Question for landlords: lodgers and cleaning

Emily_Joy

Jenniefour said:

Agree with clear up after yourself, leave as you found -  but deep cleaning - no! I am a live in landlady and expect my lodgers to leave kitchen and bathrooms as found, clear up spills etc. and they can expect the same from me. This basic level of cleanliness, or something very close to it, is fairly normal and ordinary with live in landlords and lodgers.  Each person is responsibility for their bit. It looks like this wasn't explained to you before you moved in and wasn't included in the contract/agreement either. A shame because it leads to the kind of situation you're in now, which appears to be a complete mis match between your wants/expectations and those of your landlord. I did smile when I read your question about a cleaner every day and the hint that your landlord might be that person! The everyday cleaners are housekeepers - usually found in the homes of the extremely rich and hotels. 

However, deep cleaning aside, do you think you can start to consider the minute or two here and there to do those little things which might make a huge difference to your landlord as normal responsibilities you take on with goodwill rather than obstacles/nuisances that get in the way of your life? Who knows, if you are willing to engage with this any mention/expectation of deep cleaning might well fall off the page entirely, never to be seen again. Otherwise, you probably need to move on and find different accommodation which matches what you expect/need/want and the trade off for that is you will have to pay more.  You have already ruled out the obvious - hotel/guest house. So have you thought about looking for a studio? Then you can do as much or as little as you want and have a cleaner too if you want. 

If I rent Mon-Fri via Airbnb, it would save me a few hundreds £ a month and the cleaning would have been included. 

Jenniefour

That's great - so maybe that's the way to go. 

Emily_Joy

Apologies @Jenniefour - I wanted to elaborate a little more. My approach is that everything that will be harder to clean up later should be cleaned ASAP. But I admit that it will be very difficult for me to leave the kitchen/bathroom as they were when I entered. Something will go unnoticed every now and then: a little bread crumb, a tiny drop of toothpaste, an apple seed. 

I could rent a one bedroom apartment for the same price I am paying now for the room - but in a noisier part of the town. I could also rent Mon-Fri even on Airbnb - this would have been much cheaper. Originally, I chose this place because the landlord told me that they work as a household servant for upper class/celebrity and therefore I would have the place to myself. However, they found it difficult to find the job after being dismissed by their latest employer.

Emily_Joy

I don't want to start a new thread, so will continue on this one... As @propertyrental suggested both landlord and I were not happy so I decided to move out. I gave 5 weeks notice in writing and moved out on the 5th of May. The landlord however still haven't returned the deposit (£1000). The contract (standard from spareroom) reads they have 20 working days to do so. On the day I moved out, the landlord was away visiting their family. There appears to be no argument or anything, the landlord just sent a short email saying they will return it and haven't responded to any further queries. According to the spareroom, the place is still available. Because I was a lodger, the deposit was never protected. 

What is the best way to get it back?

propertyrental

Best way? Amicably!

But ultimately you send a Letter Before Action giving 7 days notice of your intention to take legal action. Then you make a legal claim.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

Emily_Joy

propertyrental said:

Best way? Amicably!

But ultimately you send a Letter Before Action giving 7 days notice of your intention to take legal action. Then you make a legal claim.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

If the landlord is away/abroad when the letter arrives, does it make any difference?

propertyrental

Emily_Joy said:

propertyrental said:

Best way? Amicably!

But ultimately you send a Letter Before Action giving 7 days notice of your intention to take legal action. Then you make a legal claim.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

If the landlord is away/abroad when the letter arrives, does it make any difference?

No. Though in the interests of trying the 'amicable' approach you might wait till the LL is back.

Emily_Joy

propertyrental said:

Emily_Joy said:

propertyrental said:

Best way? Amicably!

But ultimately you send a Letter Before Action giving 7 days notice of your intention to take legal action. Then you make a legal claim.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

If the landlord is away/abroad when the letter arrives, does it make any difference?

No. Though in the interests of trying the 'amicable' approach you might wait till the LL is back.

 If they are abroad then it is for work reasons and they can easily stay there for half a year or longer I guess my best bet is to send a scan of the letter by email. Hope it doesn't come to that!