Agents insisting we use their contractors for carpet cleaning

[danielson81]

Dont know if anyone can help, basically my cousin just moved out of a flat, and the agency isnt happy they didnt use there instructed contractors and they want to reclean the carpets.

 

Can they insist you use there contractors?

 

Excahange of emails below, may explain more.

 

Thanks

enc

 

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From: Tenant

Sent: 07 July 2010

To: Letting Agents

Dear Letting Agent:

 

Many thanks for the attached Checkout Report.

 

With reference to the table (p.6):

 

Room /Item

Pet addendum

Description – Repairs/Dilapidations

Tenant had a dog and had signed a pet addendum. At end of tenancy he has had the carpets professionally steam clean and de infested and invoice has been provided. However this was meant to be carried out by contractors instructed b y the agent, as worded in the addendum. Landlord please advise if your require further de infestation to be carried out as a precaution?

 

TT – as a precautionary measure the carpets will be re-treated for fleas as have no guarantee with outside contractors

 

Room /Item

Kitchen

Description – Repairs/Dilapidations

Salad draw in fridge had cracks to bottom at start of tenancy and is now in two half’s, see photo. Window roller blind had a control cord at start to raise and lower it, this is now missing, see photo.

TT

 

We agree the roller-blind control cord is missing and should be replaced.

 

Unfortunately we do not agree with the following:

 

1.Pet Addendum - The Contractor we used found no evidence of flea infestation; however as a precautionary measure and as a gesture of goodwill we paid for the carpet treatment anyway.

2.Pet Addendum - We did not receive a copy of the Pet Addendum and were not aware of an approved list of contractors as mentioned above.

3.Kitchen - The fact the salad drawer was cracked when we moved in and then broke (in daily-usage over the course of a year) would suggest it’s attributable to fair wear and tear as it simply wore out due to the previous damage.

 

Hopefully we can reach a compromise on the issues above. Please be assured we took great care and attention in getting the property ready for the next tenant and – whilst we fully understand you have to charge for broken or missing items, the items above do seem unfair given the circumstances. This is compounded by the fact that, due to lino being fitted incorrectly after we moved in, we have already to gift our washing machine to the Landlord and now have to purchase a new one.

 

Finally, can I state that reason we moved were the damp and dangerous plugs in the living room, these were reported several times to Property Management since Christmas 2010 and nothing was done, these are captured in the Checkout Report images and we sincerely hope they will be repaired for the next tenant(s).

 

I look forward to your response.

 

Regards,

 

Tenants

 

 

 

 

From: Letting Agent

Sent: 06 July 2010 16:23

To: Tenant

 

Subject: Correspondence from Letting Agent

 

Dear Tenants

 

 

Re:

 

The inventory checkout has been completed at the above property and the findings of the Inventory Clerk are contained within the attached Checkout Report.

 

All items identified as being your responsibility in accordance with the terms of the Tenancy Agreement, will be charged to your Tenancy Deposit and the balance, if any, will be refunded directly into the bank account you have nominated.

 

If you intend to dispute or disagree with any of the issues raised in the Report then the following action should be taken:

 

1.Inform us immediately of your intentions.

2.Any undisputed sums will be refunded to you in accordance with the requirements of The Dispute Service.

3.If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached You must instigate a dispute with The Dispute Service, their contact details are:

The Dispute Service, P O Box 1255 Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 9GN

Tel: 0845 226 7837, Fax: 01442 253193, Email: deposits@tds.gb.com

. The disputed sums will continue to be held by us as Stakeholder pending instruction from The Dispute Service to send the monies to them for adjudication.

4. The Dispute Service will only adjudicate on a dispute within a maximum period of 180 days from the end of the Tenancy.

 

The Tenancy Deposit is held by us as Stakeholder and protected by The Dispute Service.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries on 01273 744880 or city.pmd@leaders.co.uk.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Letting Agent

Encl. Check out report

Edited July 9, 2010 by danielson81