AIBU not to clean the house at the end of a tenancy

[Notthatkeen]

I have served my landlord notice to leave and they have given me a checklist of issues which are either (a) fair and I accept I need to pay for them (b) outrageous or (c) unfair but I know it is likely they will get away with it.

I won't go into full details because they are outing but when I moved in I stupidly didn't take my own photos and the landlord said they would share theirs but never did and I forgot to follow up (please don't judge me there were extreme reasons as to why I moved in in such a rush, head wasn't in the right place). Now the photos they have given me in support of their 'checklist issues' the condition of certain items, walls, carpets etc look very good and much better then when I moved in but I can't prove it.

I know I am foolish for not taking my own photos (lesson learnt). I know I can challenge and probably win on some points but all of my dealings with my landlord have been exhausting and I think they will get away with the unfair (but not outrageous) stuff.

On to my AIBU... I know I have to clean at the end of a tenancy and have sought quotes from professional cleaners. The cost of the landlord's preferred cleaner is around half my deposit. The value of the fair issues raised by my landlord also amount to around half the deposit. So say the the deposit is £1,000 and the cleaners are £500.

If I pay cleaners and lose my full deposit (unfairly but I can't prove it) to the landlord the cost to me is £1,500. If I do I not pay for cleaning the landlord will take it out of my deposit so my cost is limited to £1,000.

AIBU to even be considering doing this? I realise it makes me sound like a terrible person but I hate the thought of my landlord getting away with this.

Vote yes for you are being unreasonable and should organise and pay for cleaning

Vote no for let the landlord take it out of your deposit

So as not to drip feed I don't have any issues needing a reference so that isn't a concern. I can prove that the cleaning company is the one the landlord uses so am not at risk of them using a more expensive one. Also, I don't think my landlord would try to pursue me the courts for what they allege I owe that won't be covered by the deposit as while I think they are prepared to be unscrupulous in retaining a deposit I doubt they would take their fibs to court - it is a risk though.

Is your deposit in a dps scheme. If it is and the 'unfair' items are wear and tear that won't be deducted. The DPS will tell the landlord that (I'm a landlord so know this).
Any damage will be deducted but has to be at a like for like replacement, not what the item may have cost the landlord immediately.
You don't need to use the landlords preferred cleaner or any cleaner, you could do this yourself with before and after pictures.

Wear and tear with carpets, finger marks on walls etc won't come out of a dps protected deposit.

It's often cheaper to hire a carpet cleaner and clean the property yourself (take before and after pics that are date stamped).
You could also give walls a lick of paint too (maybe worth doing if your deposit isn't in the DPS scheme),which will be cheaper than a deduction from deposit for landlord to pay a decorator.

What are the unfair and unreasonable things you think he is trying to fleece you for.

As for the AIBU, yes you are, if the property was clean when you moved in it should be clean when you move out

Thank you @cheshirecat99 you are bang on and I was starting to feel like I was living in a parallel universe!

1. Did he send you all of the prescribed information, including your deposit protection certificate, at the beginning of your tenancy?

1. If he did not send you an ongoing inventory then one does not exist. There is no agreed schedule of condition that he can hold you to.

1. His pictures alone do not constitute proof.

1. 'Professional clean' has no meaning for the deposit schemes. You don't have to pay for one if you clean the property to a good standard. Check your contract to see what it says, in case there is an additional clause, and even then the deposit schemes don't usually uphold unreasonable cleaning demands.

1. Check your house, does it have an EPC

find-energy-certificate.digital.communities.gov.uk/find-a-certificate/search-by-postcode

Gas safe and electric certificate?

My best advice, I am an inventory clerk is:

• check all of the above

• clean the house well, take pictures

• remember the deposit money is yours. He cannot just take any of it. Challenge anything you disagree with

And don't worry about it. He has made at least one error that will cost him if he tries to rely on his pictures.

Maybe low but still possible.

@HaveringWavering

Wow that’s pretty insulting to cleaners *@Blossomtoes*.

But true. Cleaning isn't hard and anyone can do it, however some are plain lazy and just don't CEA, others have lower standards of cleanliness etc, but we are all capable of cleaning (to higher standards than we think personally too)

Sorry OP, I missed at least one of your updates.

My post sounds daft, for you.

As for cleaners and magical powers, end of tenancy cleaners are bloody amazing. They can work absolute wonders and they clean things most people don't even see, or would have no idea how to clean - like bathroom extractors.

If you are going to clean,.or have your cleaner do it here's what I would add:

• Bathroom extractors

- Cooker extractor hood

• Limescale on taps and showers, screen included
• black spot mould staining on ceilings, round windows etc HG mould spray works wonders
• staining to sealant strips and grouting on tiles
• finger grub on doors and bannisters
• soap tray and door seal of washing machine

All daily bugbears for me 😊

With Scenario B - what makes you think that the Landlord would not pursue you for the extra £500

If you can afford it I think the best thing you could do is get the cleaning done, I'm sure you can get it done much cheaper. Take lots of photos and walk away.

Sorry posted to soon.

You sat the risk of Landlord pursuing is low but it is still a possibility, try renting with a CCJ

@Imasoulman

Sorry posted to soon.

You sat the risk of Landlord pursuing is low but it is still a possibility, try renting with a CCJ

She wouldn’t get a CCJ, would she? 🙄 If he was enough of a bastard to take her to court she’d pay up.

You could also give walls a lick of paint too (maybe worth doing if your deposit isn't in the DPS scheme),which will be cheaper than a deduction from deposit for landlord to pay a decorator.

Bloody hell, no! I would be furious if my tenant decided to redecorate my property, even if it was with the same colour paint. Completely in breach of the lease and a recipe for disaster unless you get professionals in, and even then still risky if the colours are not quite the same as the originals.

Im paying 30 quid for my end of tenancy clean. I know that she will keep the deposot anyway as she's a cow but that's another story.