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Original poster

Tenancy inspection today - can they say anything about a messy house?

285 replies

YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 27/11/2023 10:00

I have a tenancy inspection this afternoon - my landlord is a nasty prick, his DD is doing the inspection. It’s a long story but he’s been awful, sending me harassing emails, making threats and breaking the Tenancy Fees Act as well as his part of the tenancy agreement. I move next month, thank god, but he’s 100% out to get me - and I think he has likely briefed his DD to look for problems.

There is no damage in the house bar a scuff or 2 on the walls (it’s an old house with tiny narrow staircases and this was from carrying the bed up - he’s seen them before and said it’s fine it always gets scuffed). But we’ve been going through some stuff and I haven’t had time to spring clean line I always do. I have a horrible feeling she will comment on the mess. It’s mostly things like the bathtub and shower needs a clean, the kids’ rooms need a hoover etc. but I KNOW they will be looking for problems because they’ve heavily hinted at it, sending me messages about “if there’s damage you haven’t reported you will be liable for the costs” etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 12:30

BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 12:24

I suspect there is more to this story, when I was younger I rented and always allowed access for inspections, it’s quite suspicious that you are trying to deny him access, if I were him I would be very worried for my property and the state that it is possibly in.

Can you not understand that,

You sound like a difficult tenant

What makes me difficult? Have you read all my posts? Don’t you honk I have the right to not be one in a house with the man who continues to harass and intimidate me?

OP posts:
vivainsomnia · 28/11/2023 12:32

The problem is that there are very different levels of what is considered 'clean' as I found out with one tenant of mine.

I always found the house to feel unclean and untidy when I did very quick inspections once a year or so, but knew I had no right to say anything and the only recourse I had was at the end of tenancy.

I learned my lesson then though....
I’m sorry were you planning on using my oven love? I’ll clean it when I leave not when you tell me
Yep, that was my tenant, except when she left, the dirt, grease etc ...that she didn't see the need to clear up regularly had accumulated to such a level, it became uncleanable, even by professional cleaners. The 4 years old oven had to be thrown away as no way new tenants would have wanted it. It wasn't just the oven, but the extractor fan which was at this point broken under the layers of fat, and worse, even the tiles couldn't be totally clear of it. This was the theme all other the house.

She argued that nothing was new when she moved in. No, indeed, but everything was in perfect order and clean and expected to last longer than the couple of years she was there.

The deposit company sided with me, but I could of course only claim w&t and so didn't even get anywhere close to replacement costs, for similar aged items. Worse, she didn't pay the last month of rent, assuming that I could keep the deposit in lieu.

All in all, the saga cost me a lot. The only option was going to court and at this point, I didn't have the energy and time to do so any longer.

So yes O get when landlords care about how well a tenant looks after the property. We can't tell if you're only a bit messy or indeed like my ex tenant but I have to say you do sound a lot like her.

BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 12:42

I don’t see evidence that he is harassing you,

if there’s damage you haven’t reported you will be liable for the costs
This is pretty standard landlord talk

Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 12:46

BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 12:42

I don’t see evidence that he is harassing you,

if there’s damage you haven’t reported you will be liable for the costs
This is pretty standard landlord talk

….have you read all the posts?

OP posts:
lactonic · 28/11/2023 13:00

BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 12:42

I don’t see evidence that he is harassing you,

if there’s damage you haven’t reported you will be liable for the costs
This is pretty standard landlord talk

What a weird thing to say. What evidence do you require? Phone logs? Emails?

BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 13:23

@lactonic

I see evidence that she is denying a landlord access to his property which is bound to make him worried and hence the reason why he might start sending nasty e-mails

If a tenant was continually denying me access to my property I would do the same

What other evidence is there that he is behaving in an unreasonable way, that is my question!!

LaurieStrode · 28/11/2023 13:26

vivainsomnia · 28/11/2023 12:32

The problem is that there are very different levels of what is considered 'clean' as I found out with one tenant of mine.

I always found the house to feel unclean and untidy when I did very quick inspections once a year or so, but knew I had no right to say anything and the only recourse I had was at the end of tenancy.

I learned my lesson then though....
I’m sorry were you planning on using my oven love? I’ll clean it when I leave not when you tell me
Yep, that was my tenant, except when she left, the dirt, grease etc ...that she didn't see the need to clear up regularly had accumulated to such a level, it became uncleanable, even by professional cleaners. The 4 years old oven had to be thrown away as no way new tenants would have wanted it. It wasn't just the oven, but the extractor fan which was at this point broken under the layers of fat, and worse, even the tiles couldn't be totally clear of it. This was the theme all other the house.

