To cut a long story short - My tenancy ended on 23/06/07. The landlord has had the place professionally cleaned and billed me for it, when I had cleaned the place myself from top to toe (I left it SPOTLESS) - an inventory was even carried out and NOWHERE was it marked that anything needed attention with regards to cleaning. Everything was agreed as clean and in good condition.
SO my questions are:
1) Havent I done my part as a tenant?
2) What is the law with regards to my deposit - can the landlord charge for things so petty, and things which it seems are more centered on his taste and opinion?
3) Should I not have been informed that I was going to be charged for these things before the landlord went ahead and got these services at my expense? Should this have not been discussed with me so that perhaps I could have atleast found cheaper services? (if I agreed this wasn't complete rubbish)
WHAT DO I DO? :(
2007-07-14 08:14:48 · 15 answers · asked by Layla 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Oh and did I mention that the gardening costs included removing rubbish bags which I had left outside for the bin man????
Midnite rambler, I would deifnitely refuse to pay but the thing is that they are witholding my deposit (the agency). They sent me invoices with the charges incurred and a cheque for £600!!!! My deposit was £900 - £75 was for a chechout fee which I agreed to in the contract so that part is okay.... but I was charged £65 for cleaning and £165 for gardening!
2007-07-14 08:27:25 · update #1
Get on to citizens advice.
He is trying it on, and you have to put him in his place. If, at the inventory and final inspection (and there was nothing in your tenancy agreement) it was agreed that the house was in an acceptable state and was cleaned then he hasnt got a leg to stand on.
First stop should be citizens advice, then assuming their experts agree, then get a solicitor.
2007-07-14 23:48:09 · answer #1 · answered by futuretopgun101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you did a walk through and you have a copy of the paperwork that says that everything was acceptable then you should not have to pay for the cleaning of the apartment. I have never heard of the grounds keeping charge unless you agreed to it on the lease. You would win in small claims court, but with small claims for Washington State anyway you can get a judgment but you have to take further steps to recover the judgment, IE back to court to garnish wages or put a lien on the property. As a renter you should always take your own photos prior to moving in and moving out to show the condition of the dwelling as you received it and as you left it. Be professional get all things in writing and for gosh sakes read the content of the lease you are signing. The more you indicate you know your rights the less likely the landlord is to try to make money off you for your ignorance.
2007-07-14 08:36:19 · answer #2 · answered by T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who is to say what's clean and what's not. My experience is that landlords will do everything possible to get out of returning a deposit. Have they really employed professional cleaners anyway, or are they just trying it on? Ask for copy of the bill or receipt. They might climb down if they think they've got a fight on their hands. I ad a similar thing years ago, when I used a professional firm to come in and steam clean all carpets etc, and the landlords said they had to employ someone to do the same. I refused to pay and threatened to take court action if they pursued their claim. They in turn threatened me to counter claim but nothing came of it in the end.
2007-07-19 22:01:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless it says so in your contract he cant charge you for this, unless you left the place in a mess. If it was clean you did your part. You should get your deposit back less what he has to replace eg broken stuff. He cant take your deposit and use it to change things from how they were when you moved in.
2007-07-14 08:19:15 · answer #4 · answered by jeanimus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you got it in writing that it was agreed?
I would challenge it and issue a writ for what you do not owe in the small claims Court. This is a trick a lot of landlords play. do not bbe suprised if you do not win, but you may come to an acceptable agreement. Get it in writing
2007-07-14 10:31:26 · answer #5 · answered by Scouse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it sounds like he is just being picky, but honestly what can you do about it? Are you going to take him to court and spend even more money?
You're annoyed of course (and you should be!) but I think this is one of those things you'll just have to put down to experience I'm afraid :(
Try to let it go and save yourself the stress xox
2007-07-14 08:22:09 · answer #6 · answered by Fairy Nuff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well hes ripped you off ....afraid its your word against his
always go through an estate agent rather then direct
in the UK laws are changing regarding deposits they need to put into a goverment scheme so its not spent
however if your telling the truth you should fight for your right
not sure where it will get you
2007-07-14 08:24:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
refuse to pay,
my present landlord tried to get me to agree to
pay maintenance charges for the outside of the property after i had signed tenancy agreement just to pay for the rent,
he then turned up with a new tenancy agreement
which included maintenace charges,
i refused to sign and he just walked out,
aint seen the bandit since,,,,<)
2007-07-14 08:22:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I left my rented property we cleaned the carpets & they take it out of your rent which I think is a bloody cheek. I think landlords are like dentists. Rip off merchants.
2007-07-14 08:24:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure what sum of money was involved, but as a practical matter, it may cost you more than it would be worth to pursue a remedy. good luck.
2007-07-14 11:05:05 · answer #10 · answered by billnzan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