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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think stuff it, sorry Landlord I am trying my best?

62 replies

ChristmasStocckings · 09/11/2020 01:26

So our landlord has decided to sell the apartment we are renting. The agent and landlord want the place spotless as they are sending over a photographer to take photos today and also want it display home ready for the two open for inspections they are having each week. I totally understand why they would want this.

But I have a 3 month old at home. I also have a skin condition which makes it hard to clean - my hands are already sore and bleeding from day to day house work. The place is tidy and clean but is not display home clean. I have tried but I just can't get it done. The windows need washing, washing basket is overflowing, the bathrooms could do with a deep clean.

I'm not happy they are selling. We are not in the UK but Covid is still a worry. The idea of non family members walking around our apartment and touching things is fairly stressful as it is.

So AIBU to think tidy and reasonably clean is enough?

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/11/2020 08:16

I think they should wait until your lease on the apartment finishes and you have left they then can 'dress' the place however they want.

silentpool · 09/11/2020 08:33

I'd tell them to take a flying leap to be honest. Typically, I tell them I will allow appointments once a week and they can show groups then and only then. I also tell them I will be present because I do not like people coming in when I'm not home. As for it being a show home, that is unreasonable and if they want that, they can pay for it to be cleaned and staged. When estate agents get unreasonable, I remind them that tenants have rights and I am very happy to exercise them. That usually puts them back in their box.

MzHz · 09/11/2020 08:40

@chickenyhead

It depends what your lease terms are. My UK tenancy agreement states that I have to allow reasonable access in the last month of my tenancy and maintain it to a reasonable standard.
Your lease term is “unfair” and unenforceable

You DONT have to allow anyone into your home for any reason if you don’t want to.

timeisnotaline · 09/11/2020 08:46

They can jump. I rented a house in aust- Victoria till March this year. We put it on the market after the tenants left as it’s just too hard, there’s no guarantee of having it tidy because our tenants... lived there. Duh. They would have tried hard as they were keen to stay another few weeks (I didn’t make anyone homeless to be clear!) but it would have been impossible to get it all cleaned up and a handyman to do this and that, fresh coat of paint... but if I’d wanted it cleaner with them there, I’d have paid for a cleaner blitz.

Burnthurst187 · 09/11/2020 08:56

I think the sensible thing for the landlord to do is to serve you your notice then once you've moved out have it cleaned to "show home" standard and then they can start viewings

I read a thread recently by a landlord where the tenant was in the same position and kept saying that viewings weren't convenient as they were WFH. People replied to the landlord and said what do you expect! Wait for the tenant to move out, take photos and then do viewings

In your position I wouldn't make any effort other than keeping the place habitable and say viewings aren't convenient if they aren't, don't put yourself out. A lot of them won't turn up anyway

Nanny0gg · 09/11/2020 09:00

@FortunesFave

You don't have to make the place "spotless" if you're in the UK you have a legal right to "Quiet enjoyment" of the property. That means you live in it as you want to as long as you're maintaining it to proper standards...that doesn't include making it photographer ready.

You also do not have to allow viewings.

But she's not in the UK...
Nanny0gg · 09/11/2020 09:01

@echt

YABU for not saying this is in Australia. And the state. You'll get a shitload of comments that don't apply to your situation.

You say they need 14 days' notice, so hold them to it.

She did say it wasn't UK
LakieLady · 09/11/2020 09:03

Covid is your friend in these circumstances. You don't have to let anyone in to your home - we're supposed to be distancing.

IntermittentParps · 09/11/2020 09:14

I think if they want it pristine they should pay for a cleaner. I'm sure they'd pay out for this kind of service if they were trying to sell an empty house; just because you happen to be in this one doesn't mean they can ask you to be the cleaner.

I don't think you need to tell them about not being able to do it because of the 3-month-old or your skin condition, either. It's not relevant.

ChronicallyCurious · 09/11/2020 09:15

YANBU. If they want it spotless he can send a cleaner out

Whatisthisfuckery · 09/11/2020 09:15

Tell them to do one. If the LL wants to sell then they do all the hard work themselves, you are not their sales team. If they want it spotless they pay professional cleaners.

I’d be tempted to tell them you aren’t allowing access for anything other than emergencies atm. You have a right to quiet enjoyment of the property you rent and you aren’t obligated to allow access for anything other than essential stuff. We’re in the middle of a global pandemic FFS, why would you want randoms trooping through your hose anyway?

