would it be reasonable to knock some £££ off our first months rent because we don't think the house is clean/ready?

[TennisFan]

We are moving into rented house next week - first time for us, so we don't really know the procedure really.
We are renting privately although the landlord also has an agent trying to let it out (he will save fees I guess by us going direct to him and leaving the EA out of it).

The previous tennents moved out in the middle of July, but left it in a bit of a mess in my opinion. Its a lovely house, but looks like it has been neglected for at least a year.

The LL has promised he will have the electric gates fixed, hall/stairs landing painted (due to a water leak recently) 2 x carpets shampoed.

He hasn't got around to any of this yet and we are meant to be moving in next week.

Would it be reasonable to offer to move in and we will carry out the cleaning etc and he can get the painting done in the first month say - and we would then get discount off our first month's rent?

thanks

You could certainly make a reasonable offer. I did something similar at my last place, although it was only a matter of reimbursing me for hire of a Rug Doctor.

It's difficult to put a figure on cleaning, but why not start the conversation with him - he can only say no.

Make sure the inventory reflects the true state of the place when you move in, (and the landlord should ensure that the inventory is updated if/ when he gets round to repairing broken items/ redecorating)

No.

You cannot knock something off the rent as you will then be in arrears, technically.

The landlord should get the work done or you don't move in.

IF you agree to move in with it in that state then the landlord should refund you some money, but do not take it off the rent yourselve.

Oh yes I agree with BigBadMummy in that you certainly should not just withhold rent, but I see no problem at all with discussing it with the landlord and coming to an agreement.

Thanks for advice - hopefully I will be able to contact him today or tomorrow.
We are meant to be moving next Wednesday and it just looks like too much for him to get done by then.

I will see if he will agree to discount the first month if necessary and we can organise and pay for the cleaning ourselves.

At the moment I just dont think it is worth the £1000/month which he is charging (that includes rates which is like council tax/water etc)