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Original poster

Agent telling me to do washing up...

299 replies

PercyPigfangirl · 22/02/2023 20:29

Advice please. Had flat inspection today, I was not able to attend due to work however ensured flat was generally tidy. Hoovered etc. Had a few friends for dinner last night so there was some plates and cookery things by the sink for washing.

I've been emailed by the agent saying they want to talk to me as concerned about the cleanliness of the flat. I asked them to be more precise and they said the amount of washing that needs doing in the kitchen.

This was something I was not thinking would be any issue... Having some washing by the sink. I admit there was quite a bit due to having friends around but surely I am entitled to reasonable enjoyment of the property and having dishes to be cleaned has nothing to do with them. I would understand if it was something that could damage the property or a dirtiness issue.. but that flat was overall tidy. Don't know how to respond to them and if I've been entirely unreasonable here by not doing it?

OP posts:
KindlyKanga · 22/02/2023 22:03

jetadore · 22/02/2023 20:50

They may be concerned that it had been there for days when there's only one of you, which would in turn concern them about attracting rats.

Rats?! Rats attracted by dirty dishes? Lol

Maybe the property has rats?

RudsyFarmer · 22/02/2023 22:08

You’ve just brought back memories of some officious woman inspecting our rental house ten years back tutting and scribbling stuff down when it was bloody immaculate. They’d inspect so often I felt harassed. I was so delighted when we got back on the property ladder and got rid of these inspections.

In your position absolute silence would be my response. .

RandomUsernameHere · 22/02/2023 22:12

Tell them to install a dishwasher if they're that bothered Grin

Hebridean · 22/02/2023 22:16

I know legally you are right, but I cannot fathom why last nights dishes were not washed last night

Are you always so lacking in imagination? You can't fathom that someone might cook dinner, spend the evening chatting to friends and leave the dishes until the next day?

ReformedWaywardTeen · 22/02/2023 22:18

I agree that you definitely should tell them that any inspections will need to be scheduled at a time when you are present. That's just ridiculous. It's like they are clutching at straws.
How long have you lived there? I'm always wary now with agents/landlords because they no longer have the no fault eviction option.

We had similar once. We had moved in about a week and a half before and had one nursery school and one infant school aged DCs at the time, so we had a few boxes still stacked up to be unpacked whilst we worked out where to put things, whilst trying to keep two little kids happy and calm because we had moved. The house was smaller than our previous rental which didn't help.

Anyway, landlord told us there was a repair outstanding so his handy man would be coming over the next afternoon. He did so, did the job and off he went.

I then get an angry email from landlord saying his handy man said our house was disgusting with stuff everywhere! He demanded to come see the house immediately.
We told him no, he had to give 24 hours notice as he knew, it was in the tenancy, and could he please elaborate on the supposed allegation. It was the boxes. And because we had some books stacked up in a pile by a wall waiting for a shelving rack I bought as the old house had had built in shelves.

I pointed out the ridiculousness of that, we had been there under a fortnight and I told him we were revoking the access of that handyman from here onwards and he would now have to get someone else in.

Some agents and those connected to them are arseholes.

billy1966 · 22/02/2023 22:19

Rellywobble · 22/02/2023 21:15

This !!

Show quote history

Absolutely this.
CF.

Butchyrestingface · 22/02/2023 22:21

I know legally you are right, but I cannot fathom why last nights dishes were not washed last night. To me, that isn’t “generally tidy.”

Behave yourself, woman.

InelegantAndWild · 22/02/2023 22:24

For some people, doing dishes is the highlight of their day.

eurochick · 22/02/2023 22:25

I find this outrageous. Dirty dishes from the night before waiting 24 hours to be washed have nothing to do with the condition of the property. You have the right to live how you wish. The email someone posted above about making sure they have no washing up or laundry out shocked me. It has been a while since I rented but I've never seen anything like that. I've been a landlord as well as a tenant and would never have dreamed of imposing lifestyle edicts on my tenants.

Lucinda7 · 22/02/2023 22:27

Just asked DH who was a landlord (private) for some time. He said that's none of their business and when he did inspections that wouldn't even be worth a mention.

