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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Landlord says house in disarray

51 replies

Mangococktail · 29/04/2024 17:24

I've given notice on my flat.

The landlord wanted to have photographs taken.

I warned him I am mid move and house doesn't look its best but was happy to co-operate.

He has emailed to say he and photographer will return in one week as the house was in disarray.

He cited:

A mop and bucket in the bathroom (they live there. They've been there for every one of his 12 inspections)

A slow draining sink

Flies in the house

Sticky worktops

Bags waiting to go to charity shop ( which I'd told him was the case).

AIBU?

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 29/04/2024 17:27

Well he’s not unreasonable to have realised, if a little late, that you being mid-move makes the photos useless and to arrange to come back when it’s clean and empty

Maddy70 · 29/04/2024 17:29

Well hes right. Its in disarray

Original poster
Mangococktail · 29/04/2024 17:30

catgirl1976 · 29/04/2024 17:27

Well he’s not unreasonable to have realised, if a little late, that you being mid-move makes the photos useless and to arrange to come back when it’s clean and empty

But it won't be empty! He's coming back in a week and I don't move out until May 21st!

OP posts:
Precipice · 29/04/2024 17:31

catgirl1976 · 29/04/2024 17:27

Well he’s not unreasonable to have realised, if a little late, that you being mid-move makes the photos useless and to arrange to come back when it’s clean and empty

Only if OP is going to be fully moved out within one week. It doesn't sound like it - she just says she's given notice, not clear when she's going to move out.

He should take pictures when OP has vacated the house.

Locutus2000 · 29/04/2024 17:31

You were being nice letting him take photos at all. Tell him to do one, unless you need a reference.

Ratfinkstinkypink · 29/04/2024 17:31

He needs to wait until you have moved out before taking photos

BabySnarkDoDoo · 29/04/2024 17:34

He'll have to wait until you've moved out if he wants it to not looked lived in. The fly one is interesting, how would they even get picked up in a photo unless there's swarms of them!? Sounds like he's gearing up to be an arse about returning your deposit.

Original poster
Mangococktail · 29/04/2024 17:35

Thanks! I replied to.his email apologising for his frustration but pointed out that I'm still living in the flat and paying rent on it.

I said I could not undertake to present it as a show apartment mid move.

He has always been very happy with me on previous inspections and it really doesn't look hugely different...just some possessions in piles (neatly) waiting to be taken to charity shop.

For example if a friend popped in I wouldn't feel embarrassed by the place..

This morning I hoovered entire flat, mopped all floors twice, cleaned all windows and tidied.

I'm worried now about next week.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mangococktail · 29/04/2024 17:37

BabySnarkDoDoo · 29/04/2024 17:34

He'll have to wait until you've moved out if he wants it to not looked lived in. The fly one is interesting, how would they even get picked up in a photo unless there's swarms of them!? Sounds like he's gearing up to be an arse about returning your deposit.

It felt very much like this.

I left for work at 10.30am there were no flies

I returned from work at 4.30 there were no flies

Apparently at 2pm there were swarms of them....I mean????? I did leave a window open (I'm top floor flat and like to get fresh air in the bedroom)

OP posts:
Universalsnail · 29/04/2024 17:38

You are in the middle of moving. Honestly I wouldn't be jumping through hoops to have the house perfect because he wants to take photos. What is he going to do? Evict you? You'd moving out anyway. I would tidy up abit but I wouldn't go out of my way as you say you are paying rent and still live there and this is hardly "disarray"

modgepodge · 29/04/2024 17:39

You didn’t have to let him in to take photos, and you don’t have to let him back again if you want. It was kind of you to let him in, but pointless from his point of view. I would reply saying you no longer consent to him coming back until you’ve gone, as it will be a waste of his time and is stressing you out.

we had similar, with estate agents bringing people round for viewings and moaning the flat was a mess. 🤷‍♀️ I live there, I have stuff, get over it.

they don’t like it as it means there’s a period where the flat is empty and not earning them anything. But tough luck!

catgirl1976 · 29/04/2024 17:40

Ah sorry I didn’t clock you wouldn’t have moved out in a week. He needs to wait till it’s empty

Crazeland · 29/04/2024 17:45

I’m a landlord. If I were you I’d tell him to piss off and let you move out in peace.

