To think that getting our flat deposit back minus £245 for cleaners is ridiculous

[SoftlyCatchyMonkey1]

We moved out of our 2 bed flat last week. We cleaned the bejesus out of it - it took bloody ages and was hard work. I would say that it was 90% spotless. Couldn't get it to 100% because I didn't have some of the relevant cleaning products. I hoped that, given how clean we got it, we would get all our deposit back. But no...the landlord decided it was not good enough. He said that the balcony floor should have been scrubbed, we should have cleaned the outside of the windows, there was residue in the soap drawer of the washing machine (ok I forgot to do that) and some cobwebs on a wall. Which, as I'm not a cleaner, I can accept and take on the chin. However, he had said that he has got some cleaners in to quote what needs doing and he's been quoted £245 and will reduce our deposit accordingly.

I can't accept that it would take £245 worth of cleaning work to put right. We had our new house (4 bed house) quoted at £300!!

Perhaps some cleaners can shed light on how they quote for an end of tenancy clean, and whether iabu then at least I will feel a bit better about losing the money!!

Sounds about right to me, for a professional clean. However, unless a professional clean at the end of the tenancy is in your tenancy agreement, I don't think he can expect you to pay for it, provided you left it reasonably clean. I would dispute this.

Your deposit should be in a deposit protection scheme your landlord cant just take it.

There was no requirement for a professional clean - that's why we did it ourselves to save money

Well, the landlord might disagree. You say you left it 90% clean - that's quite a chunk.

But anyway, he wants to get in professionals. Personally, I would try to negotiate.

Is your deposit in a protection scheme?

Having your deposit in a protection scheme doesn't mean the landlord can't reduce the amount for cleaning if they feel the apartment needs it. However it does mean there's a process for raising disputes if you don't think the amount is fair - you should check that out.

(did you take pictures? helpful if you did)

Are there pictures of before you moved in? Was the balcony scrubbed and the soap drawer clean?
Does the inventory say it was spotless?

Afaik, having the outside of windows cleaned isn't a reasonable request from landlords. £245 is unreasonable, if you took photos of the property before you left (after you'd cleaned up) I'd say you'd have a good case to fight against it.

Sounds like an hour for a professional cleaner at c.£20-£25 via an agency and maybe the same again for a window clean? Take it to dispute via the deposit protection scheme and ask for receipts because £254 is taking the piss.

I believe (when we were in similar situation) that the landlord has to give you the opportunity to put right any lack of cleaning, so give you the chance to go back and do that list. Did you have a condition report when you moved in?

Ask the landlord to break down the quote into hours and quote specifically what things need to be cleaned. Ask him to provide photos.

I hope you took photos before you moved out.

Is external window cleaning in your tenancy agreement?

What cleaning products did you not have? What jobs didn't you do as a result?

It's hard to tell without seeing it. My sister left a house (I had rented to her at a knock down rate when she really needed it) in a revolting state. She was never done telling people that I was a neat freak and that the house had been perfect when she left it.

If you disagree, tell him you plan to raise it with the deposit protection scheme.

Get outta here. Unless it is specified in your contract that professional clean and windows should be done they can whistle. Is there a check in/ check out inventory? Was the place spotless and sparkling on arrival?
This is a well-known wheeze to make a bit of extra dosh. Happily.there is protection for tenants' deposits now and unless there are very specific terms in the contract/ comprehensive check in/out inventories you will get your money back.
If you were contractually obliged to do those things ask for the quotes. That's what we did when our landlady tried sharp practices.

Deep cleaning is totally different to getting a standard cleaner in. Doing the oven, the fridge, pulling out The furniture, etc., takes longer than an hour.

Just say no. We had this at both of our rented properties. We had taken photos of each property the day we moved in and photos the day we left to prove it was actually cleaner on our departure. We got the full deposit back both times. Stick to your guns.

A long time ago I read an article by a columnist who was moving home in Switzerland. Apparently it's up to the leaver to clean the house, but there is literally a government inspector who decides if it meets the required standard. Despite spending a whole day on the kitchen alone, she failed her inspection. Apparently she failed to dismantle the kitchen tap and clean out the limescale on the inside.

I quite like the idea of independent mandatory inspections, that's the kind of red tape that makes the world a better place. (I'm not saying we should have Swiss standards, just some standards.)

Thanks all
We took a video of the place when we moved in and when we left to show that we left it in a clean state
I cleaned the fridge and oven (inside and out), pulled them out and cleaned the walls and floors behind them too
There was some dirt on the bottom of the fridge where the door sticks to it - I tried but I couldn't get it off
The weird grouting behind the sink is dirty - again I tried but could not make it clean (I expect this requires a special product)

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/tenancy_deposit_deductions_your_landlord_can_make

Check your tenancy agreement and tell us what it says about cleaning

Either way you should register a dispute with the deposit protection scheme. That’s what they’re there for.

Years ago my landlord deducted stupid money for cleaning - we challenged it and got everything back.

@firesuit
Christ they have stellar standards there!!!

End of tenancy cleans are in the hundreds. I'm not agreeing with what your landlord has done at all. But yeah, they cost hundreds.

Oh and while it’s sensible to take photos (or even a video) to show how clean you left it, they’re not necessary. The onus is on the landlord to prove you left the place dirtier than when you moved in. So if they don’t have before and after photos, and thorough inventories, you’ll get your whole deposit.

Why didn't you buy the cleaning products you needed, you could always have taken them with you and used them in your new place. 90% clean may be acceptable but it depends what the other 10% was really like.

@allmycats
In retrospect I wish I did!

Challenge it. The things he’s quoted that need doing (balcony floor, cobwebs, windows) will take 2hrs tops. I think he should be charging £25, not £245.

OP, you have the right to make good so can offer to clan these items yourself. It doesn't have to be a professional.

Firesuit Sounds like a Belgian end of tenancy clean. I did the taps and the loos, but couldn't shift the limescale on the glass shower doors as I was scared they would shatter. I did the insides of all the windows and inside the frames as well, and had the windows cleaned on the outside. There were pernickity comments about a weed on the patio, but the gardener had only just put weed killer down.