Student landlord trying it on…

[Pharos]

Ds and his gf recently moved out of their student flat. It was a 2 bed basement and not in great nick - pretty grubby and unfinished when they moved in. They cleaned it up and looked after it, reporting faults etc - all the things careful tenants do.

They had to be out by 12 on a Sunday as the next tenants were due to move in at 1pm same day. I know they left it clean because gf’s mum and me cleaned it! From previous professional experience I know the standard needed and it was well above and certainly much better than when they took it on.

CF landlord is trying to bill them £100 for a post-tenancy clean in order to deduct from their deposit. Ds requested evidence and he’s been sent an obviously altered invoice as below - look at the date 🙄. He’s going to challenge it through the deposit scheme, is there anything else he should do? Thanks!

Was there a check in and check out inventory? Did you take photos when they moved in and before you left?

If there was an inventory, it will depend what they say.

I would ask the landlord for photographic evidence of what needed cleaning.

I would also try asking the new tenants for a statement of what time they moved in and if there were cleaners present. Maybe pop a note through the door? I’m guessing they are students at the same university and won’t mind. Do you have proof of what time you returned the keys?

Has the landlord done anything else dodgy? Did they try to insist on a professional clean? Was the deposit protected correctly and on time? Gas safety and electrical testing up to date? EPC? Correct version of the how to rent booklet? Fire doors inspected? Smoke alarms?

Did they take photos when they took the keys?
Did you take photos when they left?

Sounds like a CF landlord to me

Ask for a correct (and non suspicious) invoice

Raise a dispute with the deposit security scheme (the actual name of it I can't remember)

Thanks all - just checked with ds, no formal check in or even inventory and certainly no formal check out. He got pictures when they moved in but we didn't have time on the last day. Great suggestion about talking to the new tenants.

Gas and electric safety certs only provided after a lot of prompting. Fire alarms there but needed new batteries, I picked up various other things at the time around security, fire escapes and lighting.

My ds has been stung by this twice. And twice he has paid hundreds for a professional clean at the end of his tenancy. But the LL still insists its not clean enough.
What would be the point of speaking to the new tenants, i dont understand this?