Sister moved into her first proper today and it’s filthy

[housetour7]

My sister got the keys today to her part rent part buy property and she’s gutted as it’s absolutely filthy.

Is this something she can complain about to the estate agents or is it for her to sort?

YANBU - complain
YABU - sister to sort it herself

Was she able to view it beforehand?

If it's a shared ownership scheme, she should complain to the HA, or whoever owns the majority of the house now. You wouldn't expect to move into a rental.property without it having been cleaned.

I've moved into filthy houses before, never occurred to me to do anything other than clean it. I clean the immaculate ones as well if someone else has lived there before.

If it’s part rent then there must be a landlord responsible in some way? The previous occupants may have had a requirement to do an end of tenancy clean that hasn’t happened, so I’d get onto the landlord about that if at all possible.

But, right now, I’d just get on and clean it as best I could myself given that she’s got to stay there.

I also clean my house before moving but I also clean my house when moving in to a new one.

I think it’s very usual to get on with it. Moving and all the cleaning is a pita, and tiring.

How bad is it?

My daughter just moved into a filthy house- we put a rocket up the letting agent's arse. There must be some recourse for you. Phone Shelter for advice?

I can’t fancy anywhere I’ve moved into until I’ve cleaned it, even if it looks superficially clean. It would never occur to me not to plan to clean every nook and cranny before starting to unpack. Even when renting.

I don't think it works that way. At least it doesn't at my friend's similar flat. He's fully responsible for its maintenance and repairs. The LA does nothing other than regular safety checks of fire doors etc.
So presumably the person who owned your sister's place before her was also 100% responsible for the property's maintenance.

When we moved into our house it was in a disgusting state. I knew it wasn't great when I viewed it, but once everything had been taken out, the reality was very much worse.
There was nothing we could do but set to cleaning it. Fortunately family members rise to the occasion and helped .

I'm afraid your sister will have to do the same

Really !! We have people sleeping in doorways, whole families living in one room, and op thinks Shelter don't have better things to worry about.

Joint effort needed, hire a carpet cleaner, sugarsoap the walls and scrub the kitchen and loo. Bleach down the drains. Fling all the windows open and air it thoroughly. Don't forget to disinfect the outside bins.

Soon be done, and at least you'll know it is clear, and be able to relax.

I bought a house but didn't realise how filthy it was before I moved in. It looked ok with the previous owner's furniture there. I threw the bedroom carpet out of the window because it was riddled with cat fleas.

It’s not ideal. I’ve never moved into a place that didn’t have to be giving a good deep clean, even wiping everything down. An oven was left here, it was filthy and the washing machine but it done the job once cleaned for the first year.

It's a ridiculous system. My friend's shared ownership flat needs repairs to the air circulation system, to the tune of a couple of thousand pounds. He only owns 25% of the property, but has to pay the full amount of the work.

He's also waiting for the results if the tests on the cladding. If it's dangerous, he and the other flat owners will have to pay the full cost of replacement. The council pays nothing. It's a real scam

dirt washes off, don't worry about it. Might be some recourse from the landlord as a pp mentioned so worth persuing that perhaps?

Yeah it's a bit of a con really

You've got to be joking. Shelter? Because a flat is grubby?
I'd use a laughing emoji, but it really isn't funny.

All "top show" we moved into a house like that. Gross.

It's up to her I'm afraid. She's responsible for cleaning and decorating. It will be lovely when it's all done. If you or other family are not able to help practically can you maybe hire a carpet cleaner, pay for an oven clean, buy her some paint?

What advice? Clean it

On what grounds is it somone elses responsibility?

This.
She’s just got to roll her sleeves up and get on with it I’m afraid.

Who is she renting from? If she's renting she'll have a contract which will spell out her and landlords responsibilities? Don't see why it's so weird to go somewhere for some proper housing advice in a world where the tenant very often gets shafted.

She's not a tenant and she's not renting in the classic sense. She's bought the house with shared ownership. As far as the other owner (the council) is concerned, she owns the house and is responsible for its upkeep. As was the previous owner.

@saraclara- well that sounds like a bag of shite for the 'homeowner'.
I'd use the laughing emoji but it's really not funny .

@Meadowfinchjeez calm down love - Shelter aren't just there for street homeless and sofa surfers - they have a well respected advice service which is free for tenants/homeowners/anyone trying to find out what their rights are.

Is this a new shared ownership? If so the aftersales/aftercare team should sort this out.

If it's a shared ownership resale then recourse is through solicitor same as if you'd bought a freehold house, but let the HA know as well.

I think we need more information - is it a new build covered in brick dust or someone's previous home that they didnt clean?