How clean is your house

[Andy Hamilton]

I posted this as a myspace blog, but thought it was quite fitting here too.

I must admit I am not the tidiest of people, nor is my girlfriend so between us we do tend to let the housework slip. After having trouble with the electrics and repeatedly reporting it to the letting agent they decided to do something about it and so some bloke from the agency turned up a couple of days ago (Tuesday) unannounced. He asked me if the trouble with the light fittings was because I had not changed the light bulbs , I looked at him gone out and assured him that I knew how to change a light bulb. He then went onto moan about the state of the house.

This escalated when he told the boss of the letting agency. She phoned and said she would be around today (2 days later) to check the place out. Great I thought plenty of time to sort the place out. Emma was due to leave on Tuesday night to visit her Mum in Edinburgh so she and I did what we could and we managed to get the house looking a little better, thinking that I could finish off on the following day.

Knock on the door the next day and it was boss lady saying that she was so worried about the house that she had to come herself early. Armed with a digital camera she went around the house and took loads of snaps and repeatedly moaned at me for letting the place get into such a state, out of the 180 properties this (despite one days worth of cleaning) this was the worst that she had ever seen, how could I live like this blah, blah, blah - then she started to threaten eviction. She told me about all these wonderful chemicals that I should be using around my house and left saying she would return in 24 hours to assess if we needed professional cleaners to come round.

It was about 10.30am when she left and I set to work with vinegar, lemons and bicarbonate of soda.

The vinegar seemed to work the best, I diluted it and used it in the bathroom, on woodwork and on the windows. I used white vinegar which I got from the local greengrocer (£2 for 5 liters). I have made the mistake in the past of using malt vinegar on white surfaces, it can leave a bit of a stain.

Mostly used lemon juice in the kitchen to get out the more stubborn stains, good tip to clean the microwave is to stick half a lemon in a small bowl of water and zap it for 30 seconds (thanks to whoever posted this a while back). The grease seems to drop off after that. Actually when I say the stubborn stains the black marks that you can get around your hob top took a bit more to get rid of and I used bicarb for those. Sprinkled it on and scrubbed away with a damp cloth or wire wool.

Well I was up until 5am last night (this morning) cleaning away, muttering to myself about the injustice of it all. I then got up at 9am to finish off and it is all done now and I am absolutely knackered. Still waiting for the boss lady to turn up and see what it going on. Fingers crossed we won't get evicted the house is sparkling from top to bottom without the use of a single chemical.

Well the boss lady came round after posting this on the blog and she was smiling about the state of the house this time. She intends to do a monthly inspection for the next two months and as long as it is kept to this standard no eviction. She stipulated that we have to steam clean the carpets and get some of the marks off the wallpaper but a big no to the professional cleaners and extra chemicals.

She did say that I should use cif on the marks on the walls but is there a chemical free way that won't take off the wallpaper? Also is steam cleaning the only way to get the carpets clean?

[wulf]

Steam is pretty natural. The only problem is caused by the marks left by the fire from where you heat your water pot...

Wulf

[Andy Hamilton]

Steam is pretty natural. The only problem is caused by the marks left by the fire from where you heat your water pot...

Wulf

Natural indeed, but I was thinking about how much electricity is used. Mind you I am sure if you were to calculate the amount of energy used by getting me the food needed to give me the energy to scrub by hand it might not be that far off.

[Cassiepod]

I'd check the terms of your lease because (usually) she can't just march in on you unannounced! I'd be more irate at that than being asked to clean up

We used to have quarterly inspections with one agent and it was great for keeping the place (relatively) clean and tidy otherwise ther'e no incentive to do it. Neither myself or Rob are neat freaks and we're as bas as each other for accumulating rubbish but ti works best if there's a mutual 'enemy' to tidy up for.

[red]

I believe she is not entitled to enter your home without an appointment - should be mentioned in the terms of your lease. Usually trhere is a stated notice period before inspecting. and I believe they can only visit so many times a year...

