It’s a lovely sunny, and my day plans have been cancelled because I’m waiting around on a cleaner doing my end of tenancy clean.
Today is my final day of tenancy. I currently live alone in an apartment. I use to have an flatmate but she moved out in December. Only a small 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom (one of them a tiny en-suite) and an open pan kitchen/small living room.
I booked the end of tenancy clean at 9am, this is the earliest appointment I could get. I wanted a first thing appointment so I could be out asap, I work Mon-Fri so it’s my day off, and none of my things are here.
i have paid a 50% deposit upfront, then will pay the remaining 50% to the company upon completion of works. Afterwards I then have to hand the keys back to my landlord.
He arrived an hour and 15 minutes late, didn’t get here until 10.15am (no apology or explanation) didn’t start the work until 10:30am because he spent 15 mins talking to himself about what he’s going to start with first, generally dithering about. At one point he actually sat down.
He arrived with very minimum cleaning products I noticed. At one point he said he needed gloves, so he walked back to his car (parked in a car park a 5 minute walk away!)
He came back, and finished one bedroom/bathroom in no time. Then said he was going to go to the shop for drinking water. The shop is on my street corner. He was gone for over half an half!! I called to ask where he was. When he came back he sat at my table and ate sandwiches he’d bought from the shop.
While I was gone I noticed in the bathroom (which was my previous flatmate’s) the tiles had not been cleaned properly (the tiles are textured and have depth in some areas, not sure if I’m explaining that properly) and still had some residue.
While he was having his lunch (after a late start and after only 1 hours work !) I asked him about the tiles, he said that’s a different service and he did not have the products? He had literally lightly cleaned over the surfaces.
I said to him “So what’s the difference between this End Of Tenancy clean, which I’m paying £180 for today, and a generic clean which would usually charge £16 an hour round here?” He could not answer and said he’ll go back to it at the end and “try his best”.
Is now 14:50 and he’s still only half way through the work. He’s done, 1 bathroom, 1 bedroom, and is half way through the kitchen. He still has the rest of the kitchen to complete, then the living room, and the remaining bathroom.
It’s a tiny apartment!
I’m convinced my deposit will be deducted due to it “not cleaned to a professional standard”. Its just doesn’t have that fresh cleaned look? Or even smell any different. I’ve had cleaning ladies before and it’s looks shined and spotless, and smells amazing.
It’s costing me almost £200.