If something isn't working now and it wasn't working when they moved in then they shouldn't have to fix it. However if they didn't bother recording/reporting it when they moved in, then sadly they're going to have to fix it.
Cleaned to a professional standard?
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If something isn't working now and it wasn't working when they moved in then they shouldn't have to fix it. However if they didn't bother recording/reporting it when they moved in, then sadly they're going to have to fix it.
I don't think that's what's been asked. If you look at Jambo's list of things to do they are all cleaning and not maintenance tasks.
A flat should be cleaned at the end of a tenancy, wear and tear is something that will get fixed at periodic redecorations, or by the landlord between renters. However dirty marks on the wall that can be removed should be removed, paintwork should be clean, everything should be dust free etc.
Soldato
Ask them?
I think you misunderstand me.
I don't expect the tenants to go out and buy paint and wall filler. For my situation the landlord left all the paints, wallpapers ect under the stairs which he used to do the house before we moved in. It will take me a few hours to repair what I have damaged by using the materials at hand. But I would not advocate other tenants to go out and buy materials unless they really wrecked the place.
Well I don't know the OP's situation and if he hasn't taken any precautions then hopefully he will for the next property, but this would depend on the landlord and if they're honest about the state he let the property.
You need to go around the house with agent/landlord and sign it off then and their. Only if there is a dispute which you can't agree on would I take pictures.
Also don't leave the carpet cleaning. If they are in very good nick hire a washer yourself. Big supermarkets do them. If in poor condition get a professional yourself in. Ensuring to keep receipts.
Professional standard just means super clean, no reason you can't do it yourself. Just remember to do hidden places, like top of cabinets or under/behind anything moveable.
Give yourself a minimum of three days with an empty house. Preferably with agent/landlord coming at end of second day. If no arguments sign (get written with both your signatures, with an agreed time frame for deposit if not allready in contract) if any disputes keep keys and you have a day to fix it.
It really is worth doing it yourself and taking time, £600+ is a lot of money.
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Caporegime
It was a direct reply to Tyron.
No, tenants should not be expected to repair wear and tear. That is the responsibility of the Landlord. Tenants are not there just to keep the place warm and pay the mortgage. If the wallpaper has some marks on it, the carpet is worn out in places, etc. That is the responsibility of the landlord to replace/repair.
If the tenant causes wilful damage to the property, then they can be held responsible for it.
For a landlord to expect tenants to start replacing wallpaper and getting the paintbrush out is wrong. Just wrong.
Permabanned
If you don't sort it out won't they just hire cleaners and take it out of your deposit? So the only reason to tell you is to give you the opportunity to do the cleaning yourself.
Demand receipts and use deposit protection if needed.
But if you get it inspected a day or two before you have to be out, you can fix most issues.
Soldato
don't hire a carpet cleaning machine unless you are 100% certain you are allowed to. so often i have cleaned a place that had previously been cleaned by the tenant. the place was clean but they had to get it done by a pro so ended up paying twice, though our charge was minimal as it was clean and no stains but we had to do it.
you also can get the issue that even if the place gets cleaned by a pro company, the letting agents require you to use their cleaners, and if you don't you'll still be charged for them to clean a spotless place.
most will tell you the total so this is an impossible question to answer without a single detail.
you also can get the issue that even if the place gets cleaned by a pro company, the letting agents require you to use their cleaners, and if you don't you'll still be charged for them to clean a spotless place.
most will tell you the total so this is an impossible question to answer without a single detail.
Yep. Sadly most people don't take those steps, which is why landlords try it on as a matter of course, because they have nothing to lose.
Associate
one of the first places i rented was in a placement year in Spalding (terrible place). anyway, i had the same thing when moving out, my mum was convinced that i'd lose my deposit so she came to clean it all for me. in fairness to me I'd done a decent job so she didn't do much 
anyway, letting agent came round, saw my mum in rubber gloves and didn't even bother coming in for the inspection and gave me the deposit cheque on the doorstep.
so my advice is get your mum round and get her some rubber gloves
anyway, letting agent came round, saw my mum in rubber gloves and didn't even bother coming in for the inspection and gave me the deposit cheque on the doorstep.
so my advice is get your mum round and get her some rubber gloves
This is called being taken for a ride, stand your ground and use the deposit protection,
Should I feel like a dirty heathen; I've never cleaned a lampshade in my life!
