We are currently 5 weeks into a 6 month house let. We found the property through the normal channels, i.e. through a property rental agency, however, the owners are 'managing' it themselves. The rental agency's part in the arrangement was to merely show us the property, pass on our request for the property to be cleaned prior to our moving in, take receipt of the deposit and 6 month rent in advance from us, preparation of the AST agreement, hand over of keys. Having done all of that, the LL is now self managing.
1) To cut a long story short, the house was not cleaned (which the L/lady admitted to me she could not find a cleaner in time!). I rang the rental agency and was told that even though they did ask LL to clean the property, it is not their responsibility as LL self-manages. Do I have any come back on the agency in this regard?
2) The deposit of £1500 was paid (together with 6 months rent in advance of £7800) We have not heard anything about where deposit is being held. I believe this should have been reported to us within first two weeks.
3) The fridge actually took me five hours (yes 5) to clean. The mould had to be soaked off in the bath with dishwasher powder. The oven is not much better and I have yet to cook a proper meal in it. The dials are unreadable, due to the dirt/age.
My question is, the AST agreement states we are to pay for any cleaning services that may be required to reinstate property to the same order it was provided at the commencement of the tenancy. Well, that will be zero expense, in fact I may need to dirty it up a little! Sarcasm aside, there has been no inventory prepared as to the state of the property, so I am currently preparing one myself. Would any of you care to advise if you think this is the right thing to do? My intention is to ask the landlord to sign a copy which we both have copies of. The AST even calls for the windows to be cleaned prior to vacation. They were not cleaned for our arrival, so am I within my rights not to ignore that point too?
I am getting really depressed about the general uncleanliness of the property we have moved into and am worried that we will be made to bring it up to a standard which it was never in to begin with, in order that the LL can then place it on the market in 6 months time.
What are my rights as a tenant, dealing with a LL who self manages and seems quite frankly very laid back about it all at the moment, but may well turn out to be a) forgetful about the way he left the property and b) unfairly demanding about what condition he expects it to be handed back in.
Depressed of Northants
1) To cut a long story short, the house was not cleaned (which the L/lady admitted to me she could not find a cleaner in time!). I rang the rental agency and was told that even though they did ask LL to clean the property, it is not their responsibility as LL self-manages. Do I have any come back on the agency in this regard?
2) The deposit of £1500 was paid (together with 6 months rent in advance of £7800) We have not heard anything about where deposit is being held. I believe this should have been reported to us within first two weeks.
3) The fridge actually took me five hours (yes 5) to clean. The mould had to be soaked off in the bath with dishwasher powder. The oven is not much better and I have yet to cook a proper meal in it. The dials are unreadable, due to the dirt/age.
My question is, the AST agreement states we are to pay for any cleaning services that may be required to reinstate property to the same order it was provided at the commencement of the tenancy. Well, that will be zero expense, in fact I may need to dirty it up a little! Sarcasm aside, there has been no inventory prepared as to the state of the property, so I am currently preparing one myself. Would any of you care to advise if you think this is the right thing to do? My intention is to ask the landlord to sign a copy which we both have copies of. The AST even calls for the windows to be cleaned prior to vacation. They were not cleaned for our arrival, so am I within my rights not to ignore that point too?
I am getting really depressed about the general uncleanliness of the property we have moved into and am worried that we will be made to bring it up to a standard which it was never in to begin with, in order that the LL can then place it on the market in 6 months time.
What are my rights as a tenant, dealing with a LL who self manages and seems quite frankly very laid back about it all at the moment, but may well turn out to be a) forgetful about the way he left the property and b) unfairly demanding about what condition he expects it to be handed back in.
Depressed of Northants

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