Springchickenonion · 29/04/2024 18:12

I would email back and say as you are mid move then it would probably be better for him to wait for you to have vacated and cleaned up before taking pictures as it would be better for him. And then leave it at that

snoopyfanaccountant · 29/04/2024 18:42

I am a landlord. Our letting agent uses photos from a previous vacancy to advertise our property. I would never expect a tenant's belongings to appear in photos advertising my property.

AlanBrendaCelia · 29/04/2024 18:46

What does your lease say about viewings? It may be that by sending photographers round, he is breaching your right to quiet enjoyment.

Landlord says house in disarray
cansu · 29/04/2024 18:50

I would just reply to say that the house is as tidy as can be expected mid move but it would probably not be photograph ready for a sale. He may prefer to wait until after you have vacated the property.

Original poster
Mangococktail · 29/04/2024 18:59

snoopyfanaccountant · 29/04/2024 18:42

I am a landlord. Our letting agent uses photos from a previous vacancy to advertise our property. I would never expect a tenant's belongings to appear in photos advertising my property.

This is what I thought they would do!!

I'm not particularly happy with my things being in photos but I have tried to be co-operative.

OP posts:
PenelopeTitsdrop1990 · 29/04/2024 19:01

Sounds like he's looking for a reason to hold onto your deposit.

mrsdineen2 · 29/04/2024 19:05

Maddy70 · 29/04/2024 17:29

Well hes right. Its in disarray

May be right, but irrelevant. She's allowed as much dissarray as she likes until she returns the house.

I certainly wouldn't accept the finance company coming aroud to lecture me about the clutter in my car during my lease and I suspect neither would you.

SecondStarOnTheRight · 29/04/2024 19:41

This is something that annoyed me when I moved out of rented house. It was right in the middle of the covid pandemic and I wanted to isolate as I was moving in with family temporarily.

They tried to arrange viewings, photos, the landlord wanted to come to plan redecorating and wanted to bring someone in to measure the kitchen for a new kitchen to be fitted (this was supposed to have happened before I moved in too!).

Eventually they agreed to not do viewings, and the landlord would come but wait outside instead of coming in. They still came to do the photos, but when the listing went up, they used photos from before I moved in anyway!

MojoMoon · 29/04/2024 19:53

You certainly aren't obligated to have it in show home condition for his photos.

Your tenancy agreement may say something about allowing viewings with suitable notice in the final x months of your tenancy. But you still can realistically refuse access at any time - the only way for them enforce it is to get a court order. They do not have the right to force entry if you have explicitly refused permission (barring emergencies of which a house viewing does not count).

If you want to keep things in bags or leave your clothes all over the bed or have deeply tasteless posters of naked women up or a life size cardboard cut out of Donald Trump in every room or a dozen mops and buckets in the bathroom, you can do so. It is Your Home.

Unless you are causing serious damage to the property, your landlord has absolutely no right to tell you how to live your life.

If a reference is absolutely critical, you may not wish to rile them but a reference saying "she had some bags to go the charity shop out" is not exactly terrible. And if they make stuff up, then you can pursue them for damages.

Woohow · 29/04/2024 20:44

If you are happy to let him come back in a week suggest that he 1, Drains the sink, as it drains they can take the other photos. 2, Moves the mop and bucket, it must be hard but I'm sure between the 2 of them they'll manage. 3, Wipe the surfaces if their stickiness shows up in the photos. 4, Instructs the photographer not to zoom in on any flies.

Or tell him he's taking advantage of your good nature and his unreasonable expectations are impacting your quiet enjoyment of the property so he'll now have to wait until after you leave.

Danielle9891 · 29/04/2024 20:55

I'd just let him come and take photos but when you're ready to leave take plenty of your own photos in case he tries to take cleaning fees out of your deposit. He's probably wanting the photos to get a new tenant.

WittyFatball · 29/04/2024 20:58

Why do you want him to come and take photos while you are living there?
Tell him to stay away til you've left!