Page 2 | Just got to keys to rental house in awful state...

ParkingFeud · 2021-03-12T13:41:53+00:00

I've just got keys to a rental house and popped in on my lunch time. There is junk, overflowing bins and old garden furniture all over the Garden. The property was marked unfinished and we verbally checked it would be when looking round but there are 4 large pieces of awful furniture left in which are not to my taste at all. The kitchen is still full of appliances and all sorts else so definitly hasn't had cupboards wiped out or anything like that. The walls are COVERED in filthy marks. I have not been given an inventory, what can I do?! Awful posters left on wall etc.

Jubaju · 13/03/2021 10:00

Did you see it before you agreed to move there?

hobbyiscodefordogging · 13/03/2021 10:09

@ParkingFeud

Landlords seem very surprised that I think it is a state...!! They are coming to collect the furniture and have said I can repaint if I like to cover all the dirty walls. But I don't really want to spend money on paint knowing they could kick us out in 6 months. I'm so pissed off with this country and it's property situation :(

If it's as you described, how can anyone think it's not a terrible state?! I'd be complaining very, very strongly about it and insisting they put it all right and do the repainting themselves to bring it into an acceptable condition for rental.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 13/03/2021 10:26

I’d judge them badly as LL in this case. If they think it’s acceptable and it’s not then that tells you everything. Have you had any paperwork for the tenancy?

Unsure33 · 13/03/2021 10:52

Yes you should be on secured tenancy deposit scheme
Yes there should be inspection and inventory
Yes this should all be in the rental agreement .
Sounds like you may have an unscrupulous landlord . The laws are there and in place .

PRsecrets · 13/03/2021 11:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oakleaffy · 13/03/2021 11:16

@ParkingFeud

Landlords seem very surprised that I think it is a state...!! They are coming to collect the furniture and have said I can repaint if I like to cover all the dirty walls. But I don't really want to spend money on paint knowing they could kick us out in 6 months. I'm so pissed off with this country and it's property situation :(

So, so agree.

I too suffered at the hands of private rental sector, it was disgusting.
Spunky mattresses, period blood stains on there, and the landlord said I couldn't buy own mattress...Bought a mattress cover but would landlords live in their own houses? I doubt it.

Rented accommodation was generally ghastly in West London.

Hugely overpriced and in poor state.

I saved hard to buy a place...Hope you can , too...even if it means moving away.

WolfHunter · 13/03/2021 11:18

That shit. I hate that. Every house I've moved out of I've always left nice for the next person. Every house I've moved into has been filthy. I just get why people don't seem to have common decency.

Donotfeedthebears · 13/03/2021 11:30

As a landlord, when we moved out of our flat to rent it out, we had a professional cleaner give it a really good clean. I would have hated for our tenants to move in if it hadn’t been properly cleaned.

EllyB21 · 13/03/2021 11:38

I’m horrified/really depressed to read this. I am a private landlord (in London @oakleaffy) and have always presented our flat immaculately to tenants. And have not always been left with an immaculate flat at the end of tenancy!
Do you have a contract - and if so, how long is the tenancy? Is there an agent? It all sounds really dodgy which I know doesn’t help you right this second. I’d be doing what everyone else has suggested, photographing everything, and then looking for a new place ASAP.

Phoenixdays · 13/03/2021 11:41

I always specified a professional clean before moving in. Normally it has been agreed. I would try to get out of your agreement, contact citizens advice for guidance? I think the landlord doesn’t sound great. I’ve had horrible experiences too, hugs

ThatsNotTheTeaHunty · 13/03/2021 11:45

That's bad and the landlords seem shit. They should pay for it.
I'd never leave my rental in that condition. You shouldn't pay at all!

Cherrysoup · 13/03/2021 11:59

Do you have to move in immediately? Take loads of photos, send to landlord, ask for it to be properly cleaned. It sounds horrible.

