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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:

PurpleDaisies · 05/09/2016 12:42

dontcry it's a standard part of contracts. I think ours said we would clear the property of all rubbish, furniture and leave it clean and tidy. Or more legal words to that effect.

FuzzyOwl · 05/09/2016 12:43

It is usually standard when you exchange contracts dontcrynow.

eyemonster12 · 05/09/2016 12:54

I moved in to a place that was left in as repulsive a state as you intend to leave yours. I spent the whole of move in day repeatedly bleaching the bathroom floor. The dust footprint where the bed had been was horrific. The water when I (repeatedly) shampooed the carpets was black. They'll be coming up as soon as I can afford to replace them.

It was disgusting. It took a week to clean the place properly.

Basically people like you are revolting.

Ewokewok · 05/09/2016 15:38

OP - I know exactly how you feel. I hate our buyers. Actually loathe them and would love to leave the house without cleaning it. We have cats and although our house is clean inevitably there are cat hairs around before you hoover. Also, when you start moving things in a house there are always dust patches and cobwebs you didn't know had accumulated. HOWEVER we are moving locally and I couldn't bear to bump into these people and for them to say that we were dirty. I will begrudge every wipe of the cloth but I won't leave my house in a state. They behaved like pigs during our sale but I'm not going to sink to their level.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 05/09/2016 15:46

What Quint said:
'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 it's really bad, it will be easy for him to snap a few photos to prove you haven't left it in a good state.
Quick wipe over bathroom and kitchen, hoover everywhere else, easy to do when it's empty. Couple of hours max (unless your house is massive).

Original poster

InsulatedLoft · 05/09/2016 19:37

You'll be delighted to hear that an OP has actually taken the advice given to them.

I've been scrubbing kitchen cupboards for the last hour.

OP posts:

Arfarfanarf · 05/09/2016 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Squidgems · 05/09/2016 20:49

Well done InsulatedLoft! When you've finished you can say you did it for you and can walk away the better person.

Tiggeryoubastard · 05/09/2016 20:53

My last buyer messed me about. He ended up with much older carpets and fitted wardrobes from other houses on the street. But I left it clean. Because I'm not a dirty bastard who lives like that and I have self respect.

YelloDraw · 05/09/2016 21:36

Wow well done OP for not taking offence, you'll feel better for taking to moral high ground :-)

PurpleDaisies · 05/09/2016 21:44

You have most definitely earned yourself a and op. Well done with the cleaning.

deste · 05/09/2016 22:39

Sounds revolting. I can't believe you are serious.

PurpleDaisies · 05/09/2016 22:47

The op has cleaned deste.

MyLlamasGoneBananas · 05/09/2016 22:49

Our house was left in a vile state. Our solicitor suggested claiming from the vendors costs if a professional clean on the region of £400 to £750.
It's an uneccessary risk. A quick wipe could save you alot of bother.
He may be a shot of a bloke you've sold to but don't you have any personal pride?

wowowowow · 05/09/2016 23:49

Do people not have any pride anymore? I'd like to think that no matter how awful the purchaser was I wouldn't stoop to what the OP is suggesting.

deste · 06/09/2016 21:17

Apologies in that case.

Chillywhippet · 06/09/2016 23:37

Well done OP. Best to suck it up. You'll soon have the whole thing behind you

Just for the pp wondering if it's a legal requirement, I have just ticked this box on the bog standard Law Society Property Information Form TA6

"Will the seller ensure that:
(a) all rubbish is removed from the property (including from the loft, garden, garages and sheds) and the property will be left in a clean and tidy condition? YES NO"

Canyouforgiveher · 06/09/2016 23:44

Well done OP.

The thing about dealing with awful people is not to let them turn you into someone you are not.

sailawaywithme · 06/09/2016 23:46

Have some self-respect, if nothing else, and clean your home.

PurpleDaisies · 06/09/2016 23:49

If you don't read the full thread sail, you run the risk of looking like a twit. The op has cleaned her home.

ElsieMc · 08/09/2016 14:03

We bought a former vicarage. Words cant describe the state of it. Absolutely filthy, with green type mould stuff growing in the kitchen cupboards, walls covered in grime, mould etc. Worse still ceilings had come down when the pipes burst. They did put this right however when our solicitor told them to sort it in no uncertain terms. He also put a clause in the contract regarding cleaning.

But, one old man went into clean with cold water so it was basically no better than it was to begin with. They did leave us somethings though, manky old socks still in the airing cupboard. Took lightbulbs though.

Not worth entering into protracted legals though, as fees would have cancelled it all out anyway. They claimed they had carried out their obligations as per the contract.

Don't know where you are moving to, but I hope it is nothing like this.

Mikkalina · 08/09/2016 14:44

Do you not have water in the bathroom to wash the hair and crumbs off?

I once rented a house with my family. The landlord obviously took deposit from the previous tenants but didn't clean the house. I cried for two weeks cleaning it. Ginger curly hair in the bathroom, greasy sticky kitchen, moths larva, another bathroom looked like people used it wearing outdoor shoes. It is a disrespect to the new tenants. A few months later the owner decided to sell the house and asked us to make sure it is nice and tidy.

myusernamewastaken · 10/09/2016 11:33

12 years ago i bought the house im in now and it was filthy...sticky kitchen cupboards....damp towels still in bathroom...we arrived with our removal lorry around 3pm and the previous owners had barely started moving out....it was an absolute nightmare and im sure its one of the reasons i cant bear to move again.

ApplesTheHare · 11/09/2016 20:19

Well done OP, good for you doing the cleaning. You are the best person. Hope the rest of your move goes well

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