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Tenant complain uncleaned condition - Landlord Forum thread 339536

Tenant complain uncleaned condition by Adale (CA) on October 6, 2015 @17:20

                              
Hi,
I recently settled a group of tenants to my apartment. I am remote, and my onsite manager hired professional cleaning lady fully cleaned the apartment and professional steam cleaning company cleaned the carpet. I have invoices for all the services. But the tenant still complain the condition. I guess the cleaning criteria for each person is different. I am wondering what option I have?

Thank you in advance!

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I am sure that you are aware of the condition of the condo when we moved in. The blinds and windows were filled with dust and lots of dirt. There were spider webs everywhere. We were told the carpet was cleaned but the carpet was still not cleaned, smells dirty, and has many stains. Ever since I moved in, my nose has been bleeding in my room almost every night and morning. My speculation is that there is mold.

Would it be possible to hire a professional cleaning company to deep clean the whole place (including dust, dirt, carpet, windows)? Or if there is mold, we would like to get rid of that as well. We would really prefer to get the place to be detailed cleaned as soon as possible. Please let us know
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Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by Anonymous on October 6, 2015 @17:59 [ Reply ]
Her nose may be bleeding, but mine smells trouble. Offer the happy clause if you can-she's got mold on the mind now.

"Professional cleaning lady" you said. Does she work for a licensed and bonded cleaning company? If so, take this up with them, you've had a crappy job done and shouldn't pay. Or is it some one the manager knows and hired to do this. There's a difference in what everyone calls clean--ask my husband and ask me and you'll get 2 different answers.

Did the manager send you photos of the carpet and the apt.? I would say let this tenant out, and have the apt. detailed like a hotel room would be (better actually), then make a visit yourself to see if it meets your standards. And if not, fire your property manager.
Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by Anonymous (CA) on October 6, 2015 @23:19 [ Reply ]
What is your middle paragraph about? I'll put up my property manager info in business listings. I'm in Oceanside.
Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by Andrea (GA) on October 7, 2015 @12:25 [ Reply ]
The "speculation" that there is mold does not bode well. Do you think there is a chance that is true? If so, you need to have someone test and remediate asap. I don't know if even toxic molds cause nose bleeds. Either way, I think using the happy clause to let them out of the lease may be best for everyone.

Now, regarding the cleaning...yes, it is true that there are different cleanliness standards for different people. But anything less than "deep clean" is unacceptable to me as a landlord when new tenants are moving in. Did the tenant offer pictures of the condition? What does the PM say? Has he/she been out to take a look?Because dirty blinds, spider webs, and nasty-smelling, stained carpet certainly qualifies as dirty to most reasonable people.

It sounds like you need to raise your standards--both for cleanliness and for property management. I would (if possible) start over with another tenant, another PM, and a spotlessly clean property.
Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by DN (tx) on October 7, 2015 @17:28 [ Reply ]
Why did she move in if the place was not clean?
Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by Anonymous on October 7, 2015 @17:58 [ Reply ]
In my experience, cleaning services, licensed and bonded, are not worth the paper they are printed on. No one cares how clean your place is except you.

I deliver my place in military "glove clean" condition. No one ever complains about how clean it is on move in. When they complain is when I charge them through their SD to return it to the glove clean condition that they rented it in. Tenants expect it to be clean upon move in but not when they move out.
Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by Anonymous on October 7, 2015 @18:35 [ Reply ]
Tell tenant to sent you picture of the apt and your manager to sent receipt of the cleaning company.
Yourself call the manager and talk with him and ask for an explanation of the existing issue.
If after all your effort tenant still complain tell her if you are not happy then get a better place that this.
Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by anon on October 8, 2015 @15:11 [ Reply ]
What kind of invoices do you have? An exact copy from the provider? An invoice from your property manager. Are the invoices detailed? Maybe the tenant is correct?
Re: Tenant complain uncleaned condition by MrDan (Georgia) on October 8, 2015 @22:06 [ Reply ]
Getting back to your question as what options you have;

1) Establish a checklist that the onsite manager must follow pertaining to proper cleaning and working condition of appliances, HVAC, windows, locks, etc.

2) Invest in a procedure for properly inspecting the rental unit both when tenant vacates and when tenant moves in. Onsite manager should have inspected rental prior to new tenant moving in (Onsite manager should have done a walk through with new tenant)

3) Make sure new tenant fills out a 'move in inspection report and you get the original copy)

4) You decide which companies that are used for cleaning, carpet cleaning/repair, HVAC, Plumbers, etc. You can request the invoices sent directly to you if you so desire.

5) Have your onsite manager take photos at both move out and again when the rental unit is ready to rent. Paper work should be provided to back any inspections. You can have the inspections done in video and sent to your email address for your personal viewing if desired.

Sent your new tenant a nice 'Gift Basket' or something (You can deduct up to $25 on your taxes) and arrange to have the place really cleaned by a different cleaning company with a report going directly to you of their findings.

Good Luck-

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