End of Tenancy Cleaning Question
Discussion
We moved into our flat in December 2014 and have recently given our notice to leave. Our agent wrote to us last week to let us know that at the end of the tenancy all carpets in the property must be "professionally cleaned" and a receipt from the cleaner would be required as proof.
We have checked our tenancy agreement and this clause is included.
We're not sure if the carpets were actually cleaned before we moved in though, and the inventory we have states that the carpets are 'marked and worn'.
Is there any wiggle room on getting out of this? We're reluctant to spend £150+ on carpet cleaning when we don't believe they were clean when we moved in. They're also clearly old carpets with very thin and worn areas where there's been a lot of footfall.
Other options considered are to hire a carpet cleaning machine ourselves, but would this count as "professional" even if a receipt is provided? Or we could just fake a receipt (with or without doing any cleaning)?
Any thoughts?
We have checked our tenancy agreement and this clause is included.
We're not sure if the carpets were actually cleaned before we moved in though, and the inventory we have states that the carpets are 'marked and worn'.
Is there any wiggle room on getting out of this? We're reluctant to spend £150+ on carpet cleaning when we don't believe they were clean when we moved in. They're also clearly old carpets with very thin and worn areas where there's been a lot of footfall.
Other options considered are to hire a carpet cleaning machine ourselves, but would this count as "professional" even if a receipt is provided? Or we could just fake a receipt (with or without doing any cleaning)?
Any thoughts?
A few remarks based on comments here:
(1) I'm both a landlord and a tenant. I let out two properties of my own, and rent a third in another area. There are good and bad tenants, just as there are good and bad landlords, and there are also good and bad agents.... although in my experience it is the agent who takes the mick more than the landlord who just wants the property maintained and to have the longest-term tenants possible. I've stopped using an agent for my own properties after being misled about the condition of the property and maintenance being undertaken. On the other side, as a tenant, I've been messed around with lettings agents who have almost no incentive to keep a regular tenant when they know the property can be filled again in a heartbeat and the fresh tenants will be paying additional fees that a remaining tenant would not be. DoubleSix mentions doing the check-in with his tenants, as I do as well, but when renting through an agent you are given the keys and asked to return the inventory within 2 weeks. They do not attend the property with you.
(2) We signed the contract around 6 weeks before moving in, and it was while the previous tenants were still living in the property. When we moved in we completed the inventory and noted any damage or marks before returning it. At this point the memory of signing a clause stating "all carpets to be professionally cleaned at end of tenancy" was a distant memory and we had trust that the inventory was the guide to be used when determining the condition of the property on entry and exit. The property was clean, but there were marks on the carpets as noted below.
(3) The carpets are no more marked or stained beyond reasonable wear than they were on arrival. While we could spend the £180 I've been quoted for carpet cleaning to be completed, my issue is that I do not believe they were done before we moved in, nor that it should be required as the carpets are no dirtier than they were at the time we moved in beyond what is reasonable. We have not stained or left marks. If this clause is a 'standard' clause, and the previous tenants did not have the carpets cleaned, then I do not trust that the agent/landlord will arrange for the carpets to be cleaned this time either and will simply pocket the deduction from our deposit. I have no objection to leaving a property clean and in good repair - This is what we would do at any rate, and would not quibble over deductions for damage (such as where we have put a mirror on the wall in the bedroom). This is about being charged for what is or is not reasonable.
(4) A £180 bill is neither here nor there - This is not about the cost, but the principle, and also the effort or arranging a cleaner, being present at the property for it, and spending the money before our deposit is returned. I would sooner forward the quote to the agent and say "We agree to this amount being deducted for cleaning to be arranged by you/the landlord" - But I doubt they would accept this.
(5) Why would a tenant have no choice but to move in? Suppose in our example that 6 weeks after viewing the property for the first time and signing the contract that we receive the keys and rock up to find the place in a mess and poor state of repair. We've already given notice on our current home and will be returning the keys a few days later. We've signed a 6-month tenancy for this new place, and have used all our savings for the deposit and moving costs. Unless you have a friend or family member who is willing to let you stay, you have no choice. And for the huge numbers of people less fortunate than us here, there are no extra savings to pay for a hotel room, or do anything but suck it up and move in.
