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Original poster

Is it normal for vendors to leave a house filthy?

26 replies

Gincognito · 17/02/2012 18:38

It seemed normal and clean when we went round to view.

We've just spent several days dumping filthy carpets in a tip. The end of the garden is about 3" think with rabbit droppings and manure. We even found a green, humming loaf of bread down there. The upstairs loo was crusted brown. We are having professional cleaners in!

You'd think they moved in a hurry, but the sale took ages to finalise...

Is it normal?

OP posts:
TheMouseRanUpTheClock · 17/02/2012 19:05

I left my last house immaculate, and then the washing machine and dryer were removed from the utility room, I had to borrow a neighbours mop as mine was no where to be seen. The same neighbour who knew me well and how clean I was, told me the new neighbours were complaining about all sorts, swing in garden worn away grass, carpets that were under two years old and cleaned for them, not all matching etc, she was disgusted at them, and told me so.

I have heard many a person claim to have moved to a disgusting filthy house, now a days my response is Hmm and I wonder if they have OCD issues, unless I can see the filth myself.

After my last experience of breaking my neck cleaning for ungratefulls who bitched me, I shan't be making much of an effort when I leave this house.

Becaroooo · 17/02/2012 19:28

I know with our first house they must not have cleaned it from the day the offer was accepted (jan) til we moved in (april)

It was awful...

gaunyerseljeannie · 17/02/2012 19:31

It's not normal.....it's minging. Poor you, send the cleaning bill to their solicitorsGrin

TheCinnamonGiraffe · 17/02/2012 20:43

It has been with the places I have bought, however a place always looks worse when the furniture has been taken away.

I've also got a theory that some people sort of give up on a house once they know that they are off, especially if it has taken a while to sell (our last house was like that, they had clearly out grown it and were dying to leave...and looking back they would have been trying to pack up with 2 small DC's round their ankles, not something I would have understood at the time).

Having said that though, even when I've moved into rented places that have allegedly had a 'professional clean' I've still found dirt. Perhaps I am a fuss pot.

lazydog · 17/02/2012 21:02

No, not normal in my experience.

But on our last house move, when we emigrated, we lost our first set of flights (for pets and all - big $$$) due to our buyers deciding to up and off on a last-minute 2 week holiday and not be contactable. And then they came back and tried to delay things even further to attempt to tie the completion date exactly with the end of their notice period on their rental. Never mind the thousands of pounds we lost on flights - heaven forbid that they pay for a few days extra on their previous place when we'd dropped our asking price considerably on their promise of a quick, uncomplicated sale and when the completion date had already been pre-agreed by all, right near the start of negotiations.

I do have to say that I really didn't put as much effort in as I would have done for the selfish, dishonest bastards if they'd not nearly ruined our dream (we almost lost out on this house over them!!!)

heather1980 · 17/02/2012 21:39

we just moved into our new house and it was disgusting.
we bought from an elderly lady who had been moved into a home last summer, so the house had been empty for 6 months but that did not account for the sheer filth. the poor woman had 5 sons, i hope that they are ashamed at the squaller their poor mother lived in, bastards

alemci · 17/02/2012 21:42

I cleaned my last house thoroughly but the house i live in now was filthy. People have different standards.

If I moved again I would still clean the house.

lottiegb · 17/02/2012 21:59

Not normal but does happen.

Last house DP bought ny himself - clean, helpful note with local takeaway menus, bottle of fizzy wine in fridge.

House we later bought together - dirty, cat hair embedded everywhere, pile of disposable razors dropped down side of bath, fridge emptied but not clean, freezer forgotten about with oven chips still in there. Years of not cleaning thoroughly plus a lack of care once they knew they were going and rush towards moving I think.

bibbitybobbityhat · 17/02/2012 22:01

Of course it isn't normal. You know it isn't otherwise you wouldn't be so outraged.

scaryteacher · 17/02/2012 22:07

Heather - my mils house looks tidyish, but is dirty. I prefer not to eat there having seen photos of what has been cleared out of her fridge; I have had to unblock the dishwasher, and clean her loos, because 'she doesn't do housework'.

We have fallen out with her big style and have not spoken to her for a long time because of her accusations and behaviour. If she went into care her house would be filthy, but if you try and clear the crap and inches of dust/powder off her dressing table and around her sink where she does her make up, you are accused of interfering and snooping; so we gave up.