We are very untidy - in fact I thought about taking some photos now so that when I am an OAP and social services come round and say I am not coping any more - I could show them the pictures and prove we have always lived like this

[Shirley]

We are very untidy - in fact I thought about taking some photos now so that when I am an OAP and social services come round and say I am not coping any more - I could show them the pictures and prove we have always lived like this

ROFL - I think we should do the same.

Andy - I think everyone is right and that she shouldn't arrive unannounced, but it happens... our landlord was always 'just popping in' and having a moan about something or other.

Anyway - at least she's satisfied with the hard work that you put in, and maybe she's learnt that you don't need chemicals to get things clean. As to the cif.. what kind of wallpaper do you have? How about a lick of paint?

[Muddypause]

Previous comments are right - technically, you can insist on notice of a visit in writing, giving at least 24 hours notice before the appointment, and it has to be at a 'reasonable' time, etc.

You are also entitled to peacable occupation, comfort and privacy. This means that they cannot harrass you, and frequent inspections may constitute that if they become unreasonable. These rules apply to the landlord and and agent acting on behalf of the landlord. I would certainly suggest that when the agent took photos she was invading your privacy (though actually a photograph has the knack of making everything look shinier than it actually is, so it may work against her anyway). I'd make notes of every visit, or other contact, noting dates, times, people involved, and what happened. If you start to have an ongoing problem, you have some sort of reference about the events.

But your tenancy probably has clauses in it about keeping the property clean and tidy.

It is usually best to be pragmatic about all this - there is no point in making enemies of each other if you can avoid it. And you will have to recognise that, whatever the injustice of it all, modern tenancies provide little security for tenants (I assume you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy), and in reality, if you are seen as being 'awkward' you can simply be given your notice. Unfortunately, after the initial period of the tenancy (usually six months), you can be asked to leave with a month's notice (I'm not defending these rules - I think there are advantages to both parties in having a long term secure tanancy. But this would keep house prices and rents down, and Thatcher's view of the economy didn't like that idea, so she changed the rules).

Technically the landlord cannot regain possession without a court order, which will take time and money to arrange. But doing this is a last resort - you need somewhere to live long term, and that kinda has to take a priority over all your rights.

You should find that your local council has a housing advice department or a tenancy relations advisor, with people who can give advice over the phone, or in person, and there are stacks of leaflets available about all sorts of aspects of your tenancy. The CAB can help here, too, but their resources seem to be stretched somewhat. You might like to have a wander around this site, too. Don't forget that certain tenancy rights are embodied in law, regardless of what your lease says.

And just to throw a spanner in the works - the agent clearly doesn't know squat about cleaning carpets. You can hire a proper carpet cleaner from your local hire shop. It will not use steam at all, but a fine spray of warm water. Steam would probably knacker a lot of carpets.

[the.fee.fairy]

I'm agreeing with the rest here.

After having nightmare landlords, i looked into my rights.

They state that the landlord/anyone acting as landlord (the agency) cannot enter your home, or any part of the property without giving you 24 hours notice, nor can they let anyone else in the property without sufficient notice.

The taking of photographs without your written permission is against privacy acts.

You are entitled to live in your home as you see fit. The agency/landlord cannot pass judgement on your lifestyle, nor force you to change it. The flat is your private dwelling. The only exceptions to this are when something is stipulated in the contract ie no pets, no smoking etc.

Have a word with the tenancy people at the council, or at the citizen's Advice Bureau, they'll help you.

Landlord are the scourge of the earth and deserve to be pulled through the court system in my opinion - i've lost a few deposits because 'i told you to be out by 4 and you left at 11' (bear in mind you are legally entitled to be in your home until Midnight on the last day of your lease). and because 'you didn't give me a forwarding address' (i had, he just ignored it). And, last but not least, when i was ignored after leaving the house. The landlady wanted me to stay and i couldn't afford it, so i left. She started phining me and having a go at me, then she threatened to sue me because there wasn't someone else ready to move in, and so she wanted more rent (i'd given her the month's notice as stated in the contract) - she was the one who 'weeded' the garden without asking, she took the roof-man through the house when we were out, ad she gave a load of male electricians the key to a female household while we were asleep!

