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

[YorkshirePuddingBelongs]

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.

if you are leaving who cares what they say get it professionally cleaned when you move out and if he wants to dispute the deposit he can take it up with the protection scheme company!

I'm a landlord and non of the things you raise would be a problem especially as it isn't even the final inspection.

I would look for missing/damaged furniture and damage to the fabric of the building, damaged/stained carpets, curtain rails torn off, damaged blinds, broken windows, water damage, fences upright etc.

Scuffs/marks fine, needing a hoover, fine, washing up piled up fine. Lawn needing a mow fine, floor needing a mop fine. Even things like a slightly mouldy bathroom would be fine in your case as there is time for a final clean.

None of this stops your landlord being a duck however.

Your answer to any complaint and cleanliness are 'i haven't done the final clean yet. I will take photos when i do and and we can take it up the deposit company if there are any issues.' Then ignore.

I would do everything by the book with these people. Take lots of photos and videos of the house and garden, inside and out. Make sure you have the itinerary from when you move in (even better if there isn't one) take meter readings to prove you have covered bills. Redirect mail etc so one you are out you can minimise interactions/conflict.

she’s 10 so I don’t think she’d go for that!

No I’m in Yorkshire!

Eh?

I think as you’ve decline twice you should allow this to go ahead, I’d explain that you’ve not had time to clean but will do so prior to leaving. But if you continue to decline inspections you might find they are a bit less lenient than they could be at the time.

Less lenient how sorry?

Well if she's 10 she certainly could be hoovering. Cleaning and maintaining pleasant living conditions is good for anyone's MH.

Absolutely nothing wrong with having a messy house as long as the actual wear and tear are normal marks that happen living in a home.
Very sad that renters feel so vulnerable! I think people are missing the point that the OP is obviously feeling threatened by her landlord.
If your house is very unkempt ie food stains , dog shit everywhere then that would be at a different level . Just needing to clean the shower ,hoover etc is not neglect.

Just clean them ?

Spot on

This thread is horrible. The op only asked a simple question. Fucking MN

This is the 'cancel the cheque' of this thread

Try not to worry OP. As long as it's not a shithole then he can't do much if it's just a bit of hoovering etc

Oh come on with your heart string pulling, this is just an excuse OP. You don’t need to neglect cleaning because one member of the household is feeling anxious and requires your undivided attention. You have managed to go to work, another excuse for not cleaning. We all manage to go to work and clean the shower.

I think it is reasonable to expect a tenant to keep a house clean and a relatively tidy as you sometimes can’t tell whether a house is clean if it is so untidy you can’t see through it. It is reasonable for the landlord to want to inspect if they have concerns. You sound like a very difficult tenant.

Follow this - perfectly to the point and legally correct. Any deductions that your LL proposes, go through the deposit company.

How long have you lived there? LL cannot claim for betterment, everything has lifespans and creating values over time (iirc, carpets decrease to £0 over six years).

Is your deposit protected? If not, you can claim up to 3x it back via small claims court.

You've known this was coming, I think you could have found the time to give the place a clean, how dirty is it if you gave shower 'a bit of a clean' mine never gets particularly dirty.

You can decline the inspection - you have a right to quiet enjoyment.

We had to visit our last tenant for various problems she had identified (which we always sorted quickly ) but there would be bits around liike clothes discarded between rooms and sometimes the floor needed a hoover but I wouldn't have dreamt of mentioning that to her. She was clean generally though and left the house in good order. The difference is we are good, kind and almost accidental landlords

You do not have to allow this man or his daughter into your home! If it's not an emergency you do not have to allow entry.

Considering his harassment and behaviour I would refuse entry completely until your tenancy ends. If he tries to enter, you can call the police.

Has it not occurred to you that it's because you've already cancelled 2 inspections? If I was the landlord that would suggest to me that there's something you don't want him to see. All seems a moot point if you're moving out in a month anyway though.

This is 100% false. A landlord cannot charge for wear and tear and they cannot withhold your deposit for this either.

Absolutely this. Regular inspections are necessary and standard. Declining then means there is a problem.

Surely if he’s coming to inspect due to worries about heavy rainfall he’ll not need to be looking in the bath. He’ll be busy outside looking at the drains, window condition, roof and rendering etc. He doesn’t need to fret about the cleaning and hovering.

I'd be worried the effect of a dirty shower and home on your daughters mental health to be honest.

But a dirty shower doesn't equal damage so I'm not sure how the mean daughter can take fault with that.

It seems both you and LL will be relieved come next month.

I’m pleased you’re not my mum.

Her dad walked out yesterday, she was shaking and crying and asking questions. I made sure I was there for her. I’d be a colossal cunt to say “Come on now time to hoover” to ultimately appease a prick landlord