Viviennemary · 22/02/2023 22:27

If you knew there was an inspection it was remiss of you to leave dirty dishes. Most folk wouldnt except on MN of course.,

InelegantAndWild · 22/02/2023 22:30

Tbf that letter sounds like it was the agent thinking they could instruct the person paying their wage how and when to clean/launder, rather than the landlord, but yes it is v OTT.

Onnabugeisha · 22/02/2023 22:36

InelegantAndWild · 22/02/2023 22:30

Tbf that letter sounds like it was the agent thinking they could instruct the person paying their wage how and when to clean/launder, rather than the landlord, but yes it is v OTT.

The landlord pays the agency who pays the agent. Tenants don’t pay the wages of the agents.

silverclock222 · 22/02/2023 22:39

SpringofJoy · 22/02/2023 21:08

Or withdraw permission for inspections full stop.

Show quote history

Most Landlord's insurance requires inspections as part of the contract so that's a pretty stupid suggestion. I can't imagine e anyone with any pride in themselves leaving dirty dishes at the sink when someone was coming to inspect.

InelegantAndWild · 22/02/2023 22:43

Onnabugeisha · 22/02/2023 22:36

The landlord pays the agency who pays the agent. Tenants don’t pay the wages of the agents.

Show quote history

And the tenant pays the landlord lol. The tenant is funding the whole damn lot of them and keeping them all going.

Mothership4two · 22/02/2023 22:46

KindlyKanga · 22/02/2023 20:38

They may be concerned that it had been there for days when there's only one of you, which would in turn concern them about attracting rats.

I'd just assure them you had friends so there was more than usual and you wash up every day or two.

You shouldn't have to but if there was looooads of stuff and only one of you I can see why they might query it.

^^ this

They may have had previous tenants who caused pest problems from this. Just explain.

Personally, if I knew my property was going to be viewed, I wouldn't leave out dirty washing up, but that's a personal choice.

LaPassegiata · 22/02/2023 22:53

Whilst the idea of leaving unwashed plates gives me palpitations (I would rather sleep later and do everything bar anything needing a soak), I would say that the landlord didn’t need to comment. It’s not damaging the decoration or integrity of the flat so it’s technically fine. Gives a rubbish first impression though.

saraclara · 22/02/2023 23:07

Hebridean · 22/02/2023 22:16

I know legally you are right, but I cannot fathom why last nights dishes were not washed last night

Are you always so lacking in imagination? You can't fathom that someone might cook dinner, spend the evening chatting to friends and leave the dishes until the next day?

I am extremely casual about housework and washing up, but I wouldn't be the night before a flat inspection. Especially when rentals are so hard to find.

My untidy mate's got a flat inspection coming up and I've already offered to lend a hand the day before so we can make sure the landlord (there's no agent involved) has nothing to complain about. Leaving load of dirty plates and pans lying around gives the impression that you're not looking after the place, even though it is really trivial. You just have to play the game a bit.

QueenCamilla · 22/02/2023 23:07

The amount of plates might have raised a suspicion of you not living alone or subletting.

HeadacheEarthquake · 22/02/2023 23:09

Mine did that, well, it was the landlord. Also hounding me from 6am on rent day for the rent and verbally abusing me for having to "chase me" for money. I was at work and had always paid before end of rent day. It was my final push to leave.

WiIson · 22/02/2023 23:11

It's the condition you leave the house in when you move out that counts, not the washing up in the sink when you're living there. You're not wrong op.

Feefee00 · 22/02/2023 23:12

LL here honestly they sound horrible. When I do a rare inspection. I'm looking for ripped carpets in holes in the walls not general cleanliness.

PurplePineapple1 · 22/02/2023 23:14

The mental gymnastics people will engage in in order to talk down to a tenant. Most entertaining.

Who knew a horde of rats would invade a property if last nights dinner dishes were left til the next day.

Feefee00 · 22/02/2023 23:17

Also after a year I leave them to it. Just inspecting for repairs , the roof. I've had my latest tenant for 4 years without raising the rent. I guess I don't see it as my house anymore it's theirs. I don't like to intrude as long as rent is paid and the house isn't being trashed I'm not bothered. I used to be a tenant and I hated the sniffy agents who looked down on me.

Tallisker · 22/02/2023 23:19

Insist on a dishwasher. Installed at their expense to meet their standards

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