Ending a tenancy without a check out?

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
Joined
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What happens if you end a tenancy but don't do a formal checkout? Does it make getting our deposit back easier or harder if there's no documented condition to use as a basis?

We checked in with a full inventory and will clean and leave the place like we should, but our letting agent haven't yet arranged a checkout and theres only a few days left to do so. If it helps us to not formally check out I won't chase them. The house has been sold too so I doubt the landlord is going to dispute anything.

Plus we have paid the fee for a check out so I assume if it doesn't happen we can get that money back (or at least try)?
 
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I'd worry, the checkout covers you both although if its sold as you say it is I guess the risk is lower.
 
Been in the same situation, was renting and landlord needed to sell one of his properties, he picked ours (feedback was it looked so good with us living in it it would sell fastest), and it did almost immediately.

When we checked out we didn't bother doing anything other than a hoover, no carpet cleaning etc.
Never heard anything at all, I believe the property changed hands almost immediately we moved out, so possibly the agents didn't have time to do a post inventory check.

Thing is, unless you did some significant damage between it selling and you moving out I cant see he would have any leg to stand on. Deposit is to cover the landlord for damage to put him back into the same position as had you not done it, unless the new vendor goes back and forces a reduction in selling price he has no justification to deduct.

E.g when you buy a house you do not expect carpets to have been valeted, you sort that yourself on moving in day if its worth it. Plus depending on the last owner all sorts of issues such as rubbish left behind etc.

I doubt the landlord will care, but if its an egency they can be complete jobs worths
 
If the landlord lets a third party into the property before a proper agreed checkout has taken place, the Deposit Protection Scheme people will most likely side with you in any dispute.

Having moved many times between rentals, its quite normal for the landlord to pay for the Check-in, and you to pay for the Check-out. If its not happening, you should get a refund for the checkout.
 
We had a dispute with a landlord regarding cleaning charges.

When it went to the board for review they sided with us because there was no formal checkout done. :)

This was about 5years ago mind.
 
BigBoy said:
You paid a fee to check out??

Never heard of that one before!
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It's standard. Usually bundled into the single "fees" the letting agent charges. It usually covers drawing up contracts, submitting to the DPS, references, credit checks, and the check in and check out and drawing up of the inventory.

TripleT said:
We had a dispute with a landlord regarding cleaning charges.

When it went to the board for review they sided with us because there was no formal checkout done. :)

This was about 5years ago mind.
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This is what I'm thinking. If there's no checkout there's nothing to base any claims against our deposit against. We are getting the place cleaned so it wouldn't be an issue if they did, but at the least I've got better ways to spend a Saturday than checking out :p.
 
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