just leave the place empty. Just ignore.

greatcrested

You sent a cheque? Why? that was generous of you, but sadly could be construed as an admission .....

Ignore all future communication. Do not even respond as discussion is futile and could potentially lead o further admissions.

Next time, post here before responding.....

KAHULA

The cheque was to cover the skip cost and someone to load it, I should not have left anything behind so I accept that part, it's the additional £300 for a deep clean I don't feel is fair, will I get a CCJ if he takes me to court and end up paying fees or should I be alright, i'm loosing sleep over it. 

davidmcn

You'll get a CCJ if he takes you to court and you don't bother defending it. Unless there was something weird in your contract, you weren't obliged to clean the place, so it's easy enough to defend.

greatcrested

'A few old flower pots'?

a) seems fair to leave them. I wouldn't have paid.

b)must have been a LOT of pots to need a skip.......

eidand

greatcrested said:

'A few old flower pots'?

a) seems fair to leave them. I wouldn't have paid.

b)must have been a LOT of pots to need a skip.......

was going to say, it feels like the OP is leaving a few things out. Some plant pots surely do not require a skip ...

comeandgo

If I moved into a dirty house I would be infuriated but I would know there is no way I could get any money from seller for the clean up.  What exactly did you agree to, is there any e mails etc?  

pinkshoes

How much stuff did you leave behind that warranted a skip?? A few old flowerpots can go in a wheelie bin... Unless it was LOTS of stuff then I think you were generous.

You are correct not to pay the cleaning bill. That is for them to sort out. I assume it looked like that when they viewed the property and didn't suddenly become grubby just before you completed?

Good plan sending a cheque. I hope you sent it with a letter stating that the money was sent as a gesture of good will to pay for the clearance of a few bits left behind, but clearly stated that the property was left in the same state as when viewed so you will not be paying for cleaning. If you didn't send a letter of that sort, I would reply now and make it clear that it was only a gesture of good will, and unless the gesture is accepted and the cheque cashed within 14 days, you will withdraw the offer and cancel the cheque.

JGB1955

I sold my father's house in January.  I ran a hoover around the house once the house clearance people had done their stuff BUT certainly didn't feel the need to clean the oven, dishwasher, fridge, kitchen cupboards etc etc.  I DID leave some fire irons by the grate ... well, the house clearance people did,.... and left a couple of long ladders in the garage because I thought they might be more than useful in a 3 storey barn conversion.but otherwise than that No Way!

peterhjohnson

The Property Information Form 14.4 (a) asks if the seller will ensure the property "... will be left in a clean and tidy condition?" How did you answer?