ailsas mum Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Ewan my son, his oh and Cady are moving in with us soon so they can save some pennies, at the moment they are in a rented flat. The people who they are renting from have said that they must have the flat profesionally cleaned before leaving, the flat is spotless and the carpets have all just been cleaned by Ewan ( he's a clean freak ) , I'm sure that if the flat is left in the same condition or cleaner then they have nothing to worry about but his oh is stressing about it a wee bit. Can I ask if this is a common thing to have to do or are they a bunch of chancer's. I should say that the flat is in better condition now than when they moved in. Terri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Not that I am an expert in these things, but was there anything in their tenancy agreement to say that they would have to have the place professionally cleaned on leaving? If there wasn't, I'm not sure how they could enforce it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Many landlords specify professional cleaning because these firm use equipment and materials that are not used or affordable by the average householder, and are often members of trade associations that maintain certain standards and spread knowledge. I am sorry but I have to say that no matter how clean something seems at the moment, anywhere that has only been cleaned using ordinary machinery will start to smell in a couple of days once left. There is a lot of differnec in a carpet cleaned by hand with a bottle of shanpoo and one deap cleaned with two grands worth of heat extraction machine. I can show 2 imches of sludge I have pulled outt af a " clean " carpet with my cheapo extraction cleaner. These people also deal with allergens and may use special mattress cleaning methods. (uv and fogging) We are fighting a war against lalndlords who use the old arguments against letting for dogs. The arsenal of the professional cleaner is ours to use to convince more landlords that pets are not a problem. Lets not lose any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ailsas mum Posted August 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 I'm not sure if there is anything in their tenancy agreement, I'll need to ask them. Lester the carpets were filthy when they moved in, my son's cleaned them once a month with my Bissell pro heat ( I know that it's not as good a professional one ), they also had to move the washing machine a couple of weeks ago because of a leak and there was rotten food under it, food that they haven't ever used there. They don't have animals in the flat and my pair have never even been for a visit, they've only lived there for 6 months but it's been a long 6 months for them. Thanks for your replies . Terri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 I should have added ...in some areas help is available . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Lester, surely the landlord can only expect a tenant to pay for a professional clean if that was specified in the tenancy agreement/prior to taking the flat on though? They shouldn't just be able to demand it as the tenant says they're moving out. Terri's clarified that there have been no pets there so no worries on that front. We had problems with our up-until-then nice landlord when we moved out and bought this place. I replaced a few of the carpets downstairs but I think he had been hoping to avoid giving us our deposit back as he came round and picked fault with a few things At one point he got funny because he thought we'd stolen his Welsh dresser, until I pointed out we'd moved it into the kitchen while the new carpet was fitted. We did get the full deposit back but I think he was hoping to keep it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 No pets? so they are needing an normal EOT ( end of tenancy).. Do they have to use a nominated cleaner and how is the service proved to the landlord. By shopping around it might be possible to find a cleaner that will do a cheap top up clean. ( i would suggest just an ozone blast) Its porbably because of the way th eplace was left las ttime that the landlords are requiring this. I take it there is some kind of penalty for not doing it,. have they been there longer than the deposit regulations have been in force? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnie Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 If its not in the tenancy agreement he doesn't have to do it - i've just had this same thing myself. And if the landlord withholds some of the deposit you can take him to court (check out the tenancy deposit scheme website). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 If its not in the tenancy agreement he doesn't have to do it - i've just had this same thing myself. And if the landlord withholds some of the deposit you can take him to court (check out the tenancy deposit scheme website). I dont think it applies. I dont think we are talking about England?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ailsas mum Posted August 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for the replies, Janet hasn't got back to me about the tenancy agreement yet. Lester thanks very much for your replies it's really helpful to speak to someone that knows what goes on at least now I can ask them the right questions, your right we're in Scotland. Thanks again everyone at least I know a bit more about what can happen. Thanks dawnie I'll check to see if we have a tenancy deposit scheme website. Terri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 If the place is cleaner than when started I don't think they'd have a leg to stand on unless your son had signed an agreement to do this. It sounds to me more like an excuse to try & hang onto some / all of their deposit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenOldie Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 How frustrating for your family when they have actually left the place cleaner than before. On the other side of the coin my son and his wife rent out a flat in Southport and are very happy for tenants to have pets. Their last tenant, however, was a single businesswoman and she left the flat in a terrible state, not only not very clean but was obviously a very heavy smoker and it took my son ages to do a surface clean followed by a professional clean before the flat could be rented out again. Thankfully their new tenant appears to be as good as your son and his partner have been in caring for the property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 Glad to be of help. Had I been closer i would have popped around with machine or two. I might be completely wrong about this but the collective wisdom around me here seems to think that the Deposit scheme has yet to be set up in Scotland as it is waiting for the relevant laws. Most enlightened landlords are operating a "no blame" system now rather than a deposit, becasue so many pro companies offer specialised End Of Tenancy Deals . Its an economy of scale I suppose. In my area its really cheap because we have carpet firms that will do a New tenant deal and provide carpet a whole house for £299. This all makes sense because " clean" is a bit like politics evryone has a different idea. Although I do not rent now , I am involved with the Lets for Pets idea, which can involve a guaranted EOT.Petclean , for landlords starting to allow pets as a free service. This generates enough paid work to easily cover the occasional freeby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ailsas mum Posted August 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Thanks again everyone, you've been brilliant . They've at last got around to reading the contract and I think we're okay, they say the flat has to be cleaned to a professional standard and gives a list of companies, it doesn't say it has to be done by a company. I do loads of cleaning to I hope a high standard ( I own my own B&B ) and my other son's partner has a couple of cleaning jobs so between us we should manage to do a good job. They haven't even used the flats beds as Cady had her cot and Ewan and Janet took their own mattress with them. Lester your right about the deposit scheme I couldn't find one in existence up here. Now all I have to do is get rooms ready for them moving in . Terri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Glad its all working out. " professional standard " is the usual coverall or get out clause. I am sure you will be all right ,B and B standards should more than qualify. Eot checks are often just a quick look around , although all Agents and ,many landlords will just open the oven. I thinks it some kind of subliminal marker that tells them everything else will be alright. ( Oven Pride ,the one with the bag, is the trick here. can be ,messy but for once in a lifetime jobs it can be quite impressive. especially on rental ovens and those belonging to single old men who live on oven chips and the occasional overflowing casserole)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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