Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to move into a clean place?

21 replies

HforHavana · 29/07/2021 13:47

Got the keys for our flat a few days ago. The keys were dropped off to the letting agents on the Thursday afternoon by the previous tenant, and we picked them up Friday morning, so I doubt anyone had been in to check the condition of the flat.

When we walked in there was a horrible musty smell, and the place had clearly only been given a quick once over if that. Me and my friend had to give the place a deep clean (which we would have done anyway) but it was really dirty and grubby.

A few examples are:

  • the fridge had a funky smell
  • the hob was thick with black stuff on top which took forever to remove
  • the washing machine and dish washer looked like they'd never had a clean in their life, all dirt and scum inside and also on the surfaces.
  • dirty trays in the oven
  • a pair of knickers behind the radiator
  • used razors and bath sponges still in the bathroom

Now a few people seem to think that that's what you accept when you rent, but I think that as courtesy, you atleast give the place a good scrub for the next tenants. Also I think the landlord should have had a deep clean done regardless due to Covid.

AIBU to want to move into a clean place and not have to remove someone else's dirt and scum and mess?

OP posts:
Boom45 · 29/07/2021 13:49

The landlord will have inspected, probably took the deposit from previous tenants to clean and pocketed it. Did you take photos? Make sure you document it for when you move out.

pleasedonttextmyman · 29/07/2021 13:54

YANBU to want to find a clean place

especially when you are renting and will pay a fortune to a cleaning agency when you leave

but YABU to expect a clean place unfortunately.
people are generally disgusting.

I wouldn't clean though, I would contact the letting agency and demand a professional clean, or get one and send them the bill (I have actually done that in the past, they hadn't even cleaned the curtains!)

MydogWillow · 29/07/2021 13:57

Sounds disgusting!

Does the agent manage the property or your landlord? A check-in inventory should have been done to safeguard you (and the landlord) at the end of your Tenancy when condition, cleanliness etc might be disputed.

NotYourNachos · 29/07/2021 14:00

Did you mention it to the letting agents? What did they document about the state of the property on your inventory?

tiredanddangerous · 29/07/2021 14:00

If I was renting I would expect it to be spotless!

MotionActivatedDog · 29/07/2021 14:04

My house was stinking when I moved in. No one had done an exit inspection with the previous tenant. There were still beds in the rooms, broken furniture. Rubbish, dirt and dog crap, old tins of paint and lumps of wood, nails etc all over the garden. the bins were all stuffed full of broken crap too. My dad helped me move everything out to the garden so I could move my stuff in and clean and I had to send photos to the landlord to prove there was all this crap here before she would come to the house and remove it.

RainingZen · 29/07/2021 14:05

Yanbu. Didnt you have a check in process with the landlord? Usually they would document the state of the flat when you move in, with loads of photographic detail, which then you sign off to say you agree that's the state of the flat - every scratch and stain, every itinerary item documented - so then you have to try and hand it back in similar condition.

I would be kicking up a stink with the landlord and asking for reimbursement of costs (time and materials) to do a deep clean.

Original poster
HforHavana · 29/07/2021 14:06

When we went to view, it was the previous tenant who done the viewing. She said the landlord was helping her get her next place (a house for more space) so I think they may have had an informal relationship, and as he obviously was keeping her as a tenant in a different property, he trusted her so didn't do a check when she left.

Obviously that is all assumptions based on the fact she was moving to another one of his properties.

We have taken all pictures but all the cleaning is done now. We have redecorated and laid new flooring (in agreement with the agent that it will come off next months rent), so the place is basically like new now.

It's our first time moving out and hopefully the only place we will rent whilst we save for a mortgage, but lessons have definitely been learnt!

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 29/07/2021 14:06

I’m sorry, it’s really horrible when you move into a dirty place isn’t it. Adds to the stress of moving and also dims the excitement of a new home.

There seems to be a paradox with a lot of rental properties - In every single tenancy I’ve had, my contract has stipulated that I need to either deep clean/pay cleaners before I vacate with a landlord inspection and part of deposit deducted if not up to standard. And yet every property Ive moved into was at least a bit grubby and definitely not deep cleaned!

