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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get nervous about yearly flat inspection?

29 replies

frankie001 · 04/10/2016 02:45

Its 0240 and my ocd is in over drive. Hate people being in my space as I know the 'rules' of how I live. Just cleaned kitchen, and bedroom but can't do floors or take rubbish out as I will need a shower straight after.

I know it has to be done but I always get worked up.

OP posts:
ShtoppenDerFloppen · 04/10/2016 02:54

I can relate. My blood pressure shoots up and I start to sweat just seeing my LL's number on the call display.

I know I am not behind in rent, so it MUST mean that inspection is around the corner...

Can you set your alarm and do rubbish and floors in the morning, then shower? Try to remember that your version of clean and theirs are not necessarily the same. You will not lose your home over a half-full rubbish bin, I promise.

I know the struggle.

Original poster
frankie001 · 04/10/2016 02:57

Shtoppen glad I'm not the only one! Its not until tomorrow evening so will have plenty of time.

OP posts:
MrsDrSpencerReid · 04/10/2016 04:32

This is me every time Blush

I spend days making the house pristine, only for them to do a quick 2 minute whip around and leave Hmm

You have my sympathy xx

SlottedSpoon · 04/10/2016 05:39

I'm a landlord. Obviously it's lovely to see the house looking absolutely pristine but it's not necessary - we just want to make sure you aren't setting fire to the wardrobes or letting your dogs shit on the carpets or drawing devil worship signs in blood on the walls. That sort of thing.....

I went into a new tenant's house for the first time recently and it was like a show home. Just beyond immaculate. Obviously I was delighted. I went back about two weeks later and knocked on the door unexpectedly (didn't intend /expect to go inside, I was just dropping off a spare part for something that I had promised to get for her.) She invited me in, which I refused at first as it was unfair to turn up unannounced and didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but she insisted.

This time is was nowhere near as immaculate. Still clean, tidy and perfectly decent, but it was obvious to me that she'd broken her back to create a good impression the first time. Honestly, as nice as it is to see the house sparkling like a new pin, we are not unreasonable people - just live your life and relax! (but no drawing in blood on the walls please.)

mortgagefreesoon5 · 04/10/2016 06:10

Agree with Slotted. Also remember that inspections are a two way road in which you can point out concerns/things that need mending to the LL

MaitlandGirl · 04/10/2016 06:27

If you've got a reasonable property manager inspections aren't anything to worry about (easier said than done I know!).

We used to have inspections every 3 mths and they were awful - we got failed once for having dusty skirting boards!!

I used to have an inspection cleaning plan that we would start on as soon as we got the inspection notification (2 weeks notice). It was so stressful and I'm glad we now rent off family.

Ifailed · 04/10/2016 06:28

I've got one tomorrow. I'll hoover everywhere tonight, but that's it. I know I haven't damaged anything that the LL owns and will not expect any complaints. It's my home, and expect to live in it as I like, so long as I don't upset the neighbours or break anything.

PS I'll hide the pentangle painted in blood behind a nice picture of a kitten.

TweedleDumber · 04/10/2016 06:45

Lucky. Ours are every 4 months.

SlottedSpoon · 04/10/2016 07:18

Maitland they must have been pretty dusty in fact probably filthy to have meant you failed though. And if you need to allow two whole weeks to get the house to an acceptable standard before an imminent inspection then what sort of mess are you living in? Shock So perhaps they had a point...

If places are left to get unreasonably dirty over prolonged periods then it often means that they can never be cleaned and brought back to the same standard again and things need replacing/repainting. And that means you might lose money off your deposit and piss off your landlord causing them to give you notice.

MaitlandGirl · 04/10/2016 07:50

SlottedSpoon we're not total spatterns - we're a very busy household so did 1 extra thing a day, on top of the normal fly lady cleaning routine. We were expected to present a home of showhome standard with an immaculate garden. I'm pretty certain the property manager would have preferred we paid the rent and lived somewhere else. It wasn't just us though - she was like that with everyone.

There were no allowances made for regular wear and tear, even though we lived there for years.

