Moving out of a rental property - how do I make sure I get my full deposit back?

MSE_Ciara

Hi everyone. My partner and I are in the process of moving flats, with a little overlap so that we can go back to clean the property we're moving out of.

However, the property isn't going to new tenants - rather, our landlord is selling it and putting it on the market soon.

My question is, what are the best ways to quickly deep clean an empty flat (wooden flooring, thankfully) and balcony so that we might hopefully get our deposit back in full, bearing in mind that we only have a few days to do so, and that it's being sold?

Bonus question: is it our responsibility to make it fit for selling? I can't see anything about this specific scenario in our rental agreement.

MEM62

If you hand it back in the same condition that it was in when you moved in, you should have no issues with your deposit.  If you are planning to deep clean it, that will not be 'quick'.  

RAS

Do you have an incoming inventory? 

What precisely does that say about the condition of each element? Is there any evidence to support that, photo, video taken by yourselves or the LL/EA?

How long did you live there? 

You are expected to return the property in the condition it was in when you moved in, less fair wear and tear.

However, do think about the hidden places like tops of kitchen cupboards and wardrobes. Worth cleaning them and the loo in advance?

The LL is not entitled to betterment. Best example was a poster told to refund the full cost of a new carpet because she has damaged on corner putting down an iron. She challenge the cost of complete replacement and the scheme ordered her to pay £80.

theartfullodger

MEM62 said:

If you hand it back in the same condition that it was in when you moved in, ....

Actually it's same condition less fair wear & tear. So if eg one fastidious elderly person there for 6 months will have less wear 'n tear than (say) family of 2 adults, 4 kids & three large Rottweilers living there for 10 years.. (for 10 years I'd expect landlord to need to redecorate & re-carpet)

Artful: Landlord since 2000. (ie knows a bit, but still learning, still making mistakes).

dimbo61

So the question is how good was the LL/L.A. ?
Did you have a written inventory to sign when you moved in
Did they have an Independent Video Inventory company video the condition of the property ?
How long have you lived in the property ? 5 years plus and the LL needs to factor in redecorating and repairs/replacement.
Take lots of photos when you leave and clear all your stuff.
What condition was the property in when you moved in ?
Like new with new kitchen, bathroom and carpets.
Good Luck in your new home 

theartfullodger

Follow excellent guidance on getting back deposit on Shelter website 

tacpot12

Here are my tips:

• Get lots of lights on in the room you are working in AND Move what can be moved - you can't clean what you can't see. 
• Start at the top of the house and start high up in every room. 
• Use a long handled soft brush to get any dust and cob-webs of the ceiling. 
• Use microfibre clothes to wipe every surface. (Use warm water and a kitchen surface cleaner like Mr Muscle).
• Use HG Mould Spray on any mould.
• Use Harpic Power Plus Tablets to remove any limescape under the waterline of the toilets, (just throw the tablets into the water an leave overnight)
• Use Mr Muscle Kitchen cleaner neat to remove grease in the kitchen. 
• Use Bamboo skewers to get into grooves where grease has collected. 
• Use OvenBright Oven cleaning kit (or get a professional in) to clean the oven.

I've been a landlord for 12 years...

MEM62

theartfullodger said:

MEM62 said:

If you hand it back in the same condition that it was in when you moved in, ....

Actually it's same condition less fair wear & tear. So if eg one fastidious elderly person there for 6 months will have less wear 'n tear than (say) family of 2 adults, 4 kids & three large Rottweilers living there for 10 years.. (for 10 years I'd expect landlord to need to redecorate & re-carpet)

Artful: Landlord since 2000. (ie knows a bit, but still learning, still making mistakes).

Fair point.  I never saw much in terms of wear an tear from my tenants - certainly not anything that I would have charged for.  That is, apart from the last one.  There are no words to express the filth that he left behind but it was an environment that the cockroaches obviously loved by the size of the colony.  

baser999

Years ago I used to upkeep a few gardens for a local letting agent and was friendly with a couple in one of the properties who because of his work found it more convenient to live in rentals. His wife ran her own commercial property cleaning company and had her own staff in to clean every time they moved and yet despite this they were always charged by the agents for final cleaning, deducted from their deposit. In the end they decided they’d cancel their final months rent a month before they vacated; the agents then had to fall back on the deposit to cover the final months rent and were prevented from charging for bogus cleaning

Wyndham

Once you're done cleaning take photos - of everything.

I had one where they mentioned a crack in the bathroom floor. I looked at my photos and couldn't see it, so asked them if they could send me a photo 'so I could compare it to my own'. Suddenly they weren't looking to reduce the deposit for that anymore!

MikeJXE

I have done 3 moves in the last 4 years 

Did not cook in the oven or on the gas hob.

IMO i left the flat cleaner than when I went in

 2 were managed by the agent and failed for dust and dirty oven so lost some of the deposit 

1 was passed by the landlord managed with compliments