Cocomarine · 13/03/2021 12:02

What’s the rental sector like in your area? They’re never going to be a good landlord. What are your options for not taking it?

mumwon · 13/03/2021 12:02

We clean & repaint between tenants
the better the property looks the more likely you are to get someone who will care for it & the more likely you are to get a decent tenant (ie one who will care for property, pays & tell you if anything goes wrong asap & stays there a long time
No guarantee of course, but it actually makes good business sense besides anything else.
communication is key & a good relationship

Sahm101 · 13/03/2021 12:05

Honestly I would ask for the deposit back and cancel the lease. Not sure how you can but I won't move there. You are bound to discover the place in even worse condition as you start living in it. And that landlords reaction tells you how difficult he is going to be should you start bringing up issues. Save yourself from this nightmare.

Singlenotsingle · 13/03/2021 12:06

I'd tell the agents I won't be moving in until they've got the unwanted furniture and rubbish removed, and it's had a good clean. Didn't you go and view it before agreeing to rent? I've got a flat that I rent out and I make sure it's immaculate before people come to view.

cerealgamechanger · 13/03/2021 12:14

Please don't accept the LL offer so easily, if this is their standard to begin with, it'll only get worse as you go on. We're living in covid times- the state of the flat is surely a H&S issue?!

willibald · 13/03/2021 12:21

@ParkingFeud

Landlords seem very surprised that I think it is a state...!! They are coming to collect the furniture and have said I can repaint if I like to cover all the dirty walls. But I don't really want to spend money on paint knowing they could kick us out in 6 months. I'm so pissed off with this country and it's property situation :(

How typical of them. I am really pissed off with the private renting in this country, too. Fucking ridiculous and you have my sympathies. Video and photograph it all.

willibald · 13/03/2021 12:22

@WolfHunter

That shit. I hate that. Every house I've moved out of I've always left nice for the next person. Every house I've moved into has been filthy. I just get why people don't seem to have common decency.

The landlord should have the place professionally cleaned between tenants.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 13/03/2021 12:29

Is it loose dirt kind of dirty - as in a good cleaner would make a huge difference?

If so then tell them, when they come to collect the furniture that they are not giving you anything like a covid safe house to move into and you want them to pay for a proper clean. Tell them you are happy to arrange it and to retain the cost from the next rent payment... should gee them up a bit. Put it in writing and get a positive response before you actually do it though!

Do take pictures, do things like wipe a surface and show the difference, like the TV ads. Then send them, email is fine, to the landlord as a true and accurate record of the cleanliness of the property on the day you moved in. You won't need to hand it back any cleaner!

But mainly say covid a lot and point at actual dirt when they are with you in the house!

Lollypop4 · 13/03/2021 12:29

As PP stated , photograph everything, demand it cleaned and decorated at their expense or your deposit back.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 13/03/2021 12:30

The landlord should have the place professionally cleaned between tenants. There is no law that says this. It's a suggestion that many letting agents make.. and clerks like myself. But there is nothing that would enforce it!

Flackattack · 13/03/2021 12:32

That’s horrible - do as PP have said with videos and photos and email over so you have proof.
Although personally there is no way I’d expect a house not to be clean.
I moved into a new build flat that when we looked was a proper state being lived in by two lads who hadn’t been paying the bills jet alone cleaning. but we were promised new paint and carpet and it was.
But only on a closer look did we find once moved in the filthy oven, fridge grout etc - we cleaned it but when we moved out they charged us for the dirty oven!!! It was cleaner than when we found it and I felt the landlord was trying to scrape back some money from the previous tenants.
Moved into a house - got the keys and it was filthy - garden was up to my knees and the garage full of letting signs / I told them in no uncertain terms it had to be cleaned in the next 24 hours and the garage emptied - garden could take a little longer as that didn’t impact my moving in - as I’d paid fees, deposit rent etc - and the basic should be clean!
They did - I was happy to go and sit in the office until this was resolved if there was any issues!
Don’t accept poor service!!

Original poster

ParkingFeud · 13/03/2021 12:38

To add to this, an upstairs window doesn't close, I've asked the landlady and she sent me a text saying she has always had good relationships with tenants. I don't know what to do as we have paid a month up front and don't have anywhere to go. But terrified to stay with such a bad landlady. Going to try and attach a picture of how open the stuck window is. So terrified.

Just got to keys to rental house in awful state...

OP posts:

Gwenhwyfar · 13/03/2021 12:39

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Why don’t you have an inventory?

You don't normally need an inventory in an unfurnished flat.