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Original poster

Legally do I have to clean house for buyer?

99 replies

InsulatedLoft · 03/09/2016 10:58

I remember in the property information form I signed that I would leave the house in a "clean and tidy" condition. But our buyer has been a complete arse and I don't want to do anything more than I legally have to. I was going to run the hoover around for 5 minutes before leaving and that's it. Unfortunately we don't clean all that regularly anyway, so bathroom will still be covered in dust and water stains and hair, kitchen will be crumby and dusty, pet hairs will be deeply ingrained into the carpet. He won't have any comeback against us will he? Although he's a BTL investor so I doubt he'll give a damn.

OP posts:

CathFromCooberPedy · 03/09/2016 12:07

We paid for a professional clean before we moved in because although the lads thought they'd cleaned it, they hadn't and l had a 3 day old baby which is a story for another thread

Give it a vacuum and a general clean OP. It's just the right thing to do.

And tell us in what way he's been an arsehole

celeste83 · 03/09/2016 12:30

It sounds a bit mean to leave the house dirty for the next people. I would also be embarrassed too. Leave on good terms and give the house a decent clean. Hoover, kitchen and bathroom.

Kit30 · 03/09/2016 12:36

The fact that you're even asking suggests that you're uncomfortable leaving it in a state.

specialsubject · 03/09/2016 12:47

In a world where a billion dont have a toilet, it is surprising that someone would boast of being so filthy and entitled.

Clearly op landlord hate does not extend to refusing a landlords money.

SleepDeprivedAndCranky · 03/09/2016 12:49

I remember in the property information form I signed that I would leave the house in a "clean and tidy" condition. But our buyer has been a complete arse and I don't want to do anything more than I legally have to. I was going to run the hoover around for 5 minutes before leaving and that's it. Unfortunately we don't clean all that regularly anyway, so bathroom will still be covered in dust and water stains and hair, kitchen will be crumby and dusty, pet hairs will be deeply ingrained into the carpet.
The contract is legally binding, you are in breach of the conditions if you leave the house in that state. It doesn't matter if you never clean your home. You have sold this property to the buyer and it has to meet the t&c.

He won't have any comeback against us will he? Although he's a BTL investor so I doubt he'll give a damn.

If it was specified in the agreement that you will leave the place clean and tidy, you appear, from you discription to be in breach of the agreement so you should expect to be billed for the buyer's cleaning charges (presumably, he will have to hire a cleaner and provide cleaning products?). It could prove to be a very expensive decision to throw a strop and be lazy leave the place untidy. If it is a btl, he will need to have it clean to show tenants around and have it "clean and tidy" before new tenants move in so I think he may not be as understanding as you imagine he will be.

QuintessentialShadow · 03/09/2016 12:57

Yes but that is why I'm minded to not bother! Our buyer is not a delicate FTB who will cry if the house isn't immaculate

No, he is probably a profit oriented one, who will want the place ship shape for viewings asap, and he will also know that the house will be best presented, and get the highest quality (highest paying tenants) if it is clean.

He will be delighted to find it filthy, because he will most likely send in professional cleaners and hold you to the bill. He will be delighted because he will get it scrubbed to the perfection, and you will pay.

If you clean, he will probably still send in professional cleaners, only difference is that HE pays, not you.

But, suit yourselves....

I once found a rental property grim on moving in date. The estate agency forced landlord to INSTANTLY send cleaners. Cost him a lot more than just doing a regular clean.

As a tenant, who once left the house "just hoovered" and dusted, I got a cleaning bill of £600 taken against my deposit, and that was back in 1999. I imagine it would cost more now.

JessieMcJessie · 03/09/2016 12:58

This. A FTB may be more likely to be upset, but a BTL is more likely to get prof cleaners in and make you pay the bill. Your call.

HatePaperDoll · 03/09/2016 13:16

Due to dealing with clueless FTBs and their fuckwit solicitor (who was not au fait with conveyancing at all - he was apparently a family friend who specialises in another area of law but handled their house sale as a favour), we had to exchange at short notice and complete 36 hours later. Arrange removal van, pack up a 3 bed house...everything. I still managed to do a decent level of cleaning as, although our buyers had been total pains in arse throughout, I wanted them to enjoy their new home. I didn't have time for a deep clean but everywhere got swept/vacuumed
And wiped over and I made sure the bathroom was spotless.

Once a room is empty, it's quick and easy to give it a decent clean. If I moved into a filthy house, I'd probably pursue the vendor for cleaning costs.

MimsyPimsy · 03/09/2016 14:18

Am I the only one who wants to know what the buyer did???

wowfudge · 03/09/2016 14:19

Having moved into two houses which weren't clean - one because previous occupants didn't care and one because the vendors just left themselves too much to do to get the place properly clean - I have a very dim view of anyone who thinks it is acceptable to leave the place in a state. Our old house was spotless when we moved precisely because it should be.

