This is a longish rant, so please bear with me 
Our ex-landlord did an inspection over the weekend and has back with a loooong laundry list through their RE agent. Bear in mind that the owners and the agent had only done a thorough inspection in the first week of Feb and never complained even once about what is now contained in their laundry list.
Right, so we did everything by the book before leaving. Even had the carpets steam cleaned. Cleaned the tiles, wiped the cupboards etc etc. Mowed the lawns. Some weeds still remain. Some trees/shrubs are over grown. The state of tidiness is much better than at the start of tenancy and I have photos taken at the start of tenancy to prove this. Most of the items (scuff marks, torn drapes etc) were there from before, e.g. dusty drawers, cobwebs, weeds and fortunately I took several photos (some of which were emailed to the agent) to show the general state of untidiness at the start of our tenancy.
Now the condition report was due to be returned to the agent on 6/04/2011, however because there was no electricity, we completed the inspection only on 07/04 and sent it by email along with our photos on the morning of 07/04/2011. The agent replied saying she could not accept the report as it was a day late! In any case the condition and photos are documented on email.
Whilst I should be able to prove the scuffs and torn drapes easily, the toilet seats are discoloured (yellowish) due to age and obviously not pristine white. They are clean, just yellowish with age (about 12-15 years old with over a dozen tenants)
A part of the owners report [cut and pasted] reads as follows:
Carpet a few bits of debris on carpet. (the carpets were steam cleaned!!)
Skirting boards all dusty.
Dusty window sills
Wardrobes have bits of debris on floor and shelves not wiped properly (these were wiped!!).
Cleaning rag beside spa bath
Venetian blinds dusty (photos to prove they were bent and dusty when we moved in)
Vanity needs wiping out Scrap of paper inside. (have been wiped!!)
Counter top not properly wiped Bit sticky. (Have been wiped, used the lavender germ killer stuff, so probably a bit sticky in places?)
Some debris on floor where 'fridge resided
Cupboard shelves not wiped or poorly wiped.
Tiny grains of debris in drawers. (Tiny grains??? This is funny, as I have photos to show just how filthy they were when we moved in)
We have removed the weeds however garden not completely weed free. But I have some photos to show that there were weeds even at the start of the tenancy, although I haven't photographed every corner of the garden.
The agent/owners wants to get it "thoroughly cleaned professionally" and will deduct the money from our bond.
Can they deduct money from the bond for 'dusty' window sills, skirting boards, over grown shrubs (they were trimmed but I guess I was scared of cutting it off too much) etc?
I will be sending them an email along with the photos.
Here are some (we have over 150!) pictures taken at the start of our tenancy to give you an idea of what the place looked like before, during and at the end of our tenancy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70172205@N02/sets/
So what happens next? Will they rip me off and try to get the house cleaned 'professionally' at my expense?? I am going to fight this tooth and nail as I truly believe that the house is much cleaner than it was before.
Any advice? What are my chances of losing some of my bond money?
Our ex-landlord did an inspection over the weekend and has back with a loooong laundry list through their RE agent. Bear in mind that the owners and the agent had only done a thorough inspection in the first week of Feb and never complained even once about what is now contained in their laundry list.
Right, so we did everything by the book before leaving. Even had the carpets steam cleaned. Cleaned the tiles, wiped the cupboards etc etc. Mowed the lawns. Some weeds still remain. Some trees/shrubs are over grown. The state of tidiness is much better than at the start of tenancy and I have photos taken at the start of tenancy to prove this. Most of the items (scuff marks, torn drapes etc) were there from before, e.g. dusty drawers, cobwebs, weeds and fortunately I took several photos (some of which were emailed to the agent) to show the general state of untidiness at the start of our tenancy.
Now the condition report was due to be returned to the agent on 6/04/2011, however because there was no electricity, we completed the inspection only on 07/04 and sent it by email along with our photos on the morning of 07/04/2011. The agent replied saying she could not accept the report as it was a day late! In any case the condition and photos are documented on email.
Whilst I should be able to prove the scuffs and torn drapes easily, the toilet seats are discoloured (yellowish) due to age and obviously not pristine white. They are clean, just yellowish with age (about 12-15 years old with over a dozen tenants)
A part of the owners report [cut and pasted] reads as follows:
Carpet a few bits of debris on carpet. (the carpets were steam cleaned!!)
Skirting boards all dusty.
Dusty window sills
Wardrobes have bits of debris on floor and shelves not wiped properly (these were wiped!!).
Cleaning rag beside spa bath
Venetian blinds dusty (photos to prove they were bent and dusty when we moved in)
Vanity needs wiping out Scrap of paper inside. (have been wiped!!)
Counter top not properly wiped Bit sticky. (Have been wiped, used the lavender germ killer stuff, so probably a bit sticky in places?)
Some debris on floor where 'fridge resided
Cupboard shelves not wiped or poorly wiped.
Tiny grains of debris in drawers. (Tiny grains??? This is funny, as I have photos to show just how filthy they were when we moved in)
We have removed the weeds however garden not completely weed free. But I have some photos to show that there were weeds even at the start of the tenancy, although I haven't photographed every corner of the garden.
The agent/owners wants to get it "thoroughly cleaned professionally" and will deduct the money from our bond.
Can they deduct money from the bond for 'dusty' window sills, skirting boards, over grown shrubs (they were trimmed but I guess I was scared of cutting it off too much) etc?
I will be sending them an email along with the photos.
Here are some (we have over 150!) pictures taken at the start of our tenancy to give you an idea of what the place looked like before, during and at the end of our tenancy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70172205@N02/sets/
So what happens next? Will they rip me off and try to get the house cleaned 'professionally' at my expense?? I am going to fight this tooth and nail as I truly believe that the house is much cleaner than it was before.
Any advice? What are my chances of losing some of my bond money?
