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Original poster

Landlord/letting agency wanting money

20 replies

yorkshirepudsx · 04/01/2023 16:31

Hi! Just looking for some advice

We moved out of a property early November, we had lived there for 4 years, and had tenancy insurance through the letting agents, paid no deposit (nil deposit scheme - this is why we had the insurance)

I have received an email today from the letting agency stating that they want to charge us £600,
they’ve broken down what this is for:

redecoration of the property
a full house clean
to replace some lightbulbs

I’m just wondering, can they charge us for this? The property was left in a far better state than when we moved in (I won’t go too deep into it, but after moving in we found animal faeces under the kitchen units, faeces all down the side of the toilet, the list goes on)

We ensured it was as clean as possible etc, most of what they have listed is wear and tear.

The only other issues I can think of (they mentioned discolouration of some walls) will be caused by damp/leaks which they were aware of as it was something I spent 3 years reporting regularly but was never properly fixed.

Thank you

OP posts:

tectonicplates · 04/01/2023 17:01

Tell them exactly that - that you left the property in a much better state than you found it, and that you asked for repairs to be done but they didn’t do them. If they ask again, tell them to piss off.

But I’m pretty sure it’s a legal requirement to pay a deposit through a tenancy deposit scheme. I’ve never heard of this tenancy insurance. Don’t use that system again.

thaisweetchill · 04/01/2023 17:21

You'll need photographic evidence of the state it was in when you moved in and how you left it. Otherwise it's your word against there's.

Maytodecember · 04/01/2023 17:23

Did you take photos when you left? Did the agent not do a walk through with you when you were leaving?
Ask them to provide photos which should have been taken within 24 hours of you leaving. If they email them you should be able to check the date stamp.
If they want to claim from you they will have to produce evidence for your insurers.

RandomPerson42 · 04/01/2023 17:25

Firstly, wear and tear is not your responsibility.

Damage is one thing, but damage casued by them failing to rectify matters is another thing - they should have had the damp/leaks fixed and where appropriate redecorated at their expense at the same time.

Lightbulbs they can charge for.

LadyOfTheFliessssss · 04/01/2023 17:29

I'm pretty sure most letting agents/landlords don't bother cleaning the property but try to charge the previous tenant the full deposit because they found a stray hair.

Push back on it as hard as you can, is my advice.

I'm at the point now where I refuse to waste my time deep cleaning at all when I leave a tenancy.

Naunet · 04/01/2023 17:39

Pretty sure they can’t charge you for a professional clean if they didn’t have it cleaned before you moved in. Did they do an inventory when you moved in?

LIZS · 04/01/2023 17:40

thaisweetchill · 04/01/2023 17:21

You'll need photographic evidence of the state it was in when you moved in and how you left it. Otherwise it's your word against there's.

Is it not up to them to demonstrate it goes beyond wear and tear?

MrsPicklesonSmythe · 04/01/2023 18:00

I'm sure you can only be charged for a professional clean if one was done before you moved in. Redecoration - depends on condition but it's unlikely to be a reasonable request if its normal wear and tear.

Lightbulbs, yes they can charge for that.

I'd appeal and ask for both the inventories for check in and check out to prove liability.

StPaulandTheBrokenBones · 04/01/2023 18:27

I think you should have a read of this OP. These no deposit schemes are not all they are cracked up to be.

www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2020/02/12/ten-issues-tenants-consider-deposit-free-renting-schemes/

NYresolutions23 · 04/01/2023 18:53

Do you havw photos of the property when moved in and out?

Whe is we moved in, 1st time private renting after so many stories like this. We took photos. 180 photos of every single frame, door wall ceiling cupboard u name it.
We have decorated through with LL permission and hes really good has fit a new bathroom and kitchen which he let us choose. But again we have taken before and after photos.
. And im always touching up paintwork for marks due to the kids, monthly job! Takes no time at all.

I'd fight it

Original poster

yorkshirepudsx · 04/01/2023 18:54

StPaulandTheBrokenBones · 04/01/2023 18:27

I think you should have a read of this OP. These no deposit schemes are not all they are cracked up to be.

www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2020/02/12/ten-issues-tenants-consider-deposit-free-renting-schemes/

Thanks for this!

OP posts:

NYresolutions23 · 04/01/2023 18:56

And fwiw. Our agent is shocking!
They had no light bulbs or fire alarms, keys to any doors or windows other than front door.
The landlord made them pay for all that once he saw our inventory and photos. He then cane down to visit the property and was appalled by the state of it.
He said we can do what we want and of want to give him recipts we can but as he done so much, we haven't its only paint and some standard carpets for the 3 bedrooms.

Original poster

yorkshirepudsx · 04/01/2023 18:57

Thanks everybody.

I've also just come off the phone with my previous neighbour (we stay in touch and are good friends) - they've already done most of this work, but it was a worker from the letting agency there doing it, not a contractor and the sign has changed from 'to let' to 'let'

I might ask for them to show me the quotes etc

OP posts:

Original poster

yorkshirepudsx · 04/01/2023 18:59

NYresolutions23 · 04/01/2023 18:53

Do you havw photos of the property when moved in and out?

I'd fight it

I have a lot of photos and proof of all the issues reported! Even emails of my discovery of the animal poo under the kitchen 😖 I'm just so anxious when it comes to things like this, I end up a mess and can't function

OP posts:

Naunet · 04/01/2023 19:59

If they didn’t do an inventory when you moved in, they haven’t got a leg to stand on anyway.

PopUpMoon · 04/01/2023 20:01

Nope.

Its actually on them the prove, and they can’t, and deposit service won’t give it to them.

Tell them no and that you’re raising a dispute with whatever deposit service they used.

NeverGonnaNot · 04/01/2023 20:08

Look at Shelter website for advice on this. You do not have to leave the house in a better state than when you moved in so I don’t think they can ask for all that.

I had the same type of request when I left a rented house. I disputed some of it. They wanted me to pay for a professional clean after I had cleaned it myself. One of the letting agents had inspected the house after I left and told me it was ‘immaculate’ so I refused to pay for another clean. I had accidentally damaged a carpet and negotiated a payment for that less than was requested by the landlord. It was resolved between the letting agent, landlord myself but if I hadn’t challenged it I would have been 100s of pounds out of pocket.

Original poster

yorkshirepudsx · 04/01/2023 20:55

NeverGonnaNot · 04/01/2023 20:08

Look at Shelter website for advice on this. You do not have to leave the house in a better state than when you moved in so I don’t think they can ask for all that.

Thank you for this I've found so much stuff on the shelter website to help me!

I just feel so so stressed with it all; I worry way more than I need to with everything,

But it was my home for 4 years I took such great care of it, the only damage there is from the damp and leaks they delayed fixing :(

OP posts:

tectonicplates · 04/01/2023 22:18

StPaulandTheBrokenBones · 04/01/2023 18:27

I think you should have a read of this OP. These no deposit schemes are not all they are cracked up to be.

www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2020/02/12/ten-issues-tenants-consider-deposit-free-renting-schemes/

Sounds like a scam tbh.

StPaulandTheBrokenBones · 04/01/2023 22:28

It is a scam. Look at this from Leaders. Tenants pay a monthly fee, rather than a lump sum deposit. However the monthly fee doesn’t actually accrue to pay for any repairs at the end of the tenancy. The tenant will still be charged in full for these. In particular read the disclaimer at the foot of the page. So effectively the monthly fee paid by the tenant is more or less an insurance policy for the landlord.

www.leaders.co.uk/advice/leaders-no-deposit-option-for-tenants

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