ImperialBlether · 03/09/2016 14:27

Did you clean up before your home was viewed, OP?

May09Bump · 04/09/2016 00:17

Try and get some end of tenacy cleaners in - they have dealt with this kind of thing before (if you can stretch to pay for it) and a professional carpet clean. Then have your first night in it - make it happy!!!

Squidgems · 04/09/2016 01:17

When I bought my current house the previous owner didn't finish packing up until late evening. When they finally left they left all the windows open. When I got in I couldn't turn the lights on as they had cut all the light fitttings so couldn't get a good look at the state of the place.

When I went back the next day I was horrified! I found all the curtain poles had been removed by ripping them from the walls and when I turned on the kitchen tap water gushed out onto the floor from where they had temoved the washing machine without capping off the pipes.

Needless to say the carpets were in a right state and there were signs of mice. I was so upset and had to cancell the removal men who had been booked for a couple of days later.

To cap it all when I finally moved in some time later I found that there were fleas in the house (previous owner had a cat).

I had called in the estate agent to see the state of the place and wrote to the solicitor who did my conveyancing but both were useless.

As a result of all this I have never really loved my house and often begrudge doing any work on it. For example when I put in a new fireplace I've said to myself that the house doesn't deserve it. Things are beginning to change and I will soon be putting in a new kitchen and bathroom (still thinking the house doesn't deserve it!)

If I feel that way why haven't I moved? It's convenient for a lot of things, the size is good and I can't afford anywhere else without having a new, bigger mortgage and I am debt averse.

So OP you probably won't be anywhere near as bad as the awful seller of my house, but try and do a little more than the bare minimum, cleaning wise. Because as they say what goes around comes around.

kirinm · 04/09/2016 14:18

Having just bought our first home and in our second week trying to deal with a fucking flea infestation, I would say clean it. I left out rented flat immaculate.

Our vendor and their tenants made our purchase very difficult and I was ready to sue them (they left ALL their furniture here) but a threat made the vendor get his shit together. We've since found all the furniture in a shed at the back of the garden.

imjessie · 04/09/2016 14:21

The people that bought my old family home when my mum downsized were arses . I hate them but I cleaned that house from top to bottom because A I loved the house and B I didn't want to give them any reason to cause me more trouble !

Madbengalmum · 04/09/2016 14:24

What a shit attitude to things OP has. I would want to leave something in a decent state,but then i would be disgusted with myself if i lived like OP is describing, so probably par for the cause!

user1471423842 · 04/09/2016 17:40

If you don't clean it before you move you, make sure you don't forget anything.

When we bought our house, I had to clear other people's dirt from the bathroom and clear up their toast crumbs!

They had forgotten stuff in the garage and asked to come back to collect but I said no I was too busy cleaning!

insancerre · 04/09/2016 17:59

Just clean he house
I've sold 2 houses and left both of them in immaculate condition
The Hoover is always the last thing on the van
The mop and broom go in the car
I've had to clean 6 married quarters to march out standards
Once you've had to do that, where the families officer checks every surface, including inside drawers, with white gloves for dust, then anything else is child's play

Believeitornot · 04/09/2016 21:35

Clean it. Karma and all that.

I'm hoping for a curse of the minge plague on the previous owners of our current house.

The place was grim and they had the cheek to have an Indian take away the night before so that added a lovely aroma.

We on the other hand cleaned our flat beautifully. So much so the new owners sent us flowers

ParkingLottie · 04/09/2016 21:47

I think my own sense of dignity would demand that I leave it in a respectable state.

However, our last house was practically demolished by the developers who sent in builders to gut and re-model the house as soon as we moved out, so I do wish I had known that before cleaning it on moving day.

HarryKerry · 04/09/2016 22:22

Squidgems - you've got to think of it round the other way. Your poor house has been unloved and uncared for by the previous owners. What it needs from you is TLC and to be brought back to life, from being an unloved shell to being a warm, comfortable home.

If anyone asks, I shall fully deny writing that paragraph but I meant it

Squidgems · 05/09/2016 00:30

Thanks for the wise words HarryKerry. You're right and I am trying to change how I feel about the house by doing the long overdue renovations.

dudsville · 05/09/2016 07:13

I think this is an issue about your own self respect. It's a petty act you're suggesting, but i doubt one with a legal position.

sianihedgehog · 05/09/2016 12:20

I have bought two houses and neither one was clean when I moved in. I don't think that cleaning houses after moving out is something people do at the bottom of the market. I had to pay nearly £200 to have the literal mound of rubbish taken away from my current house when I moved in 9 months pregnant.

OP, fuck your BTL buyer and leave it filthy.

dontcrynow · 05/09/2016 12:30

I've never heard of a vendor signing an agreement to leave the house in a clean and tidy state, before completion. Is this a new thing or have I done it in the past without thinking about it?

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