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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is unacceptable - photos attached

119 replies

Pinkdot97 · 19/03/2024 00:45

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.

To think this is unacceptable - photos attached
To think this is unacceptable - photos attached
To think this is unacceptable - photos attached
To think this is unacceptable - photos attached
To think this is unacceptable - photos attached
OP posts:
AutumnCrow · 19/03/2024 06:17

God that's like the Young Ones the sort of student house shares we used to rent in the 80s for £13 a week each. Grim.

Birthdaycake369 · 19/03/2024 06:18

It’s obviously not been cleaned from the end of the previous tenancy. We had this with our rental and didn’t realise until the day we moved in. We had to pay for cleaners to come in as we didn’t have time to do it all on our own and the landlord refused to pay. When we moved out i scrubbed the place from top to bottom but he kept hundreds of pounds out of our deposit because he said there were some weeds on the gravel drive at the front! People saying OP should have noticed when she viewed, our landlord told us it would be cleaned before we moved in. Yes it is unacceptable OP but sadly landlords seem to be able to do as they like

DarkCloudy · 19/03/2024 06:27

That’s more than just dirty. It’s in a terrible condition. Even if the previous tenents had done a deep clean it still would have looked battered and wrecked. It’s needs redecorating.

Chaoseverywhere · 19/03/2024 06:30

Why would you agree to rent it? Presumably you viewed?

teacrumpetsandcake · 19/03/2024 06:47

caringcarer · 19/03/2024 01:01

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.

Not exactly helpful for OP to say this now though, is it? Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

ohdamnitjanet · 19/03/2024 06:48

IWantTheOneICantHave · 19/03/2024 06:14

What's half and half?

Half water, half white vinegar

teacrumpetsandcake · 19/03/2024 06:51

OP, unfortunately I don't think there is a huge amount you can do in this situation if you have signed the tenancy agreement to say that you are happy to rent it.

You could have a claim about the property being unsafe to live in because of its condition, but that would be a very long process and would involve external agencies.

In your situation, I would clean it as best I could, and move out as soon as I could.

Thriving30 · 19/03/2024 07:28

Take a video stating the date and time and then do a walk through of the property
Take more pictures of any damage
Send the photos to him via email (presumably he has one) explaining you're unhappy with the property's condition on moving in.
Then you're protected if he tries to keep your deposit later on

hedgehoglurker · 19/03/2024 07:35

Unfortunately, it sounds like you will have to clean it yourself. I agree it is unpleasant to clean other's filth and isn't easy if you've had to move in already. But at least you won't have to worry about cleaning when you move out, as it doesn't need to be in a better state than you received it. Make sure you keep evidence of how you received the property, ideally having an email trail with the landlord.

Hopefully everything else is in order - deposit protection, gas cert, etc.

jackstini · 19/03/2024 07:43

As a landlord, I think that's disgusting

We have had tenants leave property in that state, but we would never rent it out again without a deep clean and fix up!

Does the paperwork you've signed state you accept the condition?

Video everything clearly

Agree with pp - check your deposit scheme & gas/elec certificates are in order too

Sugargliderwombat · 19/03/2024 07:44

Is there any way you can not move in and claim your deposit back? Has he protected your deposit yet? He has a certain number of days before he can be fined.

If I could I would walk away. If he's happy to hand it over like this he's a disgusting lazy greedy landlord, not someone who is going to be fair and maintain his property.

Jaboody · 19/03/2024 07:48

That's absolutely foul,OP. I hope he sends cleaners or you get your deposit back and find somewhere acceptable.

spearmintmilkshake · 19/03/2024 07:49

IWantTheOneICantHave · 19/03/2024 06:14

What's half and half?

I meant half vinegar and half water!

Freakinfraser · 19/03/2024 07:50

You must have seen it was minging when you viewed, did they confirm in writing it would have a deep clean?

Angelsrose · 19/03/2024 07:56

The landlord is disgusting. I'm so sorry op

Shade17 · 19/03/2024 07:57

Absolutely disgusting. When I used to rent I considered it a matter of personal pride to leave a property in better condition than I found it. (Although, I always had good landlords, perhaps I’d have felt differently if I’d got a bad one). Never had a penny deducted from a deposit.

