End of tenancy clean - issues

charlottexelizabeth

I really need some advice. I was told (with one week's notice) I needed to get an end of tenancy clean done in the flat I was vacating. I booked a cleaning company within the small budget that I had and they cleaned the property. There were a couple of things they could not clean and I had told the property management company this. However, when the evaluation was done the cleaning did not pass the checks. The cleaning company are taking zero responsibility and the property management want to take £235 out of my deposit to get it cleaned again. I have seen photos and it looks fine to me and I don't understand why I am being penalised for cleaning I didn't do myself. All together I am set to lose £410 from cleaning fees. This feels incredibly unfair.

Also to note, I had on-going issues with the property for four years and my own belongings got damaged due to damp and mould and dodgy electrics. No compensation or even an apology was given to me (there was also a million other issues with the flat too which I won't go into).

If anyone could please give me some advice as I really am at a loss and can't afford to lose that amount of money.

Thanks!

Voyager2002

Was your deposit protected?

Please visit the Shelter website and read what it says about your rights.

You can get good advice from them, but be prepared for a long wait. Using their online chat is faster than telephone, but try to contact them first thing in the morning.

charlottexelizabeth

Yes my deposit is protected. Thanks so much, I will have a look at their website.

youth_leader

So sorry to read this, the standards are so very varied. 

I was 65 years old when I left my rental cottage to move into this bungalow  (I'd sold my house at auction) and I cleaned it all carefully, as well as shampooing the carpet.  I got a very large blown up photo of 'ANIMAL DEBRIS/FUR' found on top of the radiator - and a cobweb.  I'd spent two days cleaning, it nearly killed me, especially the carpet shampooer.  So heavy!  Very luckily I did get my deposit back. 

When my daughter in NI was leaving her rental recently to move into her newly purchased home, I paid for her to have two professionals in.   I'm pleased to say she has got her deposit back.  

Good luck.

RHemmings

charlottexelizabeth said:

I really need some advice. I was told (with one week's notice) I needed to get an end of tenancy clean done in the flat I was vacating. I booked a cleaning company within the small budget that I had and they cleaned the property. There were a couple of things they could not clean and I had told the property management company this. However, when the evaluation was done the cleaning did not pass the checks. The cleaning company are taking zero responsibility and the property management want to take £235 out of my deposit to get it cleaned again. I have seen photos and it looks fine to me and I don't understand why I am being penalised for cleaning I didn't do myself. All together I am set to lose £410 from cleaning fees. This feels incredibly unfair.

Also to note, I had on-going issues with the property for four years and my own belongings got damaged due to damp and mould and dodgy electrics. No compensation or even an apology was given to me (there was also a million other issues with the flat too which I won't go into).

If anyone could please give me some advice as I really am at a loss and can't afford to lose that amount of money.

Thanks!

When I moved out of my last rented house, I cleaned it myself to a good standard. Inside and outside. They clearly searched high and low to find anything they could photograph and said that the house was dirty and that they would have to charge hundreds for cleaning. I disputed this and offered £60 for three hours of cleaning, and said that this was generous. They disputed that, but when I said to let it go to dispute at the deposit scheme. Then, the landlord backed down and that was that. 

In your case, I would reply saying that the property was professionally cleaned (include a scan of the receipt, even if you've sent it before). And to say that you believe that this is sufficient and that the photos do not evidence a need for further cleaning. If you want, offer a few hours of cleaning at the higher rate that you'll find on checkatrade. Tell them of whatever evidence you have (did you video and photograph the house as you moved out?), and then see what they do. If they continue, then in your shoes I would then progress a dispute through your deposit scheme. 

tacpot12

What could the cleaning compamny not clean?

Anything that isn't clean is dirty, so what was the landlord supposed to do about that? If the items were clean when you took over the flat, you have to accept that if they can't be cleaned because the dirt has permanently soiled them, then you  have to expect a deduction from your deposit for their replacement. However, the landlord can't expect to worn stuff replaced with new. They are supposed to allow for a certain amount of wear and tear during a tenancy (on everything in the property and only damage/soiling that is above this amount of wear and tear can be claimed for. 

The tenancy deposit schemes see reasonable and unreasonable claims from landlords every day, so have expertise in knowing what is what.   

theartfullodger

Dispute any deductions through the deposit scheme that has your deposit.  (It's tenant's money, not of landlord/agent..)

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

Agent/landlord seem greedy (I'm a landlord for my sins..)

PRAISETHESUN

Dispute the cleaning costs through the deposit scheme, that's what it's there for.

youth_leader

Let us know how you get on.  I've just remembered I couldn't manage to get the back garden done as well (large front garden and separate large garden by the railway line), and paid a local gardening team to cut the grass/cut shrubs back.  

Maahes

The last rental I lived in I just told the landlord I wasn't going to get the property cleaned or the garden tidied and we agreed a reduction from the deposit to cover both. As least they couldn't then complain neither was done properly.

jellybean73

Have you got your own evidence in photos and or videos?  I would go through the deposit scheme.  Also do you have evidence of the ongoing issues, emails etc.?  The last rental we moved out of 5 years ago the letting agent tried to say it wasn’t clean.  Letting agent was trying to take our whole deposit for the clean.  We knew the house was as clean as it was when we moved in. We disputed through the deposit scheme.  We had lots of photos as evidence and the deposit scheme agreed with us. The process was actually very straight forward.  Good luck!