About to sign tenancy agreement

Stevie1

Is it the norm that the following is included in the contract?

- TO clean or pay for the cleaning at least once every four weeks of all windowpanes inside and outside and at the end of the Tenancy.

- TO pay for the sweeping of all chimneys (if any) and ensure that these are swept regularly during the Tenancy and particularly during the last week of the Tenancy and to produce to the Landlord or his Agent receipted bills on the last day of the Tenancy.

- ON termination:

TO clean or pay for the cleaning of all carpets, floor coverings and upholstery in the Property.
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TO clean or pay for the washing and cleaning (including pressing/ironing) of all the curtains, linen, blankets, duvets and towels left in the Property where the same are listed in the Inventory.

- ....IF any deduction from the deposit is required due to the Tenant failure to observe and perform the obligations hereunder and referred to in Clause 5, then a charge up to a maximum of £50.00 including VAT will be payable to the Landlord’s Agent....

All sound very unreasonable to me, especially the one about the cleaning considering I am having to bring cleaners in on Saturday to clean the filthy house that is being left. The landlady considered spraying antibacterial Febreeze as cleaning!

tbs624

Hmm - unfair contract terms.

A LL can't require a tenant to clean windows every few weeks. they can ask for them to be cleaned at the end of the Tenancy provided that they were clean at the start and there is proof that they were. Even so, I think it can be argued that cleaning the outside of them comes under the LL's responsibilities.

It has been suggested that requirements for tenants to keep chimneys swept unfairly seek to transfer LLs statutory obligations.(OFT Bulletin 21)

You can only be asked to return the property in the same condition as it was when you took on the rental - therefore make sure you annotate any inventory appropriately, that it is signed by both you and the LL/LA, and keep your copy of it safe. Also take film/photos of property when you move in (have day's newspaper in shot somehere with date showing)

They can't charge you a fee for deducting an amount from your deposit. Does that Tenancy Agreement mention which scheme the LL will be registering your deposit with?

You can ask someone at the CAB or the Private Rentals Officer at the local Council Housing dept to look over the agreement with you, before you sign.

mlz1413

These terms are fair if that is the way the property is handed over, barring the one about cleaning windows every four weeks - you are entitled to quiet enjoyment so how you live is your choice, how you hand back the premises is the only issue.

I think TBS's advice is good your problem is with the state of the property now, if LL will pay for professional clean you have booked then it's your responsibility to return it professionally cleaned. If you take it over sprayed with antibacterial Febreeze then you should be able to return it that way!

Also are you renting it fully furnished with blankets, duvets and towels? I had this condition in my old contract but it was only part furnished no linen of any kind but LA still wouldn't cross it off.

Incisor

mlz1413 wrote: »

Also are you renting it fully furnished with blankets, duvets and towels? I had this condition in my old contract but it was only part furnished no linen of any kind but LA still wouldn't cross it off.

Not a problem. Just make sure it is on the inventory with a quantity of 0 - none.

janegresty

I would not sign that if the property were in the state as you described. I would tell the LL to either change the agreement, or to get it up to a professionally cleaned standard.
And why is your LL stating you should clean the window sills etc every 4 weeks? To me that is a very odd condition. I would be very wary of them

BTman

Stevie1 wrote: »

- ....IF any deduction from the deposit is required due to the Tenant failure to observe and perform the obligations hereunder and referred to in Clause 5, then a charge up to a maximum of £50.00 including VAT will be payable to the Landlord’s Agent....

I would lose the £50 and let them do the cleaning.:p