Question about leaving a rental property

[seren_ccd]

Okay, I have a question about something that is really, really bugging me.

When I left the house I was renting, I made sure to clean it. I scrubbed the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, refrigerator, vacuumed, etc. I did everything that I could in a limited amount of time and with only my two hands.

Was it professional-grade clean? Probably not, but it was certainly liveable.

My former landlady is planning to take out £360 out of my rental deposit for the cleaning of two professional cleaners over the course of two days. Basically, she's charging me for a professional cleaning.

This is not sitting well with me. I was under the impression that landlords were obliged to clean the rental property under their own steam. There was no damage and I don't think comparing the job I did with that of professional cleaners is fair.

What does everyone else think?

Comments

[boosette.livejournal.com]

You probably only have recourse if you have move in/ move out photos, but it's worth checking renters' rights law in the place you lived to be sure. Out here you can't be charged for normal wear and tear.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

It's the same here and she's said that she isn't charging me for that. It seems like she's just charging me the cost of cleaning, as in someone else vacuuming and scrubbing things. Which seems a bit odd.

[hiddencait.livejournal.com]

Generally at the apartments and places I lived in, they use the deposit for professional and/or steam cleaning after I left on top of any repairs/wear and tear. Once I found that out after my first move out, I honestly never tried as hard to clean. Granted it may be different here in the states, but that is pretty standard. It's nuts that it's that high of a percentage, but yeah, they did tend to charge for it. I just felt lucky if I got ANY of my deposit back.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

Aw, bummer. That's probably it. I just wish I'd been informed ahead of time. I was kind of counting on that money coming back to me. Welp, looks like Ramen noodles for the rest of the month!

[hiddencait.livejournal.com]

Yeah the term "deposit" always seems to be a gimmick. They should just call it a fee and be done with it.

And hey - you can make a pretty decent stirfry outta ramen!

[shirleyann66.livejournal.com]

I've just rented my first place in 14 years, and the leasing agent told me straight up that I'll never get my full damage deposit back because they use it to hire someone to professionally steam clean the place.

Now, my memory isn't the best, but I know for a fact that they never used to do that when I was renting before. I don't know when that change came into effect, but I'm with you: if I leave the place clean (steam cleaned and everything) and undamaged, then I should get 100% of my damage deposit back.

Sigh. Looking forward to owning my own place again...and I haven't even spent a night at my rental place yet!! :D

[silveronthetree.livejournal.com]

There's a brief guide to tenancy deposits in the UK here http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/housing_e/housing_fact_sheets.htm. I've rarely had money taken out of my deposit for cleaning/damage (I do a pretty thorough clean before I leave a house) and when I have it was never as much as that. I'd check the details about cleaning in your tenancy agreement. How easy it will be to challenge it may depend whether your deposit was held in a deposit protection scheme but I've never really looked into it.

[platypus]

It certainly sounds excessive to imply that the place required two days of professional cleaning. I've been dinged a bit for carpet cleaning or floor waxing, but that's extreme. Is there any requirement that they itemize the things you supposedly left not clean enough?

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

Argh. It's all so frustrating.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

I've emailed my landlady and said I'd be happy to go halfsies with her on it, but that I wasn't sure the full whack was proportionate. And yes, it's in the deposit scheme. Argh.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought! I'm not the best cleaner in the world, but the place was certainly livable. We'll see!!!!

[tanyareed.livejournal.com]

When I left the last apartment I lived it, it was my responsibility to have it professionally cleaned, but it was specifically stated in the lease when I moved in, so it wasn't a surprise. Of course, my stepfather came up to 'kidnap' me in the middle of the night a week earlier than I had planned and I didn't get it done. I called him up and told him it was okay to take the money out of my damage deposit (because it was my fault.)

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

Did you have a written lease? That's the first thing to check for requirements on leaving. If not, in my area you're only required to leave the premises in reasonably good condition - usually meaning the same way it was when you moved in minus normal wear and tear. So if you stained the carpet, it's your responsibility to have it removed; it the carpet wore out through normal use, not your problem. Anyway, I'd check with an attorney (usually the first consultation is free) or the local government (who license these landlords). Some areas also have groups for renters that handle disputes either free or for very low costs.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I've gone back to her and have said that I'd be happy to split the cost of the clean, but that I wasn't comfortable with owing the entire amount. We'll see how things go... :D

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

See I'd be perfectly fine with that kind of situation, this one just seems to have come out of the blue. Argh!

[miera-c.livejournal.com]

No. They should not be taking that much money out unless there was damage to the apartment that you caused. Cleaning and painting should be the owner's expense, not yours, unless there was excessive dirt or damage. I've gotten all or almost all of every security deposit I ever made back because I never left damage behind. That's not right.

[seren-ccd.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought. At the very least, they should have notified us at the beginning that this is what they wanted to do. I'm in the midst of negotiations, so hopefully we can come to a happy medium. Ugh. This just makes me want my own house.