landlords and landladies, I object!

Jafar

Some observations!

I'm renting my 6th place since I moved back to Dublin and I can honestly say that I have not once recieved my entire deposite back. I think it's wrong to call in a deposite because that implies that it's refundable when clearly it's not.

I love the way no matter how many hours I 've spent cleaning the place the way the 'boss' (who isn't biased) has the right to decide that it needs to be cleaned by professionals afterwards at a cost of between 120 and 200 quid.

I love the way the carpets always need to be cleaned at a similar cost too.

I love that it's not enough that you are paying someones mortgage but they still feel the need to screw you out of more money for cost like these when you leave. I mean it's not like you're going to need the money for a future deposite once you leave the place.

I also love the way you are looked down on and treated with no respect just because you're the one forking the money out. What a fantastic world we live in.

Now excuse me while I go and get my tongue surgically removed from my cheek!

echomadman

I love the way no matter how many hours I 've spent cleaning the place the way the 'boss' (who isn't biased) has the right to decide that it needs to be cleaned by professionals afterwards at a cost of between 120 and 200 quid

In general if the landlords a prick, I wouldn't bother doing this as I know he's not going to refund deposit anyway.

I also make sure that the carpets etc. really do need cleaning , have an open bottle of red wine around, as soon as this line is trotted out accidentally knock it over, then breeze off saying, "oh well It's a good thing you were having that carpet professionally cleaned isnt it."

uberwolf

there was commentary on this in the accom forum and one of the interesting things someone suggested was taking photo's when you move in to prove that any damage that exists predates you. The same thing could apply to cleaniless. Post the photo's to yourself and don't open them.

Sleipnir

just don't pay the last months rent. Did that twice in the past.

hedgetrimmer

I think some landlords are the same all over the world - but here in Brussels they have a system where when you go into a place, you do a check list, and list every small teeny bit of damage, sign it, signed by the landlord/ mange,ent company, and then the list is gone through just before you leave. Any damage recorded is removed from any claim of damage done during your stay there, and you only pay for the balance.

All legal, above board, etc

Ajnag

Also ask for the reciepts of any services the landlord claims to have spent your deposit on.

Sleepy

I'd be with Sleipnir on this. If you think your deposit is in any danger whatsoever, and your deposit is a months rent, just don't pay your last months rent. Phone the landlord tell him you're giving him the months notice, don't pay rent for that month and scarper. If he does come back at you for "damages", he's unlikely to go top court about it and more so, even more unlikely to find any satisfaction in a courtroom.

Threshold are very usefull in circumstances like these: www.threshold.ie

ClareBear

When I moved in to my apartment, I had to give the guy that was moving out 500 euro. And when I move out I'll get 500 euro off the next person, that's the way it works. Seems like a good enough idea?

ToxicPaddy

Originally posted by ClareBear
When I moved in to my apartment, I had to give the guy that was moving out 500 euro. And when I move out I'll get 500 euro off the next person, that's the way it works. Seems like a good enough idea?

Thats all fine if you are the only one moving out.. but if everyone is leaving at the
same time, this isnt an option..

I like the idea about the photographs before you move in and documenting all
damage.. but i think there must be some come back on landlords who try to screw
all those staying there with the same excuses about carpets being cleaned etc etc..

Maybe threatening to report them for tax evasion if they arent declaring the rental
income... a good way to check this out is to ask for their PPS no saying you want to
claim tax relief for rental income and see what they say.. if they refuse then chances
are that they arent declaring it.. im sure the thoughts of the taxman breathing down
their next would make them stump up the cash quick enuff..

Tox

ToxicPaddy

And then even when they do cough up the deposit, report them anyway just for being an assh*le..

Tox

Sleepy

That was very effective for the UCG Students Union a few years back. Every time someone came to the SU with a landlord problem it was the first thing we asked: is he registered. Most don't seem to be.

FFS even Frank Fahy wasn't and he was a damn minister!

Hobbes

In the US they seem a bit more civilised about renting (least in Boston).

You have to have a landlords CV showing where you stayed before and that you didn't do any crazy stuff like set fire to the place or skip out from paying. You also need proof you can pay the rent.

As for deposit although some landlords will avoid doing it, you are supposed to do a walkthrough.

The day you move in write details of everything that is broken and needs fixing (take pictures if required) then sign and keep a copy and give the other to the landlord.

After that you should only be required to fix what you broke. If the place was a sh!thole when you moved in you should not be required to pay for cleaning if they did not do it to you.

I was a bit surprised a lot of places didn't do this, some expect you to fork over 400+ without proof you even gave them any cash.

TwoShedsJackson

Landlords can get away with that crap here because tenants let them. Thankfully with rents coming down and people getting pickier they may also realise that the flat you're renting isn't some gift from Allah that you should be thanking the heavens for.

It's a business transaction and yuo need to watch yourself or you're going to get screwed.

empirix

what do you mean they don't give back the deposit. When the time comes I better get back my deposit or the man will know all about it(Serious).

simu

I love the way no matter how many hours I 've spent cleaning the place the way the 'boss' (who isn't biased) has the right to decide that it needs to be cleaned by professionals afterwards at a cost of between 120 and 200 quid.

I can't believe landlords get away with that! I mean, they're obviously going to have to do some hard core cleaning and so on before the next tenants move in - once the old tenants have cleaned up reasonably well and not damaged anything, they should get their full deposit back.

Does it happen a lot?

littleangryman

NEVER EVER EVER give the Dublin Letting Company take any money that represents a security deposit or desposit from you because if yo do you'll never get it back

The Dublin Letting Company are a bad shower of B*stards

i rented in dublin for a year and got back the full deposit even though the walls were dirty in places around the kitchen. when the landlord checked the place over he didn't say anything about it.

alot of it is sown to how good the landlord is. you should get a idea from how he deals with any problems or questions during your tennency.
as other people have said if you have your doubts about getting your deposit back don't pay the last month.

DaithiSurfer

Originally posted by uberwolf
there was commentary on this in the accom forum and one of the interesting things someone suggested was taking photo's when you move in to prove that any damage that exists predates you. The same thing could apply to cleaniless. Post the photo's to yourself and don't open them.

you could just give a copy to your landlord and keep one for yourself then both sign something to say you each have a set of photos from a certain date.

I always take pictures before someone moves in and give them a copy. Then i can see and more importantly, they can see what damage has actually been done.
As for cleaning it myself - no way - i'll pay someone if need be and the people who left it in such a state that it needed industrial cleaning will have to pay.

Spill red wine on the carpet and it means a new carpet, not a cleaning.

I have taken people to the small claims court when they owed me money. I'm not letting someone who think 'ah sure he wont take me to court' get away with oweing me money.
As for paying the last months rent - yes they will pay it or i'll throw them out on the spot. and they can go to threshold and tell them all about it. It has happened and to be honest threshhold can't do a thing about it.

I general i will give deposits back though (unless they don't deserve it). After all once someone is there a year it needs paining and cleaning anyway so you can get the most money for it in the next letting, so i was going to do it anyway so no need to keep a deposit for a mark on a wall or similar.

One thing i will take money for is cigarette burns. Smokers should be more careful.
Burns are not 'normal wear and tear'.

You don't need the landlord PPS number to report him anyway. Just his name and the address of the house.

I would even go so far as to say that people who don't claim their rent tax back are gob****es. When someone says to me 'Are you paying tax?' with a sly look.
I just say. 'Gob****e, why aren't you getting your tax back already?'
You might as well throw the money away.

I think agents are the worst for keeping deposits. i had agents work for me who kept deposits and never told me. I found out otherwise through a neighbour etc.
Needless to say i never trust agents now.