End of tenancy clean - Is this ridiculous or is it me?

gazfocus

We recently moved from one rented house to another rented house and have received, from the management agent, details of what they'd like to keep from our deposit.

To give some background, the house was newly refurbished when we moved in a year ago, and we had it cleaned top to bottom when we moved out by professional cleaners that we've used in the past for our own rental. There was however a 5 week gap between the house being cleaned and us handing the keys back and having the final inspection. At the inspection, the management agent mentioned the sinks needed a clean as well as the oven but was generally happy with the rest (though nothing was signed by either party on handover of the keys back to the agent).

The management agent is now asking for us to pay for a full deep clean at a cost of £880 (to include cleaning the windows inside and out (at £105) plus £115 for cleaning the oven (it was a range cooker but we only ever used one section of it).

She's also asking for us to cover £420 for a gardener to come cut the lawns, weed a small patio area and tidy up a bush (although we left 2 of the 3 lawns freshly cut when we moved out).

Is it me or is this a bit extortionate? I am a reasonable person and don't mind paying for what's necessary but I think the quotes she's come back with are way too much.

youth_leader

I cleaned my rented cottage to what I thought was a high standard when I left, but a few things were found including 'a cobweb'. 

Did you inspect it after the professionals had been in, or did they send you photographs?

gazfocus

youth_leader said:

I cleaned my rented cottage to what I thought was a high standard when I left, but a few things were found including 'a cobweb'. 

Did you inspect it after the professionals had been in, or did they send you photographs?

We did inspect it and I was satisfied with it myself. I fully accept we may have missed a few bits here and there but asking £880 for a deep clean on a house that's already been cleaned seems excessive. At most, a competent cleaner could spend an hour or two just giving the house a once over (bearing in mind its completely empty now) and then charge for the oven on top and I'd accept that, but £880?

PRAISETHESUN

The LL can only claim costs required to bring the property back in line with where it was when you moved in, less fair wear and tear - how does the condition of the property at the time of the final inspection (not after the cleaning 5 weeks prior) compare to the condition of the property when you moved in?

In any case, I wouldn't bother trying to negotiate with the agent - request your deposit back in full from the scheme your deposit is protected with, and let them decide what (if any) deductions to make. If/when the agent counter claims (if they don't respond at all you will win by default), provide evidence of the cleaning/gardening you've had done.

theartfullodger

Thank them kindly for their request, let them know you are starting the dispute process with the deposit scheme the deposit is registered with.  

Scheme brought in by parliament after years and years of greedy landlords ripping off tenants.

See..
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/how_to_get_your_deposit_back/dispute_unfair_deductions

dimbo61

Wise words from Artfull 
Take this to the deposit people and see what arbitration  think of the costs

gazfocus

PRAISETHESUN said:

The LL can only claim costs required to bring the property back in line with where it was when you moved in, less fair wear and tear - how does the condition of the property at the time of the final inspection (not after the cleaning 5 weeks prior) compare to the condition of the property when you moved in?

In any case, I wouldn't bother trying to negotiate with the agent - request your deposit back in full from the scheme your deposit is protected with, and let them decide what (if any) deductions to make. If/when the agent counter claims (if they don't respond at all you will win by default), provide evidence of the cleaning/gardening you've had done.

It's difficult to say. As I say, the property was newly refurbished and the photos in the inventory are all once the house was refurbished, however, the house was empty for quite a while while they were advertising it. My concern is the management agent is expecting the house to be brought back to 'newly refurbished' condition and not allowing for the fact a family have lived there for a year.

The windows certainly weren't sparkling and there were dead flies and cobwebs in several places (quite a few) but the house is in the countryside so we didn't mind and didn't think to take photos. The range cooker was brand new so I can understand them wanting that cleaning, etc.

We took photos the afternoon we handed the keys back to the management agent and when she whizzed round, she was generally happy though as I say, she mentioned the plug holes in the sinks but that was it. 

I have already emailed back stating how much I think would be fair to contribute towards the cleaning and gardening but we are a long way apart in terms of expectations I think so I fear it will need to go through the deposit scheme. 

K_S

@gazfocus It's extortionate. I second what artful said above. Don't waste any time discussing this with the agent or accept anything they say, they're clearly trying it on, starting from a ridiculously high amount hoping you'll be grateful to settle for a slightly less ridiculous amount. Hopefully you have the receipt from the professional clean.

Do your best to follow the dispute process outlined above and on the website of your particular deposit protection service (DPS, TDS, etc.). Let it go through the dispute process, the process itself is not going to cost you anything but a bit of time and effort.

The agent will usually charge the landlord (typical example below) if they choose to take it to adjudication so its unlikely to be something that the landlord will want to do.

At the end of it all, you may still have to pay something but it's not going to be the amount they chose to start off with!

gazfocus said:

We recently moved from one rented house to another rented house and have received, from the management agent, details of what they'd like to keep from our deposit.

To give some background, the house was newly refurbished when we moved in a year ago, and we had it cleaned top to bottom when we moved out by professional cleaners that we've used in the past for our own rental. There was however a 5 week gap between the house being cleaned and us handing the keys back and having the final inspection. At the inspection, the management agent mentioned the sinks needed a clean as well as the oven but was generally happy with the rest (though nothing was signed by either party on handover of the keys back to the agent).

The management agent is now asking for us to pay for a full deep clean at a cost of £880 (to include cleaning the windows inside and out (at £105) plus £115 for cleaning the oven (it was a range cooker but we only ever used one section of it).

She's also asking for us to cover £420 for a gardener to come cut the lawns, weed a small patio area and tidy up a bush (although we left 2 of the 3 lawns freshly cut when we moved out).

Is it me or is this a bit extortionate? I am a reasonable person and don't mind paying for what's necessary but I think the quotes she's come back with are way too much.

Momanns

What is your fear? The deposit scheme exists to protect people like yourself from spurious claims by landlords and agents. 

£880 for an end of tenancy clean is outrageous - hopefully the adjudicator feels the same way. 

gazfocus

I don't have a fear as such, but the deposit scheme says you have to exhaust all possibility of reaching an agreement with the landlord prior to putting a claim in with them.

Anyway, I have said to them what I feel is fair and if that's not acceptable, I will go down the despot scheme route as suggested by you good people

Jude57

gazfocus said:

I don't have a fear as such, but the deposit scheme says you have to exhaust all possibility of reaching an agreement with the landlord prior to putting a claim in with them.

Anyway, I have said to them what I feel is fair and if that's not acceptable, I will go down the despot scheme route as suggested by you good people

Freudian slip? Given the landlord's outrageous demands, maybe not!