To not attend 'checkout' with landlord?

[Fuckedoffat48b]

We have just bought our first house and obviously have ended our tenancy on our current flat.

We have moved out, dug out the original inventory, had it professionally cleaned etc and now just want to hand the keys back. Except landlord is demanding we attend a 'checkout'. But I simply can't see any reason why I should?

Just for background landlord and her husband have been useless, lazy greedy and frequently rude whenever we have had to deal with them. I just can't see how I could benefit in any way from attending other than to handback the keys. Or am I missing something?

If you're not there it makes it harder to dispute anything they raise.

Personally I'd attend just to make sure I didn't get stiffed....

The only reason I can think of is to make sure you get your deposit back. It would give you the opportunity to argue your point against the inevitable deposit grab they'll try to make.

I’d go just to keep myself right- I’d be concerned that they would over exaggerate any issues without you being there to set them right.

Your username made me laugh OP!!!

I don't think you HAVE to be at 'checkout' but if the landlord has been a tosser, they will find any excuse they can to keep your deposit. So be prepared for that.

Some landlords (not all!) do everything in their power to keep the deposit.

Because if you aren’t there when it’s inspected to challenge any issues they can keep your deposit unfairly.

I would go also if you are waiting on your deposit back
If not, forget it

Personally I would go. That way you can state your case if they pick up on something. Ie mark on the carpet that was there when you moved in. I’ll be making sure I get my deposit back

And yeah as the posters above said, I would rather BE there, to try and avoid being screwed over.

If you don't attend the checkout, then she will try it on with your deposit. By going, if she has a complaint, then you can either rectify it, tell her not to be so daft, or argue that it's wear and tear.

You can insist on making a list of her issues as you go round, and ones that are agreed as not needing anything done, you can scratch through, and then you end up with a list of (hopefully none) issues to address via the deposit, that you then both sign and date, and she can't wriggle out of.

I would also go round before checkout and ensure you photograph everything from the inside of the oven, the hob, the inside and out of any white goods, windows and each room to back up your assertions about the state of the flat, so you have something to provide to the deposit protection people when she tries it on.

You'll be covering you own arse if you go; an hour of your time versus a chunk of your deposit?

It's in your interests to be there. I'd insist.

The thing I don't understand is why me being there and arguing 'my case' would make any difference to an attempt to make a deposit deduction. They simply wouldn't give a fuck.

I don't see how it offers me any protection the inventory doesn't?

Though I do take onboard your points about taking photos and will do so before 'checkout'.

Go and take date stamped photos of everything and have a copy of the check in inventory with you. Plus take meter readings (photos).

You being there makes no difference should it go to dispute.
It will be the inventory and check out inventory that are used,
Get photos of wear and tear and and damage you have done so they can’t exaggerate. No need to be there at all

If she is a crap l/l as you say, then if you don't turn up, she will chance it with your deposit. If you go and agree a list (or not) of things she says are not up to scratch, then you can provide this to the deposit protection people.

Having been stung at a Belgian rental checkout, who wanted more, and my husband was beginning to have steam coming out of his ears (and the comment from the professional inventory man was that he could see from the immaculate state we'd left the house in, that there was no money to be made from us); I'd advise you to go. Had we not been there, they would have wanted an extra €500 for a morning decorating, and it wasn't us that had chipped the paint, but the previous tenants.

Go, and don't agree anything with the l/l, unless you agree with it. Make her sign a paper to that effect.

Because they can say anything they like after you go - for example, if they want a new carpet, they spill something on it, then tell you that this was how they found it. Surely it is not rocket science - if you want the deposit back, then go to the checkout.

I had to be present at the checkout and I'm glad I did.

It was a new build flat and we had it professional cleaned before we left but he still nitpicked about a couple of things (asked me to scrub the spotless cooker) and I did it cheerfully with my Flash and cloth. He asked if the carpets had been professionally cleaned and I told him the agent had said no need if they still looked new, which they did.

I got 97% of my deposit back. It doesn't hurt to be engaged with them.

Will the inventory checker be there? Not sure why you need the Landlord then if you're paying for an inventory checker?

Video it taking place. If she identified any issues take close up of them. You're much more likely to get your full deposit back if she's the kind of person to pull a fast one. It helps her too, because you may feel that you should agree certain deductions if applicable.

You don't have to be there but it is your right to be there. As others have said, whether you decide to go or not make sure you take lots of date/time stamped pictures especially of carpets and appliances showing the condition at the point where you vacated the property.

You say that your landlords have not been good during the tenancy. For this reason I would make sure to be there at the check out so that they cannot try and make an exaggerated claim or even worse, cause additional ,marks or damage in order to claim for replacements etc.

With good landlords I haven't bothered being there. With bad ones I absolutely have gone to the check out, armed with a copy of the original inventory (having reread it in detail, in advance).

If for no other reason than seeing me take this stuff seriously has (I think) put the cheeky ones off trying something before they started...

Someone I had the displeasure to deal with used to cause "damage" (aka easily fixable but looks bad) to houses when tenants left in order to keep the maximum amount of the deposits.
He once took rubbish bags out of the wheelie bin and placed them around the house, showing it to be the tenant's by opening the bags and showing addresses envelopes as the evidence in the check out photographs. He was then able to charge crazy cleaning fees and fines for rubbish removal.

Never trust a landlord that you already KNOW to be a tosser.

And video the checkout. You don't need to film the actual landlord but have video evidence of the condition of the property.

Some of the responses on here are the reason I am considering not bothering with hanging around after I have handed over the keys.

I have no interest in having them try to intimidate me into conceding part of my deposit to them. I will dispute anything, as a) it's fine and we are handing back in better condition than we moved in and b) we don't need the deposit back in a rush as we have just bought a home so don't need it to secure another tenancy. It is also not the case that we need a reference. I am concerned that this checkout will spiral into a row when we refuse to be deferential.

The comment from @havaina really made me want to scream. You really stood there and cleaned infront of your landlord on demand 'cheerfully' and you are 'glad you did'?!

I would have sprayed the fucker in the eyes with that bottle of Flash if that had been me. How dare they?

You are a dodgy landlord's dream with that attitude.

No one said anything about you being referential. Don't go if you don't want to. Why bother asking - you've disagreed with everyone who has suggested it could be a good idea you attend. It's sensible to be there. You don't want to because they've 'demanded' you be there.

Deferential - bloody autocorrect!