Check out inventory pictures Vs description

FlaatusGoat

Getting some stick on the condition of the front and rear gardens. If push comes to shove would the pictures carry more weight than the inventory clerks description? It's incredibly subjective I.E weeds and hedges need trimming in the description but the photos themselves show very little difference from the check in and check out condition. I also have my own pictures of course.

Obviously the EA has a £400 estimate that they're throwing at me for their mate to cut a couple of leaves but since they're 'nice' they're offering me the keys to come back and do the work for them!

lookstraightahead

If it goes through the TDS or equivalent then surely they will only have the pictures to look at. Are you happy that you're being fair and leaving it in as good a condition? When we left our rental we paid a gardener to come in and ensure it is as was as much as possible. 

ThisIsWeird

Can we see the B's and A's?!

brett19852010

Is there weeds in the original pictures? You are adopting a skeptical tone but not many landlords would let you back in to make good.

chanz4

weeds can grow in days, holds no weight

_Penny_Dreadful

FlaatusGoat said:

Getting some stick on the condition of the front and rear gardens. If push comes to shove would the pictures carry more weight than the inventory clerks description? It's incredibly subjective I.E weeds and hedges need trimming in the description but the photos themselves show very little difference from the check in and check out condition. I also have my own pictures of course.

Obviously the EA has a £400 estimate that they're throwing at me for their mate to cut a couple of leaves but since they're 'nice' they're offering me the keys to come back and do the work for them!

If you are confident that you've left the gardens in more or less the same condition that they were in at the start of the tenancy don't accept any deductions from your deposit for gardening, use the deposit scheme's arbitration service if necessary.  On the other hand, if you think you might not have left the garden in the same condition, take the letting agent up on the offer to go and sort the garden out yourself.

MultiFuelBurner

Of course if you are having weather like we have had (sunshine and showers constantly) gardens are growing at an astonishing rate including weeds.

If you do go back take lots of pictures after but it sounds like you just need to go to the arbitration service.

robatwork

I had a landlord play silly buggers once when I left a rental, albeit many years ago - which was incredibly annoying as I cleaned pedantically and the place was immaculate. Some nonsense about needing a carpet clean (already done) and missing cutlery (lies).

Just play hardball - tell them you don't accept ANY deduction to the deposit and you look forward to discussing with the TDS and court if required and showing your picture evidence. I got my full deposit back.

pennyunwise

We are currently in a similar situation, the property was professionally cleaned and in looked perfect when we left. We have now received a check out inventory of 82 pages detailing every blemish in the property including one small hair under the toilet seat bracket, and a few crumbs under the hob control knobs, a mark in the drawer underneath the plastic cutlery tray.

The check in inventory is 18 pages, no description other than “good condition” and no explanation of what “good” means. The property has had at least 2 previous tenants before us. They are now wanting to charge for every single blemish in the property.

theartfullodger

Do you have your own photos that you took also?  (next place suggest you do).

Simply take matter to deposit dispute process.   Brought in, twice through parliament, after years and years of bad landlords (not all are) ripping off tenants 

Murphybear

Gardens can be a bit tricky in terms of inventories.  If you move in in winter and move out in summer for example then the garden will not look the same.  This is where hopefully common sense should prevail.