What about the gardening?

What about the gardening?

8:59 AM, 1st August 2019, About 5 years ago 2

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I am confused as to whether or not the costs of mowing the grass, tidying garden and also cleaning the house to check-in standards (with receipts supplied) as per tenancy agreement is still deductible from the deposit for agreements signed after June 1st 2019.

I am assuming any damage will still be deductible from the deposit as it always has been?

I would be very grateful for any guidance available.

Many thanks

Juliet

 


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Neil Patterson

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9:43 AM, 1st August 2019, About 5 years ago

Hi Juliet,

I think your question may be combining the tenant fees ban brought in the 1st of June and Deposit arbitration.

See fees ban guidance >> https://www.property118.com/official-government-guidance-tenant-fees-ban-released-today/

The TDS state that the deposit can only compensate a landlord for financial loss and should in the first instance be considered as the tenants money.

However, it is interesting to see what Shelter advise fro a Tenant perspective:

"Cleaning costs
Cleaning is the most common reason for deductions from deposits.
You only need to clean the property to the same standard as it was when you moved in.
You can do this yourself or use a professional cleaning company.
Some tenancy agreements ask for professional cleaning. This could be unreasonable if a professional clean isn't necessary.

Gardening
You should look after the garden and any outside spaces during your tenancy.
This includes things like cutting the grass, trimming hedges and making sure gardens don’t become overgrown.
Your landlord doesn’t have to provide you with equipment such as a lawnmower.
You don’t need to improve the garden during your tenancy but it should be in roughly the same state as when you moved in."

Janet Williams

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13:27 PM, 1st August 2019, About 5 years ago

Hello, Juliet,
Round here, which is a London suburb, although not too far from the centre, it is normal for the tenant to return the property clean and at their expense. There is a lot of rented accommodation in this area and not a week goes by without requests on Facebook for recommendations for an end of tenancy clean. I was in a rented flat for a while and got a professional firm to look at it before ending the tenancy. Bless them, they told me not to waste my money as I could do it myself. I did, leaving it cleaner than when I came in three years before. I cleaned the carpets myself, the windows and I washed down the paintwork, among other things. That was my responsibility. I should assume the garden is the same. Nevertheless, I do know of landlords who have charged for cleaning and gardening, even when it has been done in order to retain money from the deposit. I am not a landlord any more so I only write as I think. I do not know what was in the tenancy agreement that you drew up and am not au fait with legal requirements as they stand at the moment.
Jan

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