(6) I don't want to get to TDS dispute stage. I'd rather have a reasonable conversation with the agent and say "Look, it clearly wasn't professionally cleaned when we moved in, so why are you asking us now? Is there any damage beyond what was there on arrival which you wish us to remove?" but at this point I fear they will just say this is irrelevant because the contract states it must be "professionally cleaned". (The contract which we paid over £150 to sign initially, and then another £72 each year, and which is a generic template mentioning grass which we don't have (we don't even have a balcony), furniture not provided (it's unfurnished) and many other items not applicable to the property... but this is beside the point.)
(1) I'm both a landlord and a tenant. I let out two properties of my own, and rent a third in another area. There are good and bad tenants, just as there are good and bad landlords, and there are also good and bad agents.... although in my experience it is the agent who takes the mick more than the landlord who just wants the property maintained and to have the longest-term tenants possible. I've stopped using an agent for my own properties after being misled about the condition of the property and maintenance being undertaken. On the other side, as a tenant, I've been messed around with lettings agents who have almost no incentive to keep a regular tenant when they know the property can be filled again in a heartbeat and the fresh tenants will be paying additional fees that a remaining tenant would not be. DoubleSix mentions doing the check-in with his tenants, as I do as well, but when renting through an agent you are given the keys and asked to return the inventory within 2 weeks. They do not attend the property with you.
(2) We signed the contract around 6 weeks before moving in, and it was while the previous tenants were still living in the property. When we moved in we completed the inventory and noted any damage or marks before returning it. At this point the memory of signing a clause stating "all carpets to be professionally cleaned at end of tenancy" was a distant memory and we had trust that the inventory was the guide to be used when determining the condition of the property on entry and exit. The property was clean, but there were marks on the carpets as noted below.
(3) The carpets are no more marked or stained beyond reasonable wear than they were on arrival. While we could spend the £180 I've been quoted for carpet cleaning to be completed, my issue is that I do not believe they were done before we moved in, nor that it should be required as the carpets are no dirtier than they were at the time we moved in beyond what is reasonable. We have not stained or left marks. If this clause is a 'standard' clause, and the previous tenants did not have the carpets cleaned, then I do not trust that the agent/landlord will arrange for the carpets to be cleaned this time either and will simply pocket the deduction from our deposit. I have no objection to leaving a property clean and in good repair - This is what we would do at any rate, and would not quibble over deductions for damage (such as where we have put a mirror on the wall in the bedroom). This is about being charged for what is or is not reasonable.
(4) A £180 bill is neither here nor there - This is not about the cost, but the principle, and also the effort or arranging a cleaner, being present at the property for it, and spending the money before our deposit is returned. I would sooner forward the quote to the agent and say "We agree to this amount being deducted for cleaning to be arranged by you/the landlord" - But I doubt they would accept this.
(5) Why would a tenant have no choice but to move in? Suppose in our example that 6 weeks after viewing the property for the first time and signing the contract that we receive the keys and rock up to find the place in a mess and poor state of repair. We've already given notice on our current home and will be returning the keys a few days later. We've signed a 6-month tenancy for this new place, and have used all our savings for the deposit and moving costs. Unless you have a friend or family member who is willing to let you stay, you have no choice. And for the huge numbers of people less fortunate than us here, there are no extra savings to pay for a hotel room, or do anything but suck it up and move in.
(6) I don't want to get to TDS dispute stage. I'd rather have a reasonable conversation with the agent and say "Look, it clearly wasn't professionally cleaned when we moved in, so why are you asking us now? Is there any damage beyond what was there on arrival which you wish us to remove?" but at this point I fear they will just say this is irrelevant because the contract states it must be "professionally cleaned". (The contract which we paid over £150 to sign initially, and then another £72 each year, and which is a generic template mentioning grass which we don't have (we don't even have a balcony), furniture not provided (it's unfurnished) and many other items not applicable to the property... but this is beside the point.)
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