Landlord uses deposit for professional cleaner - ever happened?

PaddyofNine

We recently moved out of rented accomodation at the end of our fixed term lease to move closer to work. However we're having trouble with the letting agency, and I'm fairly certain we're being screwed by them.

Basically they begged us to stay in the house - we politely declined - and they sent a letter before we moved out saying the house had to be cleaned to good standard before we left, or else they'd get in professional cleaners and take it out of our deposit. There are certainly one or two items that we're happy to pay for - a piece of wood kitchen panelling that came off the fridge door, for example, but after living in rented accomodation for many years this I'm shocked by their behaviour. The house was in good condition when we left, and indeed we spent a week coming home early from work to hoover, mop up and generally clean it. There were a few stains on the carpet and so on but nothing apart from normal wear and tear from three professionals living in it for two years. They've told us we should have cleaned, for example:

(this is the abbreviated list)

* Carpets will have to be cleaned professionally
* Toilet has heavy scaling and will require cleaning.
* The oven was left in a very poor condition and will require professional cleaning. (My housemate spent two hours cleaning this the week before)
* The fridge was completely frozen and will need to be defrosted then cleaned.
* The hinges and corners of the fridge/freezer have heavy amounts of dirt and dust that will need to be cleaned.
* All kitchen utensils & cutlery, pots & pans, plates & bowels, cups and glasses will need to be removed.
* All presses and surfaces will require cleaning to remove dirt and staining. (Every press in the house was cleaned and wiped down by us!)
* The extract fans will require deep cleaning to remove heavy grease.
* The washing machine glass window and rubber seal will require cleaning to remove the build up of dirt and silt.
* The dining table will require a surface clean & polish and a clean in the gaps of the centre divider. (we kept a sheet over this for two years and never took it off in order to avoid damaging the table!)
* All book shelves and presses will need to be cleaned out.
* The coffee table will require a surface clean & polish.
* The arms of the sofa and arm chairs will need to be cleaned to remove heavy dark staining. (we took all the covers of cushions etc off the furniture, washed it, and remarked what a pity it was that the arms looked so dirty next to them and we couldn't clean them!)
* There are burn marks and a build up of soot on the inside of the fire place that will need to be removed.

They put the estimated cleaning time at 18 - 24 hours, + Windows + Oven. (!)

Anyone had a situation like this before? Beyond normal wear and tear, I thought that it's up to them to clean the house to a standard that they want it letted at? I just feel that after us being problem-free tenants for the last few years, this company is taking everything they can....

Anyone any opinions?

stepbar

Have you allowed them to view the house and make an assessment?

wyndham

PaddyofNine wrote: »

* There are burn marks and a build up of soot on the inside of the fire place that will need to be removed.

This has to be a wind-up. Imagine, burn marks on the inside of a fireplace!!

Scam artists.

hobochris

I'd be talking to the prtb about this and informing the landlord that you intend to pursue this matter further with the prtb and proceed down a legal route.

Sounds like the landlord doesnt have your full deposit.

ballsymchugh

it sounds like letting agents just have a list of things to send out after tenants move out. it's a pity you didn't have a camera to take photos of it when you moved in, but who'd have thought to worry about the seal on a washing machine in fairness?
i thought the whole point of the design of the seal was to collect dirt and silt in a way in which it's easy to remove??!
estate agents are falling on hard times...

asdasd

Dont pay, and go to small claims court. you will esily win.

rcdk1

PaddyofNine wrote: »

Beyond normal wear and tear, I thought that it's up to them to clean the house to a standard that they want it letted at?

Every lease/contract will have a clause saying that you must leave the house in a suitable condition:
e.g.
3.9 Immediately before handing up possession of the premises on the termination of this Agreement to thoroughly clean all cookers, fridge, sanitary apparatus and other appliances and all carpets, floor coverings and furnishings and to deliver up same in a sound and clean condition, fair wear and tear excepted; provided always that breach of this condition shall entitle the Landlord to deduct the cost of cleaning the premises from the Security Deposit.

wyndham wrote: »

This has to be a wind-up. Imagine, burn marks on the inside of a fireplace!!

Scam artists.

That is taking the piss alright.

ballsymchugh wrote: »

it sounds like letting agents just have a list of things to send out after tenants move out. it's a pity you didn't have a camera to take photos of it when you moved in

No. 1 rule for both tenants and landlords: photograph everything at the start and end of the tenancy.

asdasd wrote: »

Dont pay, and go to small claims court. you will esily win.

Just to be pedantic, the small claims courts don't deal with tenancy issues, you have to go through the PRTB (http://www.prtb.ie)

johndaman66

How much money is proposed to be held back by the letting agency for this cleaning? As a general rule if ye leave the place as ye found it, ye should expect to receive the deposit paid back. There would have to be provision made for what one would expect normal wear and tear to be after two years occupying the property and taking into consideration the number of people who lived in it when deciding what is normal and tear. Account would also need to be taken for outstanding electricity bill, bins, TV license etc.

Can this letting agent be named and shamed or is that against the rules?

MCMT

As most have already stated, it's a shame you didn't take pictures of the place at the beginning and end of your contract.

But as many of their claims appear ludicrous, you might be best sending them a letter threatening the PRTB if they don't amend those costs. Likewise, speak with someone in Threshold. They'll also put a little heat under them.

threshold.ie

athtrasna

From a landlord's point of view... our last tenants insisted they left the house in better condition than they got it in - forgetting that the spotless carpets were so heavily soiled it took 2 rounds of cleaning, a 10" x 5" hole in a wall, the broken table, dirt and grime everywhere, bags of rubbish filling the garden, not to mention the scribbling on almost every wall...

Photographs are vital! If you don't have them it's very difficult to prove as it's your word against the agent.

RedPlanet

athtrasna wrote: »

From a landlord's point of view...

Photographs are vital! If you don't have them it's very difficult to prove as it's your word against the agent.

Regardless of that comment, the OP should pursue this without delay.
The letting agency are clearly taking the piss.
I bet the court will see it that way too.

gdael

We've got that **** several times after moving. It seems to be standard when you move out at the end of a lease. Just more money grabbing. Thanks god the days of renting are nearly over. But im expecting this again when i move out.

Borderfox

It does seem ridiculous, I had tenants and they wrecked the house but your stuff seems over-exaggrated and they do look like they are clutching at straws

yan

why dont you say the name of the letting agent?

it is about time that all the scams that are still left on the market have to get the publicity they deserve!

asdasd

Naming people can put Boards at risk. so dont. Unless you win a case.

Borderfox

Slander laws in Ireland are very strict even if you win a case against a company/person.