Help! Wwud?

[Checkedstripes]

So we moved out of our rented house at the start of the week. Cleaners came in and cleaned on the Tuesday. Letting agency got back to us on the Thursday evening - past 9pm - to say that the clean was barely of a domestic standard and that they were going to get their own cleaners in. Now i had already spoken to the guy in charge as they had damaged a couple of things. I'd made it clear that I wasn't happy. I then spoke to them again only to get that the response that only you pay the invoice we're doing nothing. They started getting really aggressive at this point as well. I mentioned the consumer act 2015 and said that under that they needed to reclean or offer a discount. Was told to quote anything I wanted as it didn't matter. We now face Paying them (which I resent on all levels especially as everything has been so badly done) and the letting agency's cleaners. Topping out altogether at almost £700 :(. I've tried getting hold of CAB and finally got through once only to get cut off and then when retrying was told it didn't exist in my area ! Have tried phoning solicitors this morning but all have been closed so far. Wwud? I'm in a real quandary as not paying by today (day 5 after clean) puts a £50 'fine' on top....

[Feilin]

Call trading standards

[RandomMess]

Hmm tell them that you will be taking the to small claims court for the damage caused and for them not carrying out the clean to the standard required...

They sounds like bullies!

[FriskyFrog]

Have you got a clear view of why the standard of cleaning is not good enough for the agency? You are going to need this knowledge... You need a written list ( email) from your agency as the first thing or you won't have a leg to stand on.

Then you need to look at the contract you had with your cleaners. The things that the agency say are not properly clean.... Did your original agreement or contract with your cleaners cover them, and to what standard?

When you have a clear view of this, you will be in a much better position to proceed.

It doesn't sound likely that your letting agent would wait for a reclean, though this would be my first choice. And it doesn't sound like your cleaner wants to play fair. But if you can get your cleaner to do a reclean and your letting agent to specify exactly what needs cleaning and how, then do that.

If not, then you need to look at the discount route. A discount can be the full original price in appropriate circumstances. If you are in the position of having to pay new cleaners, plus pay for damages, I'd say that's a pretty good reason for a discount in the amount of the full original price.

Tell them that, and tell them you are happy to go to small claims court about it, but wahtever you do, don't pay them!

[maddening]

I think you need to ask the agency to take you round and show you where they think is not clean enough and take photos - until then you don't know know who is ripping you off..

[Checkedstripes]

Thanks for the replies. We have the check out form from the letting agents and all cleaning is listed there a 'domestic' rather then 'professional'. Their own website lists everything they do for a professional end of tenancy clean and we added a couple of bits like the oven.

We had just Friday to talk to them about it and they wouldn't agree to anything suggested. So it looks like solicitors Monday :(. I hate it - would they have attempted to bully if they were dealing with my partner?! When I went to check the work and collect a couple of things left they were mucking around, loud music (Poor neighbours!) so I was slightly concerned then. Oh bother :(

[Checkedstripes]

The agency took photos of a lot of the poor cleaning e.g. the hob, white footprints tracked across the kitchen floor.