Ex landlord contacting us 3 months after we moved out

[Squigglebit]

Hey everyone, long story short we were served a section 21 back in June as they were selling the house, moved into a new place July. Deposit was all paid back to us etc.

Our ex landlord is now emailing us asking for details of when the chimney sweep last came or when the windows were last cleaned.

We have ignored the emails so far but do they actually have any redress? Surely any concerns should have been raised BEFORE we left

Isn't it their responsibility to do the chimney?

I'd ignore it, you don't owe him anything and he can't insist on that info from you - you had an arrangement and it's over now.

I would ignore

I'm pretty sure when I was a landlord chimney sweeping was my responsibility, sounds like they're trying to pass the buck for now selling/new tenants.

Absolutely not your problem.

It's just a question. If you know, let them know. If you don't, say so.

Why the need to ignore?

They're probably being asked those Qs by their buyers solicitors and just checking with you as they don't know/can't remember!

What on earth are they asking about window cleaning for? Ignore them. They can get their own windows cleaned

This 👆

It doesn't have to have a nefarious reason behind it. It may just be a question of lost records / timing / any other reason.

First of all. A Chimney sweep is the landlord responsibility not the tenant. Secondly, it’s irrelevant when the windows were last cleaned? You vacated the property 3 months ago so not your problem. Not sure why they want to know this.

I’d tell home that the windows were cleaned the day before you left (obviously they will be dirty again now) and that chimney sweeping is his responsibility (unless it was written in your contract it was yours but that still sounds dodgy).

I can maybe understand the chimney sweep question (health & safety?), although surely the landlord organised that himself? But the window cleaner. No prospective buyer would want to know when the window cleaner last called. I can only assume he is trying to extract money out of you but you've got your deposit back so tough.

Personally I would just answer.. unless he was a horrible landlord? windows were cleaned regularly and chimney was last cleaned roughly 6 months ago or whatever. He gave your deposit back , there won't be an issue!

It's not dodgy at all to have a clause in the contract that if tenants choose to have a real fire as well as central heating that they are responsible for having the chimney cleaned each year. A tenant sees the contract, and should read it, before signing the agreement. LL's are not twisting their arm to sign. There are about 15 tenants chasing each empty property.

Sounds like they are selling to another LL who is trying to avoid paying for the required annual chimney sweep certificate to new tenants.

I would just reply ‘I don’t have the foggiest mate’ and ignore any further communication.

If they wanted you to have those things done (and chimney sweeping is a legal grey area I am afraid), they should have asked for the sweep certificate and a receipt from the window cleaner before you got your deposit back.

But, they did not. So - it sucks to be them.

I'd reply by stalling a little and saying something like, "I'll try find out for you later tomorrow, is there any particular reason you need to know this?"

If he doesn't give a reason, ignore his requests, if he does and it's just routine then provide it.

At no point has the OP said she has chosen to have a real fire as well as CH. I’m pretty sure had she done she would have said so. I will also give her credit for having read a contract before she signed it.

Ignore/block them.

This. I doubt there's any sinister motive

Genuine registered chimney sweeps give you a certificate to say it's been swept showing the date and when it is next due to be swept. When I was selling my house which had a multi fuel stove I had to give the himney sweep certificates to my conveyancing solicitor with the guarantees, boiler service records etc. That's probably why he's asking. Edit: if he arranged and paid for it he should have the certificates.

I was going to suggest wording to the same.

OP- Did YOU ever pay/organise a chimney sweep?

After 3 months, just ignore. It's his problem now. He's probably hoping you did it recently so he doesn't have to pay again.

Block, delete, forget it ever happened

I have never once swept the chimney in any house I lived in. I don't use the chimney and the birds that regularly fall down it do the job well enough lol.

I grew up in a coal powered house and while there was lots of scooping ash and sweeping up and stoking and opening/closing the chimney flues. I don't remember anyone ever sweeping the actual chimney bit ever.

If you use your fire it is normal to get it swept annually and get the certificate, because house insurance requires it as much as anything.

The window cleaning one is a bit random from a solicitor though!

OP I’d just ask why.