Landlords text message.

[Pennypocket9]

I’m moving out soon and my landlord has sent me a message about returning the property in the same clean condition it was rented to me in, with no rubbish for him to dispose of, including oven and carpet clean.

Im really not worried as I have photos to prove this but I really can’t believe the cheek of him. When I moved in it the property was filthy, the toilet was filthy, skirting boards filthy, garden was over grown and had rubbish in the grass, one carpet had a big stain and they were all threadbare, the oven wasn’t cleaned at all, it was filthy. As well as the hob.

I feel like replying back about the state the house was in. Aibu?

Tbf thats not cheeky that's an expectation. Are you saying you would leave a property with rubbish not emptied and not cleaned?

Leave it as you expect to find it

Why? When she wasn't presented it the way ot should have been?

She can leave it in the same condition she found it.

@Pennypocket9 your time to deal with the moving in condition of your rental was when you first moved in. Not now.
you’ll need to leave it spotless regardless. Why didn’t you escalate the condition of the property when u moved in?

OP
Did you not tell the LL that when you moved in it was dirty, etc?

its good you have pics/etc. IMO, just leave it before you get into a slangging match you don't need the stress.

Good luck with the move

That's pretty bad, but good that you took the photos. Did you complain at the time to the letting agent or landlord? Assuming you have been keeping things generally clean as you've been living there, I'd do a usual rather than deep clean, and take photos afterwards. Submit both sets to show how much better you've left it.

If it wasnt clean when you moved in you should have highlighted it then and you should have an inventory signed by both parties.
As for making you clean the carpets then no he actually cant make you do that specifically but he could make a claim against you under the Deposit scheme, which may or may not be successful

if you feel cheeky enough send a copy of the contract and the dated photographs saying this was the condition on arrival., do you want it left like that?

then immediately text and state but it wasn’t my intention to do that and I shall leave clean and tidy - assume that is preferred?

see what they say!!

I wouldn’t worry. At the end of the day he didn’t complete an inventory, so must give you your deposit back regardless. That’s the way the deposit scheme sees it anyway.

in my experience the rental property paradox is that I’ve had to leave each property I’ve rented in spotless condition at the end of my tenancy, yet each property I’ve moved into has been grubby and not seen a marigold glove for many moons

Same! Spent ten years renting, 5 different houses. All filthy when I moved in, all clean when I moved out. In spite of renting from professional letting agents who (apparently) would send cleaners in if the house wasn't left clean by the exiting tenant. Either they used totally shit cleaners, or they charged the previous tenants for a clean and didn't actually do it. I suspect the latter.

I'd give the oven a clean if it needs it and hoover the carpets. Clean how you would normally clean, surfaces, bathroom etc. Tenants are not required to pay for professional cleaning at the end of their tenancy, this comes under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Don't forget that fair ware and tear also applies and the landlord will have to provide evidence to hold any deposit back.

"Haha this made me laugh. I absolutely wouldn't dream of living in anything like the conditions this was in when I arrived, I will be leaving it as I've lived in it: clean."

"Hi John, as you can see from the photos the property was extremely dirty and unkempt when I move in. I know it is standard to leave a rental as you found it but I am just not comfortable to to that - not to mention there isn't enough time in my notice period to let the garden or oven get in the state they were in. Could you please let me know if you want me to leave it as I found it, or clean and tidy?"

Photos are not enough if you didn’t have an inventory

just clean the place take photos get an inventory done the day you leave and done with him or an agency

Because that's the decent thing to do otherwise the next tenant has the same thing

Always be the better person. I hate tit for tat scenarios

I wouldn't pay out any money to get it cleaned. Up to you how much time you want to gibe.

How irritating OP. Don't rise to it, he's either deluded or thinks he's being super smart.

Eye roll, grit teeth, clean as you would normally and move on whilst wishing your soon-to-be-ex landlord the new tenants he deserves.

No it's not.
I despose the way society places moral occasions onto tenants from parasitic LLs

If the house is in a bad state he needs to get it cleaned. Either by getting on his hands and knees or paying for it.

If you want to message him, get the deposit back first.... Then do what you want.

YANBU. Send the pictures to the Landlord and ask if they would like the property in the state of uncleanliness it was when you received it or the state of cleanliness you have maintained it in?

If carpets were already threadbare and stained you can’t undo that. A Landlord also has to accept that there will be normal wear and tear over the course of a tenancy.

I'd reply with the photos from when you first moved in and say, is this good enough?
Be interesting to know what he says to that. Of course I'm joking. It's clearly already in much better condition so just get the deposit back. Once you've moved you can give him a bad review online to warn others.

I did bring it up at the time of moving in but apparently the previous tenant apparently did a moon light flit and he had to remove loads of their furniture and was annoyed at that. He refused to have someone in to clean it as well.

The deposit is with the protection scheme. He does manage the property himself, no agency

I'd respond saying you will attempt to leave the property in a better condition than when you moved in as unfortunately it was filthy etc.

I’ve definitely kept it generally clean with some very light wear and tear due to living here 5 years but no damage or anything like that

Her deposit is protected- if not, he'll have to pay her 3 x its value.

Definitely respond with pictures reminding him of the condition when you moved in and tell him you'll leave it in a better condition than it was when you moved in. What a dick.