Q:Hi, I've lived in my rented house for three years with a standard tenancy agreement every 6 months. My partner is moving in on the 11th so a new contract has been sent to us to sign. It's had some odd conditions added. My question is do I have a leg to stand on complaining about these?:
"When vacating the property the tenants are responsible for professionally cleaning the property including all carpets at their own cost"
The carpets were fairly manky when I moved in and are now very manky so presumably us paying for cleaning the house "professionally" would cost a fortune or cost us our 625 quid bond.
"No music or audio equipment or musical instruments or voices to be audible after 10pm and before 10am."
Well as our baby will be born at the end of October there will be voices at all hours probably for the first few months
"To pay for the cleaning of the carpets throughout the house at the expiration of the term if they have been cleaned prior to occupation."
Again how could we prove they weren't cleaned before we moved in?
"To immediately pay the Landlord the replacement value of any furniture or effects lost, damaged or destroyed or at the option of the landlord, replace immediately any furniture or effects lost damaged or destroyed"
There was a hoover which broke. We told the letting agency and asked for a replacement. We didn't get a reply so after 6 months we threw the broken hoover out. Does that clause mean we would have to pay for it even though it wasn't our fault it broke?
Are these all standard clauses and I should stop whinging? It's just they weren't there in any of the previous contracts for this house. Should I complain or just sign? Moving would be tricky as baby due soon and this house is 150 quid cheaper a month than identical properties in the area as I've been here whilst prices have gone up around me.
Anyone have any answers?
In practice, I have never known a landlord try and take the mickey regarding carpets, though I'm sure it does happen. Always best to take photos before moving in. As long as they don't look too bad you should be ok.
Was the hoover definitely the LL's? Unless its a fully furnished property I would doubt it is. Might have been left behind by former tenants.
IME most letting companies have very little interest in tenants until they want their fees. If you are going to ask them to do anything you probably need to put it in writing and keep notes of dates etc. Otherwise they will "forget" and deny everything as you have already found.
If you educate yourself about your rights and let others know you are prepared to use them, you should be fine. Have a look at the Shelter website for loads of good info about the law.
Babies crying is acceptable noise according to Envirnomental Health Officers and you cannot be serviced a noise abatement notice because your baby is crying and one of you is trying to comfort them. I have been told of people who have tried. (If the baby crys excessively then the neighbours can call social services.)
What is not acceptable is the other noise i.e. swearing loudly at the baby because they are crying , people fighting, people having parties (like an ex-neighbour of mine)
I suggest you find out who your neighbours are if you haven't already, and start being friendly to them. If you know them if there are noise problems they are more likely going to have a quiet word with you rather than get the Envirnomental Health or letting agent involved.
I would be tempted to clean the manky carpets now. I wouldn't want a baby of mine crawling over manky carpets. Then give them a clean before I moved out with a rug doctor (or similar) and keep the receipt. It's not worth quibbling over cleaning as LA are notorious in trying to find something to keep your deposit over.