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?

How do you think he'll be able to retain her deposit?

From the DPS website

I’d respond and say unfortunately I will not be here long enough for it to return to the state it was when I moved in so you will have to have it back clean ‘ and include photos from when you moved in if you have some .

I know deposits should be in a scheme and therefore protected, but there are plenty of stories about whole or partial deposits being withheld.

I've got the same situation coming up in a few months.

I've lived in this same rented flat since summer 2011. The only work it's had done are 2 new light fittings, one new plug and a replacement washing machine.
I told them probably 2+ years ago that the hallway and living room needed new carpets.

They came back with "we'll do the whole flat at the same time!" Which would be massively inconvenient for me (where do I put all my stuff while the entire flat is being recarpeted? It's not all going to fit in the kitchen!) But we could make it work with accommodations and work-arounds. Never heard another word about it.

Early this month they asked if I could swap my rent payments from standing order to direct debit. I said fine, send me the paperwork. Nothing came. I chased it up. On the 15th was told a docusign would come in a few days... It's the 24th now. And nothing. I'm not chasing again. At this point, a direct debit mandate won't go through in time for my next rent anyway.

They book in to do flat inspections and don't turn up. It often takes 3 attempts for them to come when they say they will.

Frankly, when it comes to move out. I'll clean, certainly. But come on, I've lived here 13 years. It's not going to look like it did when I moved in. I'm not going to flog myself to death, cleaning every inch. And if they give a single bit of shit, I'm coming at them with every single receipt of each time they were crap.

As tempting as it would be to respond, I think the best course of action would be to ignore him. He sounds like a nob and there will be no winning if you start a back and fourth. You have photos of the state of the place when you moved in, make sure it is a decent standard when you leave, and since the deposit is with the correct scheme they will take these things into consideration if he tries to claim on it. Just make sure to take photos as you're leaving.

As others have said, the time to raise the original condition of the property was at the time of signing the lease.

You do not have to have professional cleaners in but yes, you should leave the property clean and tidy. Why would you not want to? Chuck some Oven Pride in the oven and give the kitchen and bathrooms a good clean. Hoover and mop floors. Carpets should reflect fair wear and tear - spot clean bits that need it or shampoo if it is noticeably dirtier than when you arrived.

I assume you haven’t been living in a pigsty all this time? Do you plan to dirty it up just to get back at the landlord? I guarantee it won’t be him that suffers.

Please come back and let us know his response when you send him pics!

I would breezily reply.
'Noted. Please see attached photos of property on the day I moved in for your reference.'

Our rental was pretty grubby when we moved in, and reeked of dog. I got the agents to have all the carpets shampooed (so it smelt of wet dog for a week... ).
I still got cleaners in before we left but agent turned up a day early to inspect when they were mid clean.
He wiped his fingers along the TOP of the wall cabinets and said "this is a bit sticky, make sure they clean this". I pointed out that the WORKTOPS were just as sticky when we moved in so no, they wouldn't be cleaning the tops of the cupboards. The place will be cleaner than we moved in and I'm not doing a deep clean.

We had similar when we left out last property, although the message was passed on by an embarrassed agent. I typed out a very long message reminding them of what the place was like when we moved in and the improvement now. However in the end what I sent was a very short message saying 'we are aware of our obligations'.

I think you do need to respond to avoid any issues when you leave. I understand he is taking the piss, but I would send a polite message saying that as per your tenancy agreement you intend to leave the property in the same condition as when you moved in, and since he did not provide a check-in inventory you are happy to share your own photos for evidence.

I wouldn't share any photos with him, unless he makes it difficult to get your deposit back.

This is the reality of renting. Too many LLs are sharks or are petty-minded, even if they genuinely don’t think of themselves that way. I just used to shrug and accept it, but quietly despise LLs - and still do, as a group.

I rented one place before introducing a friend to the LL before I moved out. LL insisted on a total clean - carpets, windows, cupboards, wardrobes etc. When I went to visit my friend at my old flat the LL had redecorated, which had happened before she moved in.

As you have photographic evidence and no itinerary I would leave in reasonable condition and he will probably want to keep the deposit so you go through the deposit scheme.

I left my rental absolutely spotless but my ex landlord still tried to claim £135 for the dishwasher to be cleaned and a few tiles with marks apparently. I went through the deposit scheme and he was allowed £50 which I think was still too much. We scrubbed it with a professional cleaner for 3 hours so the equivalent of 9 people hours.

I've only rented once but I've been told this is how they try to get you. If I were to do it again I wouldn't have made so much effort. Neither would I help with fire alarms and tradespeople.

Say "I'm sorry I can't return the property to you in the state it was in when I moved in, it would take weeks to get it that dirty again and I have been (mistakenly it seems) keeping it clean"

As he's not done an inventory at the point you've moved in, he won't have a leg to stand on if he tries to deduct anything from your deposit. He has to have the onus of proof.

This. Absolutely.

And as the OP has said, she did raise it at the outset.

The OP doesn’t sound she intends to make a mess before she leaves but is more annoyed at the landlord’s cheek.

Considering there was no inventory and given the poor condition in which she was given the property she can feel assured that she won’t be penalised even if she doesn’t do the thorough clean that you suggest such as shampooing carpets.

I’m a landlord and I agree that landlords should not be rewarded for poor and improper practices.

Text back you are happy to leave the property in the same state it was when you took possession and add a picture or two

Ah! Yes, apologies. It took me bloody ages to construct my post and the OP had come back with two posts in that time.

I absolutely agree, poor landlords should not be rewarded and there should be bigger penalties in place for the scummy ones that screw over their tenants.

I don’t think it is wrong to message and say please ensure all rubbish is cleared and the place is clean. However, do I agree the wording of his message is poor. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the landlord got shafted last time- loads of furniture to dispose of and rubbish etc. and now assumes the worst of all tenants.

As I said, I would only think shampooing of carpets is needed if they are noticeably dirtier than arrival. Otherwise a hoover should be adequate.

I would be respond -

‘You were aware that the property was in a poor condition of cleanliness and tidiness, both internally and externally, at the start of the tenancy as I informed you of this. You refused to remedy this. I have date stamped pictures showing the condition of the property on my move in date as proof of this in case of any dispute over the deposit. I shall be leaving the property in a reasonable condition unlike how it was left for me.’

Sadly for LLs they can no longer steal their tenants money by making up crap to retain their deposit and you responding in this manner will in no way affect you getting your deposit back. I’d add a ‘BTW go fuck yourself you utter cunt’ as well but that’s me.

I'd ignore this until your last day and simply send him a reply on your departure date saying 'noted' and a link to 2 folders called Arrival with the date and Departure with the date and the relevant before and after pictures in each. Hopefully the stark contrast will put him off attempting any no sense with your deposit.

I'd text back...

sorry I don't have the time.... to make it that filthy!!