To think this is unacceptable - photos attached

[Pinkdot97]

I signed for the keys for a private rent today and the landlord then rushed off saying he has an emergency appointment. I looked round the house and some photos below of the cleanliness. green thing is some substance on the carpet. This is only a few photos but the whole house needs deep cleaning. I’ve since spoke to him and he’s refusing to have someone out to clean it so I have to do it all. The toilet is also filthy and has waste in it.

Aibu to think it isn’t acceptable? I did look round the house but that’s when the previous tenants were still in, I was expecting it to be cleaned when they moved out.

Very dirty

Is that a bannister??

It is yes. It’s caked in some kind of filth

Ew no this is gross. Did you rent directly or through an estate agent?

That's revolting.
Take loads and loads and loads of photos.

Who has done the inventory?

Contact Shelter. They give advice on private rents according to their website. They will inform you of your rights.

Probably why he rushed off

I had to do it as he claimed he’d taken photos too but never gave me an inventory. I think he lied saying he had an emergency appointment as he quickly left after handing me the keys after I had signed. I think he knew I would say something whilst he was there

Yes that is gross and it sucks that you've paid good money to clean someone else's filth, or have to live in it.

It's unfortunately pretty standard though for private landlords to not bother spending the time or money to deep clean between tenancies. I'm afraid I don't think you'll get any favourable resolution.

Sorry, that was meant for @ABitBright

@BakedBeanAddict Renting directly

Did you view the property? That isn’t a few weeks of laziness, thats months and months worth of dirt.

I second the advice to call Shelter. But first and foremost make a comprehensive record: detailed photos and video.

However, what about the inventory? Were these issues noted?

I would also contact the scheme under which your deposit is protected.

NB: Have you received all the documentation? Gas and electricity safety certificates, EPC, Prescribed Information, deposit terms & conditions?

Why did you sign the contract if the house was not to your liking? Really tenants need to look with their eyes before they sign the contract, not sign then moan afterwards.

The whole thing is clearly unacceptable. But that appears to be mould - which is best removed with a mix of warm water, vinegar, half and half, and a drop of dishwashing liquid and a sponge or cloth.

And the government's How to Rent Guide, which is also mandatory.

You may want to read it as it may have useful information regarding the required state of the rental.

It's on the .GOV website.

Oven is obviously filthy and looks like is hasn't been cleaned in years, but the hob looks like corrosion to the metal and enamel, and the banister/skirting looks like typical chipped, worn, and damaged gloss that has been damaged and half-assedly painted over again and again.

The photos might be misleading, but if it's the sort of thing I've seen in properties over and over, then a deep clean won't make the blindest bit of difference. The facings and skirtings need ripped off and replaced, the bannister properly sanded, and the cooker replaced. Could that be chewing gum stuck to the carpet?

That is disgusting

The minimum I'd expect is him paying to have that oven cleaned, it's grim. In fact I'd be tempted to send him the pictures along with invoice from cleaning company and take it off next months rent.

Other peoples' filth and grime is just so 🤢

Did you not have a look around it before you signed the contract? I would be concerned about being subject of a contract whereby the landlord has allowed you to to sign before looking around or presumably seeing sufficient pictures of the property.

Yack!!!! I follow www.instagram.com/cleanwithbeax?igsh=MWRuYnNqdm02YW5ucg==

Some landlords are a disgrace

She did say he rushed off and she didn’t view the property before he rushed off

You do know there is a huge shortage of rental properties. People are desperate for somewhere to live.

Hello , Landlord !

Anyone can see the filth. If OP doesn't document and report now they could claim its all her doing and retain her deposit. We don't know the circumstances of her move but Im sure there's a valid reason for her haste in signing....I believe there are areas where finding a rental property is difficult and every one is snapped up quickly.

There are rights and obligations on both parties, the OP needs to seek advice from the local authority and ensure the owner is properly licenced and compliant

Anyone can see the filth. If OP doesn't document and report now they could claim its all her doing and retain her deposit. We don't know the circumstances of her move but Im sure there's a valid reason for her haste in signing....I believe there are areas where finding a rental property is difficult and every one is snapped up quickly.

If this is the UK, no he can't - he needs to be able to prove the original state of the property in order to claim from her deposit for cleaning.

OP - your deposit needs to be in one of the approved schemes - he should send you details of this.

What does your contract say about cleaning on return? He's on a hiding to nothing if he thinks that he gets to hand it over like this then claim from your deposit for a commercial clean before you hand it back!

Take many, many pictures, and then email them to him for the paper trail - ideally he'll respond so that you can prove he was aware of them.

What do you want to do OP - do you want to clean it and stay? Or are you wanting to just walk away? The concern is the rest of the maintenance if he's prepared to hand it over like this - do you have the gas safety certs for instance?

If you are renting directly, and found this, you also need to check that your deposit is in a deposit scheme (you should have been given the number), and that the had safety certificate is current, and that there is an electrical installation safety certificate.

Your landlord is breaking the law if you don't have all of those things.

What's half and half?