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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I U not to clean?

45 replies

mum2three0 · 24/04/2019 10:44

Recently just done a house swap, the lady complained to the HA that there was "dangerous mould" on the windowsills.
They've told her to clean it.

But now she is messaging me saying she's going to make sure I get hit with a cleaning bill as I could have cleaned it before I left.

I'm aware I should of, but I had about 38 hours to pack, 3 kids to take care of, nightshift to juggle, my nan passed away. I feel quite guilty as it is that I didn't clean absolutely everywhere but it just wasn't possible. The move didn't go smoothly either and I required another van for the rest of my stuff so time was spent doing that, I also had to run about dropping the kids off with various grandparents and the whole thing was just a nightmare!

Was I totally in the wrong?
So I don't drop feed, she didn't clean hers either

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 24/04/2019 10:45

Ignore.

She's been told what to do.

NoSauce · 24/04/2019 10:46

How clean was the whole house? Was it just the mould that you didn’t manage? It sounds like from what she’s said it wasn’t very clean at all.

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 24/04/2019 10:47

Mould doesn't grow in a week, surely most people do general household cleaning at least weekly. Yes you should've cleaned off it was that much of a state you had mould growing. If it was just s car of not having hoovered or dusted this week that's fine but it seems like a bigger issue than that and black mould is hazardous to health.

Original poster
mum2three0 · 24/04/2019 10:47

Just the mould on the bedroom sill, maybe a wee bit on the kitchen one. Everywhere was hoovered and mopped

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 24/04/2019 10:47

Did you have some kind of contract saying you had to clean?

IceRebel · 24/04/2019 10:48

I feel quite guilty as it is that I didn't clean absolutely everywhere but it just wasn't possible.

I would have thought cleaning mold would have been a priority when cleaning, so i'm wondering what else was left uncleaned. Confused

EL8888 · 24/04/2019 10:48

If she didn’t clean her property then lm confused about why she’s moaning?

MRex · 24/04/2019 10:49

What does the house swap contract say about cleaning? That will be the best way to see if you are liable or if you just shrug your shoulders. However well a house is cleaned, surely most people clean it when they move in.

Original poster
mum2three0 · 24/04/2019 10:49

I've never cleaned around the window Blush
This was her bathroom counter

Was I U not to clean?
OP posts:
Original poster
mum2three0 · 24/04/2019 10:50

Nothing in any contracts

OP posts:
BigRedLondonBus · 24/04/2019 10:50

For her to text you about the state of your house I imagine your not being as honest as you should be about the state you left it in. It must have been bad.

MrsMozartMkII · 24/04/2019 10:52

Ignore.

Life gets very stressful at moving time and people need to understand and accept that.

romany4 · 24/04/2019 10:55

Message her back with the picture of her bathroom and say you'll be sending her a bill for cleaning as well!
Cheeky cow

Original poster
mum2three0 · 24/04/2019 10:57

She hasn't text about the state of it. Her message literally says
"I phoned the HA about the dangerous mould, they've told me to clean it and they wont be coming to look at it.
Could you not have cleaned it before you left"

She's a very CF! She told somebody that she just needed their van and they wouldn't need to do any lifting (she expected my partner to do it all) and he done 3 van runs, packing her stuff, putting it into the van and unloading at the other end!!
Then he didn't plumb in her cooker so she messaged me "why didn't your partner do that? I have nobody to do it for me"

OP posts:
Original poster
mum2three0 · 24/04/2019 11:04

Oh and she has just messaged me again
"Why did you tell the gas company about the move that was my job it's my gas company" Confused

OP posts:
MrsCasares · 24/04/2019 11:04

Send the photo you’ve posted on here with a message - snap. Ignore her.

coffeeismybestie · 24/04/2019 11:04

I had this happen to me, I went back to my home at 10pm to clean, because when I moved in it was disgusting and I didn't want the next people to move in to mess. The place I was going to hadn't been cleaned either.
If she's cf that's one thing but cleaning up after yourself is your responsibility. Especially as the window mould should of been wipes away before for at least your dc.

Bluestitch · 24/04/2019 11:07

I'm currently going through a mutual exchange and part of the deal is you each accept the house in whatever condition it's been left in so any mess, rubbish left behind etc becomes your problem. I'd just block her now tbh, sounds like she's going to keep randomly messaging you about nonsense otherwise.

Bluestitch · 24/04/2019 11:08

Xpost. Your partner did all her moving for her and she's still complaining? Definitely block!

MrsMozartMkII · 24/04/2019 11:10

Sounds like she's either super stressed or just an arse. Whichever, given the help you've already provided, block her.

prawnsword · 24/04/2019 11:10

Send her that pic of the bathroom you just posted. That is gross

bigKiteFlying · 24/04/2019 11:12

Ideally a wipe down should of been done - but every house I've moved into has needed a clean - some more than others.

Telling the gas company you have moved is totally normal - you give last meter readings at same time - same the other end you get in touch and give meter readings when you move in. She needs to get in touch with them to set up her billing at her new address- so her text there makes no sense.

Expecting others to move your stuff - is odd though with a hosue swap I can see it was in your best interest to get her moved.

If you have a re-direct on with your post - and you should do - then you don't need to be in touch with this person - just block her.

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 24/04/2019 11:14

Her bathroom looks disgusting and she got your partner to do her moving for her! Block her

Babuchak · 24/04/2019 11:16

send photo of bathroom, then block her number and ignore her.

She does have a point about the mould, that should have been cleaned if only for you and your family!, but she is filthy and her comment about the gas company is nuts.

Springwalk · 24/04/2019 11:18

This arrangement sounds like a nightmare. I hope she doesn't continue like this about every last thing in your house. I would also evidence and store photos of the house you are staying in op. Forward them to company with some kind of message that you are not complaining, however you would like to raise this with them now, should there be any further complaints about your house and cleanliness.

Not everyone is cut out for a house swap, and she doesn't sound very well suited or very happy. Do you have a contract in place?

I would prepare for more to come, I ask her to go through the HA if there are any future problems, as that is what they are there and paid for, and in a very breezy fashion wish her the best. Block.

This is her problem not yours.