She argued that nothing was new when she moved in. No, indeed, but everything was in perfect order and clean and expected to last longer than the couple of years she was there.

The deposit company sided with me, but I could of course only claim w&t and so didn't even get anywhere close to replacement costs, for similar aged items. Worse, she didn't pay the last month of rent, assuming that I could keep the deposit in lieu.

All in all, the saga cost me a lot. The only option was going to court and at this point, I didn't have the energy and time to do so any longer.

So yes O get when landlords care about how well a tenant looks after the property. We can't tell if you're only a bit messy or indeed like my ex tenant but I have to say you do sound a lot like her.

That's a good point; slovenly housekeeping accelerates issues and makes it harder to ameliorate between tenants.

Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 13:30

BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 13:23

@lactonic

I see evidence that she is denying a landlord access to his property which is bound to make him worried and hence the reason why he might start sending nasty e-mails

If a tenant was continually denying me access to my property I would do the same

What other evidence is there that he is behaving in an unreasonable way, that is my question!!

Can you understand why I’ve denied him access? Do you understand I am not required to give him access?

Do you harass your tenants too?

What other evidence is there that he is behaving in an unreasonable way, that is my question!!

Have you really not read my posts?? Or do you think it’s reasonable to send out spies on tenants, make ridiculous accusations and get family members to call tenants decrying how I’ve upset the LL?

OP posts:
BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 13:33

What spies? He is getting his daughter to do an inspection, is that what you are referring to?
this is perfectly normal, he can get anyone he wants to do an inspection

Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 13:35

BlueGrey1 · 28/11/2023 13:33

What spies? He is getting his daughter to do an inspection, is that what you are referring to?
this is perfectly normal, he can get anyone he wants to do an inspection

Oh FGS just read all my posts it’s so easy to do.

OP posts:
vivainsomnia · 28/11/2023 13:38

Landlords doing inspections is normal. End of term inspections are also normal on 2 accounts. For the benefit of the landlord to assess what might need to be fixed or replaced before a new tenancy and so booking trade ready to go in when current tenant lives.

It can also be a mean for them to share they expectation of what needs doing before the end so that they agree to return the full deposit. It can reduce the chances of a dispute then and make it easier to everyone.

You cancelled two dates, which is extremely annoying. Either say no thank you or stick to the date. You certainly didn't help the situation.

As for the inspection, why would you care if they thought it was messy rather than very dirty with damages? Why would they care about your Ness when they know you'll be gone in a month anyway. I don't know why you made a big deal of it, unless indeed, you were worried that they'd pick up on more than just mess and very minor lack of cleanliness?

Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 13:40

vivainsomnia · 28/11/2023 13:38

Landlords doing inspections is normal. End of term inspections are also normal on 2 accounts. For the benefit of the landlord to assess what might need to be fixed or replaced before a new tenancy and so booking trade ready to go in when current tenant lives.

It can also be a mean for them to share they expectation of what needs doing before the end so that they agree to return the full deposit. It can reduce the chances of a dispute then and make it easier to everyone.

You cancelled two dates, which is extremely annoying. Either say no thank you or stick to the date. You certainly didn't help the situation.

As for the inspection, why would you care if they thought it was messy rather than very dirty with damages? Why would they care about your Ness when they know you'll be gone in a month anyway. I don't know why you made a big deal of it, unless indeed, you were worried that they'd pick up on more than just mess and very minor lack of cleanliness?

<Sigh>

RTFT.

OP posts:
FedUpMumof10YO · 28/11/2023 13:40

I'd have done a mini clean - no more than an hour or so. How much notice were you given ?

Macaroni46 · 28/11/2023 14:18

Tbh OP you sound unnecessarily combative and come across as a bit difficult.
LLs have the right to inspect what is actually their property. You have cancelled two previously arranged inspections. I'd be wanting to check the condition of my property.

fliptopbin · 28/11/2023 14:34

I had a landlord who insisted on a professional clean every 6 months (with a company chosen by him). After one inspection he complained that my underwear drawer was untidy -the house was rented unfurnished, but even if it was, why the fuck was he going through my underwear to the extent that he could comment that my bras and pants didn't match!
He once threatened to evict me because he rang my work number, and the receptionist was apparently rude to him and refused to call me out of a lesson to speak to him. The receptionist told me that he swore at her!
Also, any time a tenant left (,it was a HMO) he charged them for redecoration costs, but never actually redecorated in the 6 years that I lived there. When I did move out he tried to keep my deposit plus decoration costs because he said that the house was so badly in need of redecoration and maintenance!
This was before the days of deposit protection, so I just had to suck it up.

