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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think the rental should've been cleaned??

22 replies

Justintimeee · 30/12/2023 23:25

Hi all
My partner has just moved into a new flat today. I've helped him move in and I'm shocked at the dirt! It looks like it hasn't been cleaned professionally at all and cleaning hasn't been done since the tenants moved. I was there at the viewing and I even asked if it'd be cleaned and touched up for him.

There's scuffs and marks all over the walls, holes filled poorly, shower encrusted with limescale and broken seals, kitchen sink with limescale and old rice, shower drain completely clogged with hair to the point it filled up and didn't drain, thick dust all over the towel rail, oven not cleaned. Pics coming

Now whenever I've rented, I get charged for a professional clean when I moved out and charged for a repaint for tiny holes/marks on the wall . A professional cleaner has not touched this place and marks haven't been touched up.

Do most places get cleaned before a tenant moves in or do some landlords not? I would hate for him to be slapped with a £300 cleaning bill out of his deposit when it wasn't even done before he moved in!

Hoping the landlord will hire a professional cleaner to at least come and do the bathroom...

Pics coming shortly they won't let me add on the app

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Original poster

Justintimeee · 30/12/2023 23:27

PICS 1

OP posts:

Original poster

Justintimeee · 30/12/2023 23:28

Pics 2

To think the rental should've been cleaned??

OP posts:

Original poster

Justintimeee · 30/12/2023 23:29

Pics 3 - all taken as he moved in. Hadn’t been touched.

OP posts:

KingsleyBorder · 30/12/2023 23:37

There are two things going on here.

There should have been someone with him at “check in” taking pictures of the condition of the place when he moved in, to document the state in which it was received, and in which he has to hand it back. The photos are then compiled into a report which he has to confirm he has seen. It’s important to ensure that he gets his deposit back when he moves out.
the flat should have been cleaned.

What is the landlord saying about the condition?
I’d be very suspicious of a landlord who allowed a flat to be rented out in such a state.Does not bode well for dealing promptly with other issues that may arise.

Original poster

Justintimeee · 30/12/2023 23:42

Few more

OP posts:

AreYouThereDog · 30/12/2023 23:44

Oh that is disgusting alright.

Is it a private rental, or HA?

TheGoogleMum · 30/12/2023 23:45

I suspect some landlords charge the cleaning fee then don't bother to clean it

ThinWomansBrain · 30/12/2023 23:45

assuming in the UK, has he seen /been provided with evidence of safety checks - boiler, etc - and has he had confirmation the deposit is securely lodged.
LL doesn't seem v professional.
Was he told it would be cleaned and decor touched up before he moved in?

LorlieS · 30/12/2023 23:49

We were told our rental property would be professionally cleaned before we moved in. It wasn't and we spent a whole day scrubbing and cleaning. The showers and the oven were shocking! Hubby complained and £50 was taken off first month's rent.
Still not good enough though.

HelpIcantfindaname · 31/12/2023 00:02

My husband rents out his old house. He can't sell it as its technically his sons & he wants to live in it again when he's old enough.

Before the first tenants moved in DH had the house deep cleaned. Tenants complained there was a pubic hair in the bath. No-one had even been upstairs since DH checked it after the deep clean & it was fine then. They also complained about water marks around the sink. DH paid for another clean.

One year later, tenants have just moved out. The haven't cleaned anything, mould & dirt in the bathroom, crumbs on benches & in cupboards. Loads of their stuff left behind in cupboards, even some furniture. The place looks like they hadn't cleaned in months.

There was also damage to some of the doors.

Obviously he'd be doing a deep clean before new tenants anyway but you'd expect the ones leaving to clean up after themselves begore they left. We just found the way the place was left unbelievable after the way the tenants went on at the beginning of the tenancy.

It's sad to see your house so uncared for too. I would never choose to be a landlord.

Original poster

Justintimeee · 31/12/2023 02:29

AreYouThereDog · 30/12/2023 23:44

Oh that is disgusting alright.

Is it a private rental, or HA?

Private! Through a very well known agent

OP posts:

mondaytosunday · 31/12/2023 03:10

Yes and there should be an inventory with pics of all the damage. He needs to get in touch with the agent as soon as possible. Also he should check the lease he signed - bet it says he'll be responsible for a professional clean when he moves out!

SinnerBoy · 31/12/2023 03:29

Yes, definitely photograph every single flaw, mark and bit of dirt, then email the agents. The landlord may try to keep his deposit, by claiming that he's caused the damage.

user1492757084 · 31/12/2023 03:36

Call the agent... Insist that the place be cleaned and that a representitive comes over right away to document..

Ladyj84 · 31/12/2023 05:22

Unfortunately all 3 private lets we've had all required a good clean. Also thru big letting agent.

Merrymouse · 31/12/2023 05:27

I’m more surprised at the lack of an inventory, if it’s a well known agent.

HoppingPavlova · 31/12/2023 05:35

Is there not an inspection report on move in that documents the state of the place that he co-signs with the letting agent? Not in the UK, but that’s what we do here. The letting agent can then either fix/clean (again, documented via pictures), or you can’t be held responsible or to a higher standard when you leave.

WaltzingWaters · 31/12/2023 06:19

The rental we recently had for 6 months wasn’t very clean when we moved in. I spent the whole day with dettol in hand scrubbing everything. We took pictures of it all. My partner said about hiring a professional cleaner when we were moving out. I quickly said no to that as it had been so grubby when we moved in. (we gave it a clean ourselves before leaving and left it in much better state than when we moved in).
Ours was not as grubby as yours seems to be though. Definitely complain.

Londonnight · 31/12/2023 06:28

Landlords cannot insist on a professional clean anymore. A place is meant to be cleaned to professional standard when leaving, but you don't have to pay anyone to do it. .
I would complain to the landlord/ agency.

When I moved into my rental the house hadn't been cleaned and it smelt badly of dog. I complained to my landlord and they came and cleaned it themselves.

Keep all the photos that you have taken for when you eventually move out.

MooFroo · 31/12/2023 06:41

Do a walk through video as well as photos and send to agent asap so you have audit trail that’s dated

whynowtho · 31/12/2023 06:45

OP, sorry this has been your experience.
It was my experience with my current flat too. I spent the entire day cleaning.
This says a lot about your landlord.
Demand a discounted first rent and demand a certain amount basing it on how many hours you spent cleaning.
And keep these photos for when he moves out and the landlord may want to greedily deduct from his deposit.
Also, remember to always use gloves when touching these grimy things.

Pipou · 31/12/2023 06:52

I'm a landlord and I have never requested a professional clean. It wouldn't surprise me if the landlord is being charged for a professional clean but then it doesn't take place. This is just one of many reasons why I won't use an agent.

Also, OP, you shouldn't be charged for scuffs to the paint etc. as this is considered general wear and tear.

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