NamelessNancy · 19/03/2024 08:01

I bet he held back deposit from the previous tenants for additional cleaning too!

Outlookmainlyfair · 19/03/2024 08:06

Absolutely grim and I have low standards!

Motherofpearlxoxo · 19/03/2024 08:11

caringcarer · 19/03/2024 01:01

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.

I think it’s fair enough that you can presume the landlord will deep clean after previous tenants leave. No doubt the landlord deducted the cost of a deep clean from the previous tenants deposit!

@Pinkdot97 i think it’s worth seeing if any neighbours have phone number for tenants because I absolutely bet they lost part of their deposit due to the need for a deep clean. Then you’ve got landlord by the balls!

Codlingmoths · 19/03/2024 08:16

I would follow the advice above, take 100 photos and videos and email and say this property is in a completely unacceptable state of filth. I will not be moving in while it’s like this and I will begin the process to withhold rent if there isn’t a cleaner here within 48 hours. I have photos and video of every room, and will be emailing a detailed description of the place just in case you have some made up inventory somewhere. I plan to test the appliances and will also report back on that. It will be cheaper and far less time consuming for you to order a deep clean than it will be for you to try out the ridiculous approach that this disgusting place is fit for habitation.

ToriesCashBacker · 19/03/2024 08:29

Ugh this awful. So sorry OP

Hoppinggreen · 19/03/2024 08:33

You have a week I believe to challenge the Inventory so its important you get one asap and do not sign it unless you feel it reflects the actual condition of the property.
Unless the Tenancy agreement says the property has to be in a certain condition when you move in and its not there isnt a lot you can do as there is no obligation on the LL to have the property cleaned prior to your move in, although I work in this area and have only seen it happen once - in that case it was explicit prior to move in it would not be cleaned.
Its bad practice and suggests a dodgy LL but not illegal or anything (unless it contradicts the Inventory or Contract)

Hoppinggreen · 19/03/2024 08:34

Codlingmoths · 19/03/2024 08:16

I would follow the advice above, take 100 photos and videos and email and say this property is in a completely unacceptable state of filth. I will not be moving in while it’s like this and I will begin the process to withhold rent if there isn’t a cleaner here within 48 hours. I have photos and video of every room, and will be emailing a detailed description of the place just in case you have some made up inventory somewhere. I plan to test the appliances and will also report back on that. It will be cheaper and far less time consuming for you to order a deep clean than it will be for you to try out the ridiculous approach that this disgusting place is fit for habitation.

Witholding rent is not allowed legally and could result in eviction so not a good idea

bigdecisionstomake · 19/03/2024 08:35

Practical advice - take as many photographs as you can, ideally time and date stamped but if you don't have a camera that will do that your phone should geotag them.

Email the landlord with a very detailed condition report - detail both cleanliness and any damages you see. Make sure to look at walls, ceilings, floors, behind and under any furnishings and inside any cupboards e.g. kitchen cabinets, the oven etc...

Make it clear to the landlord what you are asking for - there are two options, either you want him to pay for a full clean, including the oven/windows etc... or you will do it yourself but don't expect to clean at the end of your tenancy. If you ask for a full clean and he agrees then you will need to return it cleaned to the same condition at the end of the tenancy. If you clean it yourself then you won't have to clean it at the end of the tenancy, you are within your rights to return it in the same condition it is in now.

If he hasn't done an inventory he won't have a leg to stand on claiming anything from your deposit, particularly if you have documented evidence of the condition when you moved in - so keep the photographs/video and the email you send as evidence of this. Try to get some that are a little clearer than the ones above.

Lastly, check that you have an up to date gas safety certificate and electrical installation condition report as well as the How to Rent booklet and the property's EPC - all of these should have been served to you prior to you moving in. If you've paid a deposit make sure you have the deposit protection certificate to show which scheme this is protected with, the landlord has 30 days after you pay the deposit to give you this.

I'm sorry you've ended up with a property in that condition OP, this is what gives landlords a bad name.

IncessantNameChanger · 19/03/2024 08:36

No inventory? You will be stung for damage when you leave. I'm a ll. I'd bet my life its going to be mouldy too. Then stung some more for cleaning the oven, damage to woodwork, mould and new carpets. He sounds like a arse. Get some proper advise asap