So, yes, sue the arses off them for invading your privacy and breaching the contract - then do the same because they've taken pictures - after all, you're almost a celebrity now!!

[Andy Hamilton]

You are all right of course they should not have come round when they did, but they did and that is that. I did not know that taking photos was a breach of contract, good to hear that is though so if it did get messy (contractily speaking) they would work against them. She did keep saying that we were

I do like living here and in the 20 months or so we have been here this is only the second occasion that she has been round. hardly been harrassed and once 2 months have passed I doubt if we will see her again for another six months.

It is good to hear that I am not the only one with a bit of a messy house (well used to have )

[ina]

I make a point of inviting people round to visit once every few months - that forces me to get the place cleaned up!

So, all you out there - next time you get an invitation from me, don't you think that's because I want to see you in particular - it's just that the place has got so bad I can't stand living in it any more myself!

[possum]

modern tenancies provide little security for tenants (I assume you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy), and in reality, if you are seen as being 'awkward' you can simply be given your notice. Unfortunately, after the initial period of the tenancy (usually six months), you can be asked to leave with a month's notice (I'm not defending these rules - I think there are advantages to both parties in having a long term secure tanancy. But this would keep house prices and rents down, and Thatcher's view of the economy didn't like that idea, so she changed the rules)..

I am pretty sure that is not the case - I had to rent out a property as I couldn't sell it at the time, if you are only initially give a six months contract then at the end of that 6 months, unless you sign another six month contract then by law your tenancy changes to standard terms. I wanted a family to leave because they were damaging the propery and not paying their rent - I had to give them 2 or 3 months notice ( i cant remember which but definitely more than 1). It is actually pretty dificult to force someone to leave.

Edit to add
I am talking about a house in the UK.

[ohareward]

In NZ the landlord has to give the tenant 21 days notice in writing,
or 42 days if the landlord is going to sell the property with vacant possession,
or the property is required by the landlord or any of his/her family to reside in.
or the property is required by an employee of the landlord.
In other cases, the landlord must give 90 days notice in writing.
Bonds are not compulsory, but a landlord may require up to 4 weeks rent.

Robin

[baldowrie]

Ina

So, all you out there - next time you get an invitation from me, don't you think that's because I want to see you in particular - it's just that the place has got so bad I can't stand living in it any more myself!

Ah but has the bathroom door been fixed and the light now work

[Millymollymandy]

Andy it is worth cleaning your property before you leave it because the landlord can withhold your deposit to pay for the cleaning, which is fair enough.

I on the other hand have always had to spend hours scrubbing almost every house/flat I have rented because they were always so disgustingly filthy when I moved in.

Yet I leave everything spotless, including one house in France where 3 of us worked 25 hours on an already well kept clean house.

The landlady said it was not good enough and employed professional cleaners and took about £200 out of our deposit to cover this. This being France there is not a damned thing you can do about it.

I HATE landlords.

[Thomzo]

I once had an agent ask me to cut the grass as it was too long. I hadn't cut it cos it had been raining solidly for about 3 weeks (obviously this was a few years ago) and the grass had turned into a swamp. Cutting it would have just churned it all up.

Having been a landlord (when I couldn't sell a house in the 80's) I would like to say that not all landlords are that bad. I'd like to think that I was really fair but some tennants do leave their houses in a real mess.

And sometimes untidiness can be dangerous. I once had a tennant that had jammed a teddy bear down the back of the hot water tank which caught fire.

I'm afraid I like a clean and tidy house. I just have areas that are allowed to get messy. I have a lean to potting shed/greenhouse thing on the side of my house where everything gets dumped and is really untidy. It means the rest of the house can stay OK.

As for cleaning I find if I keep on top of it then it doesn't take too long (but there is only me and 2 cats in the house so it is a lot easier).

Zoe