The elderly lady of whom you write may have lived in squalor, but she may have chosen it despite all her family could do.

befuzzled · 17/02/2012 22:46

I don't think it is normal and wouldn't do it. However, we have just got the keys to our new place which is seemed pretty clean when we looked but I hav ejust had to pay over £200 for professional cleaners - just so I can bear to go in there myself and do a deep clean, and we are having to get quotes for completely stripping and returfing the garden as there was dog shot everywhere -and I mean everywhere. Even the gardener said it would be dangerous to let small children out to play. When we walked in and opened the patio doors - there were 9 or 10 massive dog turds on the (small) patio. I have just spent the day repainting the master bedroom that had dog shit from dog claws up the walls. It wasn't like this when we viewed (is only 6 year old house). I can only assume they did it deliberately. Some people are animals. Didn't even hoover or flush chains.

They weren't rushed - we were due to complete in December and they were ready to move out but then relaised they had redemption penalties to th end of Jan.

TheMouseRanUpTheClock · 17/02/2012 22:49

That dog shit is defiantly something to bring to the attention of the solicitor. Shock

LaurieFairyCake · 17/02/2012 22:52

It's a nightmare when you move out though - my house is clean enough but I know if you had to move all the furniture out then there would be something lurking.

In my last house the removal men moved the washing machine and when I went in there were 9 inch mushrooms behind it Shock from a tiny leak. I pulled them off and quickly washed down the wall but I so nearl didn't notice it

befuzzled · 17/02/2012 23:32

Whats the point of telling the solicitors? They cant make them pay can they? This was day of completion - all done and dusted.

Devora · 18/02/2012 00:08

Is there any point telling the solicitor?

When we moved in (to absolute filth - the divorcing vendors were both on housework strike - his BROTHER sought me out to apologise 'on behalf of the family'!) we found the dishwasher and oven - both bought by us along with the house - were completely non-functional. Our solicitor said there was pretty much zilch we could do, other than taking it through the small claims court. She said it was our responsibility to check all appliances were working before our money went through - this seems to me bizarre; how acceptable is it, really, to enter the house the day before exchange to test the appliances?

Original poster
Gincognito · 18/02/2012 07:12

Now now, bibbity, I thought I was being quite measured...

Mouse, I am about as far from OCD as it's possible to be, I promise!

OP posts:
sh77 · 18/02/2012 12:12

We stipulated professional clean as part of the contract and asked to view before completion. Vendor agreed. It was spotless.

Becaroooo · 18/02/2012 13:14

Its a tough one...we bought in Dec and as of todays date have had to buy;
new hob
fix the leaky conservatory roof and
new boiler

All in all £3k.

I feel very bitter towards the previous owners but its a case of caveat emptor (buyer beware) I'm afraid.

I got all the carpets professionally cleaned prior to moving in (cost £90- for a whole 4 house!!) and did the cleaning myself...I like to know its done "properly" and to my standard IYSWIM? Wasnt too bad clean wise tbh...apart from the fridge/freezer, dust and carpets downstairs being quite dirty. Oven was spotless.

gaunyerseljeannie · 18/02/2012 17:27

Different rules under Scots and English property laws, so there might be a point in solicitors or there might not Smile

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 17:39

In Scotland if things are not working you have a certain number of days to raise it with the people you bought from. You are advised to get a plumber in to check the heating/boiler etc and the sellers have to pay for repairs if things are not as they were implied to be.

Our house was filthy though and they left live wires hanging out of the wall where they had removed light fittings and dug plants out of the garden.

Lightofthemoon · 18/02/2012 18:48

Sorry slight hijack, but I don't want to be in this position when we move, it sounds awful having to spend the first days amongst someone else's grime!

However, we are in a chain so everyone will be moving the same day. Has anyone managed to get professional cleaners to do a 1-2 hour blitz between you moving out your old home and moving your stuff in the new home?

Lightofthemoon · 18/02/2012 18:50

Sorry meant to say gincognito I'm really sorry this has happened to you Sad I hope you get it cleaned up soon and can forget about the mess.

buggyRunner · 18/02/2012 18:55

Were hopefully moving soon and I'm keeling on top of cleaning- even did skirting boards as usual Wink
I would be mortified if they four it messy

Grumpla · 18/02/2012 18:55

My house will never, ever be as clean again as it was on the day we moved in. Blush

Seriously, it was absolutely spotless. The one thing "out of place" was a handkerchief left on the side in the utility room - the owners had clearly used it to dry off the sink before they left.

I made sure I told ALL the neighbours how clean it was and how grateful we were (they are still friends with several of them so I hoped it got back to them somehow!)

However I did not leave my old property immaculate. As our buyers dicked us around for four months, nearly collapsed the whole chain, and then told us that unless we moved out within the next five days they would withdraw completely. Bastards.

I was NOT TOO BOTHERED by the patch of damp revealed when I moved my bookcase, let me tell you. AngryAngryAngry

Catz1 · 18/02/2012 19:01

Definitely get in touch with your solicitors. We received skip hire costs as so much rubbish had been left in loft that we had to clear it.