It’s no great surprise that disputes over cleanliness are the top of the list of all disputes in the UK private rental sector; and reports say that the problem just seems to be getting worse.
Last year’s review by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) revealed that complaints about cleaning rose from 49 per cent in 2009 to 56 per cent in 2013 – the highest levels since 2007 when the TDS was introduced.
Landlords and letting agents have reported seeing a growing number of properties that are in need of professional cleaning services once a tenant has moved out, and that a general lack of respect for the homes they are living in combined with questionable hygiene levels has left some landlords with no option but to get their property sorted out by a professional cleaning service before they can even think of letting it out to another tenant.
Many tenants don’t see a need to leave a property in the same condition they found it – and some leave their former homes in what can only be described as a filthy state. Stains and marks on carpets are a major problem, as are dirty bathrooms, pet hair and excrement on floors, furniture and soft furnishings.
Tenants are often shocked that their landlords charge them for the costs of getting their properties habitable, claiming that the issues they left behind are simply down to ‘reasonable wear and tear’.
According to the TDS, when a tenant moves out, they should be made aware of any cleaning issues that have arisen, and how much it’s likely to cost of the problems aren’t rectified. Stained and marked carpets are a really common bone of contention, and one that crafty tenants like to try and hide with rugs and furniture, although savvy landlords know to check everywhere. In some extreme cases, tenants have even been known to try and hide stains by cutting them out and filling the hole in the carpet with carpet from an area that’s hidden, such as under the bed!
At the end of the day, if you’re left with a house that’s been less than looked-after by ungrateful tenants, sometimes you just have to call in the experts to get the house back up to scratch so that another tenant can move in. At least there are reputable professional cleaning companies like 1st Choice Chemdry to help make your property good as new once again.
If it’s happened to you – give our friendly team a call and we’ll see how we can help.
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