Nah, tell them to fuck off, politely, obviously. They only want to sell up and potentially evict you anyway. Do they think you’re a mug?

GreenlandTheMovie · 09/11/2020 09:21

If you want a good reference, I'd get it clean if I were you.

I'm a landlord, and I had an awful tenant but fortunately they moved back home due to lockdown in March. Didn't bother to clean before they lef, and it had been dirty throughout the let and they had ignored requests to clean it. Due to Covid, I had to clean it myself, and I tallied up my time and costs and it came to just under £280.

I have them the option of payi g my invoice, knowing it wasn't worth the time or hassle of pursuing it through the TDS (and copying of receipts and soon). They ignored me.

So I have steadfastly ignored all requests for a previous landlord's reference that have come through. Which is actually lucky for them, because if I responded, I would have to say that they were dirty tenants and I could not recommend them.

The only thing worse than seeing someone's else's dirt is cleaning it up after them. It accumulates so much. No, actually, it's pretty bad hearing excuses why people can't clean up after themselves.

ancientgran · 09/11/2020 09:27

YABU for not saying this is in Australia. And the state. You'll get a shitload of comments that don't apply to your situation. OP clearly said it wasn't UK so maybe shouldn't post comments on UK law.

lyralalala · 09/11/2020 09:29

@chickenyhead

It depends what your lease terms are. My UK tenancy agreement states that I have to allow reasonable access in the last month of my tenancy and maintain it to a reasonable standard.
The access for viewings is not a remotely enforceable clause. You do not have to allow viewings
lyralalala · 09/11/2020 09:30

@echt

YABU for not saying this is in Australia. And the state. You'll get a shitload of comments that don't apply to your situation.

You say they need 14 days' notice, so hold them to it.

It states she's not in the UK in the OP so how is she BU?
PatriciaPerch · 09/11/2020 09:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/11/2020 09:39

Don't do it OP. Keep it as clean and sorted as you would normally, agree to them moving the washing basket etc of they need to for photos but tell them you're not doing more than that. They can give you notice and take them once you've gone otherwise

notalwaysalondoner · 09/11/2020 09:47

Just do your best, wear gloves for cleaning (I have awful eczema triggered by cleaning products, gloves are a game changer) and remember anyone looking at a house will not be looking at how tidy it is, but if it is damp, if it meets their needs etc. They’ll be able to see past some laundry and mess especially if they know it’s rented out currently. And remember everyone has different standards of tidy anyway.

echt · 09/11/2020 09:47

She did say it wasn't UK

It states she's not in the UK in the OP so how is she BU?

Eventually. Should have been in the OP

I

rach2713 · 09/11/2020 09:48

I hated renting as my agency told us in are inspection not to use the oven and I had left a cup in the sink and the said it needed to look at like a show home when they inspected it. I told the I had 2 children and worked in between school time and how was I ment to feed my kids if I couldn't use the oven and if they wanted a show home not to rent it out especially to a couple who has kids. After that they never said anything as the house was clean and had no damage to it..

Original poster
ChristmasStocckings · 09/11/2020 09:53

@GreenlandTheMovie it’s clean and tidy. It’s just not display home clean. Of course I wouldn’t leave the property dirty when we leave - I will wash walls, windows, and pay for a professional end of lease cleaning service. But I don’t feel like I should need to do this while I still live here.

Thankfully this reference thing doesn’t seem to be a big deal in Australia. They don’t contact current landlord for reference. They check work and professional references, ask for proof of rental payments, and check you haven’t lost your bond before. It would be inappropriate to contact the current landlord as then they would know you where looking for a new place

OP posts:
MrsSpringfield · 09/11/2020 09:53

Explain to landlord. They might be ok to suck up the cost of a cleaner.

Original poster
ChristmasStocckings · 09/11/2020 09:56

@echt

She did say it wasn't UK

It states she's not in the UK in the OP so how is she BU?

Eventually. Should have been in the OP

I

It was mentioned in the OP
OP posts:
DumplingsAndStew · 09/11/2020 10:01

@echt

She did say it wasn't UK

It states she's not in the UK in the OP so how is she BU?

Eventually. Should have been in the OP

I

It is Hmm
AcornAutumn · 09/11/2020 10:03

OP

Did they actually use the words “display home ready”. That’s not a reasonable request.

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