CF-ery from letting agents!

[Wyldstyles]

Partner recently moved out of rented property where he's lived for 18 months or so. Made sure all belongings were emptied, I personally vacuumed and mopped all the floors (it's wood or tiled throughout), wiped over paintwork etc.

It wasn't in a brilliant state when he moved in. The kitchen was a bit grimy, one of the window panes was cracked and 2 taps dripped/ didn't work. It was handed back in at least as good a state as he got it, if anything I think it was cleaner.

On Xmas Eve he got a 'report' from the agents stating all the floors and walls were dirty and hadn't been cleaned (this is a joke not least because while I was mopping the floor the day partner moved out one of the agents turned up to show prospective renters round!). They've also said the window was broken (this was like it before he moved in) the extractor fan needed cleaning and all the walls repainting.

It's such a waste of time now having to argue this. Why can't they just be honest? The LL lives abroad so it's not like this is coming from them, it's all the agents!

A lot take the mick. Currently 80% of our deposit had been in dispute for nearly 3 months. The letting agent and landlord claimed our cleaning was ‘haphazard’ They are also trying to blame us for a broken window handle when we know from RightMove pics they have replaced all the windows. I really feel for your partner OP, these twats will try anything 🤦‍♀️

I don’t know how these letting agents can get away with this. For most people I know having some or all of a 1or 2k deposit held from them for months would cause financial problems.

They are allowed to charge you for damage even if they fully replace an item. So if you did break a window handle they are fully entitled to claim for the damage you did.

They could demolish the whole house and you would still owe for damages done.

Some times I get a list of stuff the LL has chosen not to include in a check out. They volunteer to give up any claim on damages to it because they are replacing it.

But I also get LLs who don't understand why they can't claim for replacement carpets in the whole house because of a single stain!

Agents sometimes have no choice other than to pass on the weird claims.

Ask for a copy of the inventory stating that the property was clean and in good order.

Then ask for the deposit scheme number

Then ask for the full sum of the claim with an itemised break down of costs.

Agree to any that you feel are valid and then let them know you will be disputing the rest.

They then have to release any undisputed funds to you and any disputed funds to the scheme (this bit depends on the scheme)

They will NOT win and they probably know it.

HOWEVER do not assume it's not the overseas landlord who is making them do this. I was a letting agent for many years and we always took instruction from the LL.

Raising a dispute isn't hard. The onus is on the agent to prove the claim.