WINDOW CLEANING IN FLAT

jackiek1963

Hi yeh i live in a first floor flat and i get charged each month in my service charges for 'window cleaning'. i have lived here for 5 years now and my windows have NEVER been cleaned! i clean them inside but cant reach all the outside windows. i contested this 6 months ago via email with the Housing Company who own/built the properties, but despite numerous emails i have received nothing back! Am i responsible for the cleaning of my windows or does the window cleaning charge apply just to the communal areas? which incidently i have never seen cleaned either. 
My windows are awful, i can hardly see out of one of them on the road side of the building and it is horrible to look at and i really want this resolved. I have tried to get other people involved in the building but they seem very disinterested as a lot of them rent and dont want to upset their landlords. 
Any one suggest anything please? 

DE_612183

Probably just refers to communal areas - but check your contract with the housing company.

ironhide

OP - its not the answer you want to hear if you are paying for a service, but there are magnetic window cleaners - you stick one on the outside (it comes with a tether in case it falls off) and the other part goes inside which you move around the window.  They arent perfect but it will be an improvement.  I used to use a smaller version on fish tanks. 

other shops are available but here is an example https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tyroler-Bright-Tools-S-1-Window/dp/B00FK0NRWI/ref=asc_df_B00F8FEGMK/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=226549124565&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=940425333667978884&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046645&hvtargid=pla-421958045444&th=1

ThisIsWeird

Silly Q - your windows cannot be opened far enough to allow a cleaning brush/mop/wiper to reach the outside surface? Eg, by unclipping a restraining bar?

gwynlas

If you live in a first floor flat any window cleaner would be able to clean your windows using a pole system.
Regarding you being charged for cleaning that does not happen you should aproach your management company for an answer. You should be advised of who was awarded the cleaning contract and the cleaning schedule which you should be able to easily check. It is unlikely to be just for communal areas. If you are being charged for services that you are not receiving then you and other owners are being ripped off, this includes the landlords of tenanted flats who might not achieve full rental potential if block looks unkempt which they would not be aware of.

ukindexinvestor

jackiek1963 said:

Hi yeh i live in a first floor flat and i get charged each month in my service charges for 'window cleaning'. i have lived here for 5 years now and my windows have NEVER been cleaned! i clean them inside but cant reach all the outside windows. i contested this 6 months ago via email with the Housing Company who own/built the properties, but despite numerous emails i have received nothing back! Am i responsible for the cleaning of my windows or does the window cleaning charge apply just to the communal areas? which incidently i have never seen cleaned either. 
My windows are awful, i can hardly see out of one of them on the road side of the building and it is horrible to look at and i really want this resolved. I have tried to get other people involved in the building but they seem very disinterested as a lot of them rent and dont want to upset their landlords. 
Any one suggest anything please? 

Definitely contact whoever your landlord is and have another read of your tenancy agreement. I would have assumed everyone would pay for it and it would be to clean every window in the building. I don’t see how they could get away with not cleaning the windows to be honest. Maybe have a look at those long window cleaning poles? My window cleaner uses the ones from https://wfp.co.uk/ they do seem very expensive so might just be worth posting on fb for a nice cheap local window cleaner to come round and get you a quote?