I can smell you from here
The only reason I've cleaned one is because I sanded down a painted wall in the hall, and the lampshade was liberally coated with dust.
My experience. Moved out of our first rented house a few years ago and we were told by the really stubborn, moody lady that acted as a half arsed letting agent for our landlord, to get the house cleaned professionally. At a minimum, the carpets had to be cleaned professionally and she passed on details as to who "had" to do them. Obviously the prices were ridiculous. Being our first house we went a bit OTT as didn't know what to expect.
I spent an entire weekend cleaning the house. We borrowed a mates old carpet VAX thing which made the best of stained and very worn (from 7 years use to be fair) carpets. I also went round making good all walls, filling, painting/touching up and sanding them all mint. 7 years worth of me drilling and bodging cables and all sorts I sorted out.
Next day after moving out I forgot something so went back to get something from the house and a painter/decorator let me in. The house was practically in ruins. Everything was getting redone anyway and there was dust/rubbish all over the carpets from the decorating (presumably they were going to get replaced).
Complete waste of my life! lol
Got full deposit back no probs.
When I move out of my current house I'm just going to be realistic and ask them up front what they are doing in the future to the house and what they want me to make good. The carpets were **** cheapo ones and are beyond cleaning as are so worn from general day to day use. I'll personally be doing the minimum possible and will not be stressing over it.
I spent an entire weekend cleaning the house. We borrowed a mates old carpet VAX thing which made the best of stained and very worn (from 7 years use to be fair) carpets. I also went round making good all walls, filling, painting/touching up and sanding them all mint. 7 years worth of me drilling and bodging cables and all sorts I sorted out.
Next day after moving out I forgot something so went back to get something from the house and a painter/decorator let me in. The house was practically in ruins. Everything was getting redone anyway and there was dust/rubbish all over the carpets from the decorating (presumably they were going to get replaced).
Complete waste of my life! lol
Got full deposit back no probs.
When I move out of my current house I'm just going to be realistic and ask them up front what they are doing in the future to the house and what they want me to make good. The carpets were **** cheapo ones and are beyond cleaning as are so worn from general day to day use. I'll personally be doing the minimum possible and will not be stressing over it.
I think you have to be as friendly and pleasant about it as you can, ask the questions up front and hope the landlord is sensible enough to work with you, but prepare for the worst, take pictures etc and get ready to fight.
I deal with landlords and I find them to be a bit snobby, a bit selfish and a bit cheap and nasty. However they're not all like that and while there's some real scumbags there's some good old fashioned honest souls.
I deal with landlords and I find them to be a bit snobby, a bit selfish and a bit cheap and nasty. However they're not all like that and while there's some real scumbags there's some good old fashioned honest souls.
We hired one of those Rug Master jobs from B&Q to clean the carpets which seemed to do the job. We got the boyfriends deposit back so they must have been happy with it.
We wiped everything down including walls and woodwork, filled and painted any visible damage to the walls and that was pretty much it. Provided it looks presentable to the next tenant they are usually happy.
We wiped everything down including walls and woodwork, filled and painted any visible damage to the walls and that was pretty much it. Provided it looks presentable to the next tenant they are usually happy.
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Been renting for 5 years now, never used a professional cleaners and never lost one jot of my deposits.
Generally we live like people who have very busy lives and don't have a huge care for housework, so the place is generally fairly untidy and we then blitz the place before leaving. The landlords have been so shocked that they give us everything back!
One flat we had 12 pushbikes inside, the landlord initially had an issue but once we explained the value of said bikes, was cool about it. Still got everything back!
Generally we live like people who have very busy lives and don't have a huge care for housework, so the place is generally fairly untidy and we then blitz the place before leaving. The landlords have been so shocked that they give us everything back!
One flat we had 12 pushbikes inside, the landlord initially had an issue but once we explained the value of said bikes, was cool about it. Still got everything back!