MydogWillow · 29/07/2021 14:17

@Sparklesocks

I’m sorry, it’s really horrible when you move into a dirty place isn’t it. Adds to the stress of moving and also dims the excitement of a new home.

There seems to be a paradox with a lot of rental properties - In every single tenancy I’ve had, my contract has stipulated that I need to either deep clean/pay cleaners before I vacate with a landlord inspection and part of deposit deducted if not up to standard. And yet every property Ive moved into was at least a bit grubby and definitely not deep cleaned!

Last year a new ruling states that a landlord can't request a professional or deep clean, only that it is cleaned to the same standard. Unfortunately everyone's idea of clean is different and photos don't show grime necessarily.

To my mind it should be professionally deep cleaned on every check-out, that way there's no dispute.

Easy you'd think, but no so any more Hmm. Makes no sense and unsurprisingly 80% of deposit disputes are because of cleaning issues.

pleasedonttextmyman · 29/07/2021 14:48

Brace yourself, it's even worst when you buy!

Prepare to move to an absolute tip. If you are lucky to have decent sellers, it will be a pleasant surprise. If not, you are warned and prepared accordingly.

MydogWillow · 29/07/2021 14:53

@pleasedonttextmyman

Brace yourself, it's even worst when you buy!

Prepare to move to an absolute tip. If you are lucky to have decent sellers, it will be a pleasant surprise. If not, you are warned and prepared accordingly.

Agreed! When the time comes, get a company in to deep clean a couple of days before you actually move in. Should be easy to coordinate coming from a rental so you won't be homeless while it's being done. That way you move into a gleaming house and just need to unpack Smile.
Berkeys · 29/07/2021 15:26

Not just renting…. I had this when I bought my home as a first time buyer. It really took the joy out of completion day. Older lady. Left urine on the toilet seat and the kitchen was filthy, covered in grease with junk left everywhere.

Berkeys · 29/07/2021 15:26

(In her 60s and mobile, not properly elderly - just grim!)

NiftyFiftyPlus · 29/07/2021 15:53

My daughter had same experience. She took a video and uploaded to YouTube as evidence. Sent links to Letting Agent and landlord - amazing how quickly a team of professional cleaners turned up.

TheGoogleMum · 29/07/2021 15:54

Yes I'd expect the landlord to make aure it was cleaned, they always charge tenants who dont leave it clean so they should use that money to actually clean the place!

ChainJane · 29/07/2021 15:57

When you buy it's a risk you take - you might get left with a complete pigsty and there's nothing you can do about it.

However, if you rent, you expect the place to have had a thorough professional clean (assuming the previous person left it in a state). Make sure you keep photos of what it looked like for when you move out, so they can't withhold your deposit.

Sparklesocks · 29/07/2021 16:14

Last year a new ruling states that a landlord can't request a professional or deep clean, only that it is cleaned to the same standard. Unfortunately everyone's idea of clean is different and photos don't show grime necessarily.

Ah yes, unfortunately my rental experiences were from a few years ago so pre ruling. I imagine you’ll still probably get a few dodgy ones who try their luck though - with tenants who either don’t know the legislation or don’t have the energy/money to dispute.

PussGirl · 29/07/2021 16:15

I'm moving out of my rental place on Saturday & as I've been at work all week, lovely DP (retired & doesn't live with me) has been cleaning it from top to bottom. He's currently using a rented carpet cleaner as I type Smile

It was fairly clean when I moved in 3 years ago, but this will be something else!

He wants me to get the whole of my deposit back Grin

I'd be upset to move into somewhere dirty / smelly - surely the landlord ought to arrange cleaning if the previous tenant hasn't.

thinkfast · 29/07/2021 16:22

It should have had a professional clean before you moved in. Just make sure you document the state when you arrived, take photos / videos and note all relevant items on the inventory and email the comments to the landlord or lettings agent now.

When you move out at the end of the tenancy, it should be cleaned to the same standard as when you moved in.

househousehousefox · 29/07/2021 20:34

There was shit on the floor of our last rental. tramps

New posts on this thread. Refresh page