Deposit refund - £550 Cleaning Cost

[Barmy]

Finding out some information on behalf of a friend.

 

My friend recently moved out of his rented house after a split with his partner. He had no rent arrears. He gave a months notice as required by his agreement.

 

He spent 2 days cleaning the house from top to bottom, but when the land lady came round the first thing she said apparently was that the house was filthy and in a disgusting state.

Which my friend was shocked and informed her that he had just spent 2 days cleaning the house.

 

Fast forward 2 weeks of calls and texts in regards to getting his deposit back. He eventually received a text message that she was deducting £550 from his deposit to cover her costs of cleaning the house - yes, that's her own costs for her and her husbands time to supposedly clean the house.

She has also made no mention of the extra £100 deposit she asked for when he inquired about having a pet dog. He paid this then waited for the date he could bring the dog back home.

He kept the text messages from the land lady in regards to this extra payment.

He also suspects this was'nt payed into the deposit holding account as he thought it would, but that she kept the money herself.

 

She has yet to provide an invoice or even any proof that she cleaned the house again, and my friend has said he refuses to agree to anything until he see's why it has cost so much.

 

In short, it appears she is trying it on thinking that she can while he is low after his relationship break-up. So where does he stand here?

 

The deposit is in a holding account. and i believe he has to agree to the deductions to get the the remainder of the money? - I don't rent so im not sure if i heard him correct.

 

But surely someone cannot say that £550 is a reasonable cost for cleaning a terraced house?!

 

Also, seeing as she says there was £550 worth of cleaning. Would'nt she have to have taken before and after pictures?

Edited March 10, 2013 by Barmy
To add another question

[mariner51]

Pictures are not required (tho advaisable), only detailed before/after inspection reports in writing. Some may argue additional pet bond is not part of the T deposit, just the price for LL permitting pets or to defray any additional pet related cleaning/damage.

LL is not required to submit invoices, only reasonable estimates for rectification.

If LL is not prepared to negotiate, your friend's only recourse is DPS ADR or SCC when LL will be required to substantiate her claim based on avail evidence ie move in/out inspections.

I take it that after the break up all joint Ts/occupants vacated T on/by due date?

[The Carpet Cleaners]

Was there a move in inventory? If not then LL has a hard job to prove any cleaning needed.

[Barmy]

Yes there was an inventory.

 

So there's a chance he will have to bite the bullet on this?

That's unbelievable that you can do this as a landlord. In theory I could rent out a house, say im not happy with level of cleaning, and then charge my own rates for my time! Crazy!

 

Does the fact that he decorated the house (with permission) because the house was in pretty poor condition not help him? - there was paint peeling off the banister and the boarders. So he re-painted them in gloss white. He also painted the living room and kitchen.

So technically, the house is in better condition than he moved in.

[mariner51]

"That's unbelievable that you can do this as a landlord. In theory I could rent out a house, say im not happy with level of cleaning, and then charge my own rates for my time! Crazy!"

That's not what either of us said. It is for the Adj/Judge to determine if LLs claim is 'reasonable' based on evidence provided. The onus is on LL to provide.

If Ts re-painting was to a suitable standard, Adj should make allowance if Ts efforts are drawn to his attention.

He accepted T 'as provided', LL allowed him to improve at own cost. Many would not.

[Steve__M]

Your friend needs to find out the procedures for disputing the LL claim.

 

The deposit protection company will provide a free resolution service if your friend and LL are happy to use it.