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Ignatius Lord · 09-09-2012, 07:05 PM

Should I clean it,feels like Im their parents sometimes.

Paul Barrett · 09-09-2012, 07:51 PM

Presumably if the oven gets dirty and the fridge aswell you will be going round to clean up.
Clearly your rent includes a maid service or at least that is what your tenant thinks.
Advise that as a user he is reponsible for doing basic maintenance cleaning.
You may have to show him what to do but no way are you responsible.

Dave Reaney · 09-09-2012, 09:58 PM

I agree with Paul Barrett

In 1954 Lord Justice Denning stated

Quote:'What does "to use the premises in a tenant-like manner" mean ? ..The tenant must take proper care of the place. He must, if he is going away for the winter, turn off the water and empty the boiler. He must clean the chimneys, when necessary and also the windows.He must mend the electric light when it fuses. He must unstop the sink when it is blocked by his waste. In short, he must do those little jobs about the place which a reasonable tenant would do.

Gerry Pridham · 10-09-2012, 01:29 AM

(09-09-2012 07:05 PM)Ignatius Lord Wrote: Should I clean it,feels like Im their parents sometimes.

Ignatius,
Refer them to any clause in the AST agreement that pertains to maintaining clean and tidy premises and (in a suitable manner) tell them to get off their a**e and clean your property whilst they are having "quiet enjoyment" of the premises.

Jonathan Clarke · 10-09-2012, 02:02 AM

No not your responsibility. The `Slavery Abolition Act 1833` is your legal back up if they challenge your decision.

Top tip........ Select OCD tenants in the future and the problem will never arise again.

Lynne Davis · 11-09-2012, 09:31 PM

I'd agree with everyone else - but if I remember correctly, Iggy's area is HMOs. If cleaning is provided for the communal areas then that might well include the laundry powder box. (Do you mean the drawer in the washing machine? I'd expect tenants, HMO or otherwise, to provide their own boxes of laundry powder!)

Ignatius Lord · 11-09-2012, 10:01 PM

I have a responsibility seen as it is a HMO so it is a little different. Oh well!

Phil Ashford · 11-09-2012, 10:57 PM

Reminded me of our little blog article - which is about perception, really.

Microwaves speak louder than words:

http://www.comfortlettings.co.uk/blog/20...han-words-

Sometimes a wee gesture here and there can be of great benefit. Of course, being taken for a ride needs some firm realignment...

Phil

Dave Reaney · 12-09-2012, 09:17 AM

Ah - HMO's!

That changes everything. It is not staturorily the tenants responsibility to maintain areas not demised to him.

Quote:7(2)(f)subject to paragraph (3), fixtures, fittings or appliances used in common by two or more households within the HMO are maintained in good and safe repair and in clean working order.

How you maintain it in clean working order is not specified, so you could employ a cleaner, do it yourself, or include in your contract a term that each tenant must contribute to the cleaning of the house - in effect, they are the 'cleaner' and their rent is lowered in reflection of this. The latter is difficult to effectively manage but the final responsibility lies on the shoulders of the landlord.

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