Frogmarch89 · 28/11/2023 14:40

fliptopbin · 28/11/2023 14:34

I had a landlord who insisted on a professional clean every 6 months (with a company chosen by him). After one inspection he complained that my underwear drawer was untidy -the house was rented unfurnished, but even if it was, why the fuck was he going through my underwear to the extent that he could comment that my bras and pants didn't match!
He once threatened to evict me because he rang my work number, and the receptionist was apparently rude to him and refused to call me out of a lesson to speak to him. The receptionist told me that he swore at her!
Also, any time a tenant left (,it was a HMO) he charged them for redecoration costs, but never actually redecorated in the 6 years that I lived there. When I did move out he tried to keep my deposit plus decoration costs because he said that the house was so badly in need of redecoration and maintenance!
This was before the days of deposit protection, so I just had to suck it up.

I lived in a HMO once. The LL was a bloody psycho. We'd see him driving slowly past the house of an evening. He would turn up all the time unannounced for random "repairs"

He was obsessed with inspections and used to go on about how lucky we were to live somewhere nice. We were paying an absolute fortune to rent out just a bedroom so there was fuck all luck involved.

I was so glad to leave. Bet he's made an absolute from that property.

DuploTrain · 28/11/2023 14:43

I would just say you’d hired a carpet cleaner and cleaned all the carpets personally..

Onesipmore · 28/11/2023 14:46

I think the issue here is you have described it as messy, dirty and with a filthy oven and you were worried about what the LL or DD would say. You have then back tracked on how messy it actually is when challenged, but posters have imagined the worst. You state you will deep clean at the EOT and the mention that you won't. All a bit confusing.But at the end of the day it seemed to go in your favour.

lactonic · 28/11/2023 14:49

Macaroni46 · 28/11/2023 14:18

Tbh OP you sound unnecessarily combative and come across as a bit difficult.
LLs have the right to inspect what is actually their property. You have cancelled two previously arranged inspections. I'd be wanting to check the condition of my property.

Actually that innocrect. Landlords have no legal right to enter or inspect the property, except in the event of an emergency. Landlords are running a business, and as such, have to abide by the law. Luckily.

Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 15:52

Onesipmore · 28/11/2023 14:46

I think the issue here is you have described it as messy, dirty and with a filthy oven and you were worried about what the LL or DD would say. You have then back tracked on how messy it actually is when challenged, but posters have imagined the worst. You state you will deep clean at the EOT and the mention that you won't. All a bit confusing.But at the end of the day it seemed to go in your favour.

What I meant was I wouldn’t pay for a deep clean. Eg with a professional company

OP posts:
Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 15:54

Also I have never deceived the house as being covered in mud like people are suggesting. I’ve been pretty specific about what the mess was

OP posts:
Original poster
YorkshirePuddingBelongs · 28/11/2023 15:59

Macaroni46 · 28/11/2023 14:18

Tbh OP you sound unnecessarily combative and come across as a bit difficult.
LLs have the right to inspect what is actually their property. You have cancelled two previously arranged inspections. I'd be wanting to check the condition of my property.

No it’s their right to request an inspection. And it is my right to say no.

OP posts:
Houseplanter · 28/11/2023 16:14

But why would you say no, if there's nothing to hide or be ashamed of? It's what you agreed to when you signed the contract surely.

If the LL wasn't doing his half of the agreement you wouldn't like it.

Myfabby · 28/11/2023 16:22

Honestly I pity your new LL. I am so THANKFUL I have never had tenants like you and your tag team partner@lactonic . Combative, aggressive and messy to boot.

For all the time you spend on here, attacking anyone you have with a contrary view, your house would be immaculate! Why would anyone want to live with a filthy oven?

lactonic · 28/11/2023 16:43

Myfabby · 28/11/2023 16:22

Honestly I pity your new LL. I am so THANKFUL I have never had tenants like you and your tag team partner@lactonic . Combative, aggressive and messy to boot.

For all the time you spend on here, attacking anyone you have with a contrary view, your house would be immaculate! Why would anyone want to live with a filthy oven?

Oh god you're back! I thought you'd declared you weren't engaging with me anymore last night.