BarbarianMum · 04/10/2016 08:22

When I do inspections I am just checking that no one has taken down any internal walls, the floor isn't inches thick in rubbish and no ones moved a dog/cat in. It does generally only take 2 min - the state of your skirting board is frankly your business.
I did once walk into my flat to find all the ceilings thick with black mold Shock. Cue hurried calls to roofing contactors/plumbers assuming there must be a water leak (whilst wondering wtf tenant hadn't reported the problem). Turned out she'd brought in a tumble drier and was venting it straight into the flat but not opening any windows. 5k of damage, and the only person I've ever asked to leave in 15 years.
So inspections can be useful but only to pick up extreme cases.

Original poster
frankie001 · 04/10/2016 10:25

Am awake again now so having a coffee and then will get sorted. It probably won't even take an hour. Bring on 1830!

OP posts:
Afreshstartplease · 04/10/2016 10:36

I've private rented for over 9 years and never had an inspection, been in current property for 6 years. Landlord has been in once to look at boiler.

I do however bloody hate people coming into my house if it's not clean and tidy which it generally isn't as I have three DC!

I would be massively stressed to be given 24 hours notice of an inspection

Original poster
frankie001 · 04/10/2016 11:48

Ok, taking slightly more than an hour but nearly there! Thank goodness for radio x!

OP posts:
notinagreatplace · 04/10/2016 12:23

When I rented, I didn't bother tidying/cleaning - just assumed that the landlord wanted to check for major issues. Never had any problems.

Similarly, as a landlord, sometimes my letting agents comment on tidiness/cleanliness in the report but really all I care about is whether there are any seriously problematic things - like mice or whatever.

Original poster
frankie001 · 04/10/2016 13:27

Am done. Think she may say the Carpets need a clean, but am otherwise happy.

OP posts:
Original poster
frankie001 · 04/10/2016 19:05

And relax. All done, all ok
Pure relief!

OP posts:
ShtoppenDerFloppen · 05/10/2016 00:39

Have been thinking about you. Hope the inspection went swimmingly.

cjdamoo · 05/10/2016 04:03

My first rental in Australia I was pulled up on polished boards having smears, cob web on the washing line and dust on the laundry doorframe. They tried to withhold my bond over bubbles in the dishwasher and furniture indents in the bedroom carpets when I left. It has made me dread inspections. We were due one today. Got notice 2 weeks ago and commenced on full blitz carpet shampooed Garage cleaned grout scrubbed Aircon serviced patio and drive power washed. All that hard work for nothing they did not show up. 3rd time that has happened.

Original poster
frankie001 · 05/10/2016 10:28

Thanks. Over for another year!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 05/10/2016 11:53

MN hates landlords that don't maintain properties. MN hates landlords that do, by coming round with long notice every six months to check on the PROPERTY. How you fold your knickers or even if you tidy up is not an issue, as long as the place is ventilated, heated as appropriate and free of rubbish.

I have had tenants who didn't notice a leak in the flat roof. (Before anyone starts blubbing, things do go wrong with properties sometimes) I can't fix what I don't know about. Hence the inspections.

the rules must be different in Australia. That kind of list would be deservedly laughed at and thrown away if tried in the UK for deposit deduction.

Marynary · 05/10/2016 12:03

Would any landlord seriously be interested in your cleaning and tidying? Surely they just want to check that you haven't damaged anything and that the place is non-mouldy and doesn't need anything fixing. I can't see that the general standard of tidyness is any of their business as long as it is cleaned when you move out.

eeyore2 · 05/10/2016 12:18

I'm a landlord. Honestly there are many things in life to get anxious about but this is not one of them. As others have said the inspection is to check on major issues not your dusting regime. This isn't a test you can get an 'A' on if you try really hard! Take a look at your lease and look at what rights and responsibilities you and your landlord each have - hopefully it will put your mind at rest.

Cloeycat · 05/10/2016 12:26

I had the owner of the letting agency come in once for a requested inspection of our bedroom wall due to mold and rain water drilling through the wall on wet days.

The report sent to me and the landlord didn't mention it and only mentioned the clean dishes left on the draining board and the box of Christmas decorations in the hall that I was putting away when he arrived (it was January)

I was so cross that he mentioned my lack of tidyness but not the serious structural issues with the house which were the reason for the inspection.

Stitchosaurus · 05/10/2016 12:36

We have one every six months, just had the latest on Tuesday - and yep, I was stressing out over it and doing frantic cleaning. Of course, she was in and out within two minutes!

Once a woman new to the job did comment on some lime scale but apart from that, they really are just doing a quick check to make we've not trashed the place. Would be nice if the landlord carried out some of the repairs we mention every six months though!

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