Landlord didn't empty house

[citricsquid]

Moved in to a new house today, landlord is renting it out for what appears to be the first time and he has left behind a lot of stuff, chairs, curtains, pillows, lamps, cutlery, kettle, tea pot, frozen mince, it's as if he got 20% of the way through clearing out the house and then realised it would be a big job and gave up.

Anyway he left a note that says we're free to dispose of anything we don't want, if we were to now throw away things that have been left (that aren't furnishings -- the place was advertised as furnished) would this note be justification if he decides he was really in love with candles he left?

The note says:

use any of the stuff left or throw away as you wish.

I'm calling on Monday (before we do anything with anything) to find out what he's okay with us disposing of but I'm curious if:

1) Does his note count for anything, assuming we keep a copy of it?

2) If you move into a house and the owner hasn't tidied it as agreed and left behind stuff, what is the procedure? Are we expected to leave it and ask him to collect it, or can we get rid of stuff that wouldn't be considered "furnishings". Things like cutlery, hand soap...

Thanks!

[sussexchick]

Originally Posted by citricsquid

Moved in to a new house today, landlord is renting it out for what appears to be the first time and he has left behind a lot of stuff, chairs, curtains, pillows, lamps, cutlery, kettle, tea pot, frozen mince, it's as if he got 20% of the way through clearing out the house and then realised it would be a big job and gave up.

Anyway he left a note that says we're free to dispose of anything we don't want, if we were to now throw away things that have been left (that aren't furnishings -- the place was advertised as furnished) would this note be justification if he decides he was really in love with candles he left?

The note says:



I'm calling on Monday (before we do anything with anything) to find out what he's okay with us disposing of but I'm curious if:

1) Does his note count for anything, assuming we keep a copy of it?

2) If you move into a house and the owner hasn't tidied it as agreed and left behind stuff, what is the procedure? Are we expected to leave it and ask him to collect it, or can we get rid of stuff that wouldn't be considered "furnishings". Things like cutlery, hand soap...

Thanks!

Oh hark at me, giving advice !

Firstly ewwwww ! (someone else's hand soap) !

Do you have an Inventory with items listed ? would he hold you responsible for disposing of those items should he change his mind at a later date ? (he might actually love that soap fragrance)

Do what I intend to do when you leave too :-

Example - Cooker left in same condition as left by previous tenant (covers a multitude of sins)

Good luck

[motherofstudents]

Definitely keep the note but it sounds like he got fed up of clearing the house. My son and his girlfriend moved into a house where everything had been left, including a car. The landlord rang to say the car had broken down but she would come to collect it later in the week. Everything else (apart from furniture, white goods) she said they could dispose of. I now have a lovely mirror in my house. They did double check with her just to be sure.

[G_M]

Has he provided an inventory and if so
a) what items are on it?
b) does it describe the condition of the property/items within it?
c) have you signed it?

So - advice:

1) the note is fine - keep it obviously! Is it signed? best if it is.

2) I would not phone on Monday. To cover yourself, write him a letter & send to him at the address "for the serving of notices" (has he given you this? It's a legal requirement). Thank him for his help and for his note, and confirm that as per his note you are going to dispose of the items he has left and which
a) are not on the inventory and
b) you do not want

Add a question like "please let me know if there is anything you do not want me to dispose of within the next few days or I shall assume everything is unwanted.

3) I see no reason you shouldn't sell the odd item on ebay if you want - he is making you do his clearance work; he's given you permission to do as you wish; so.... your choice

4) Do not dispose of anything on the inventory!

5) If there is no inventory, don't worry. His problem not yours. But

6) do not sign the inventory unless it is is accurate ie if it lists something not there or describes something as 'good condition' when it is damaged, do not sign without amending it.

Sounds like a first time landlord. Best approach is to balance between keeping a friendly, informal relationship, with covering yourself by getting things in writing (hence the letter). But just because you are writing semi-formally to cover yourself does not mean you can't word it as a friendly letter!

[Yorkie1]

Good posts above.

I also wonder whether it would be wise to make a list or take photos of any stuff you dispose of? It would show what you've done?

Not sure what other posters think about this possible suggestion.

[G_M]

Originally Posted by Yorkie1

Good posts above.

I also wonder whether it would be wise to make a list or take photos of any stuff you dispose of? It would show what you've done?

Not sure what other posters think about this possible suggestion.

I suppose it does no harm. But either

* disposal is agreed/acceptable - therefore list not needed
* disposal is in doubt - therefore do not dispose!

The list, depending what is done with it and how it is described/titled, might of itself imply any disposal was perceived to be suspect....

I think the important thing is a clear paper trail showing agreement to any disposal.

[citricsquid]

Originally Posted by sussexchick

Do you have an Inventory with items listed ? would he hold you responsible for disposing of those items should he change his mind at a later date ? (he might actually love that soap fragrance)

Originally Posted by G_M

Has he provided an inventory and if so
a) what items are on it?
b) does it describe the condition of the property/items within it?
c) have you signed it?

4) Do not dispose of anything on the inventory!

5) If there is no inventory, don't worry. His problem not yours.

I have an inventory, it's at least 10 pages and includes things like "Futon -- needs cleaning". That futon smells awful. I think the letting agents had the same feelings that the owner had, they got so far through and realise there was no end in sight and gave up!

I'll make sure that we don't dispose of anything on the inventory (which I have yet to sign), fortunately there is a large amount of loft space so we have no problems hiding away boxes of stuff. Should I include a photocopy of the note with the inventory when I return?

Originally Posted by G_M

1) the note is fine - keep it obviously! Is it signed? best if it is.

The note isn't signed in the same way the tenancy agreement is however he has written his name at the bottom which might be good enough?

The note (written in pink) is as follows:

Welcome to High Park!

I hope you have a brilliant time here - let the agents know of any probs/snagging + I'll get sorted.

I love this house + never intended leaving - then I found someone I loved more than bricks + mortar. There is a welcome present in the cooler.

Enjoy the house,
Chris.

ps - use any of the stuff left or throw away as you wish.

As an aside my family forgave him for the mess just because of the note being so cute, personally I don't see how love could compete with this house, it's wonderful -- well, it will be once it's cleaned, repainted and de-cluttered. I want to hate him for the mess but with the note and how perfect the house is I can't

Originally Posted by G_M

2) I would not phone on Monday. To cover yourself, write him a letter & send to him at the address "for the serving of notices" (has he given you this? It's a legal requirement). Thank him for his help and for his note, and confirm that as per his note you are going to dispose of the items he has left and which
a) are not on the inventory and
b) you do not want

...

Sounds like a first time landlord. Best approach is to balance between keeping a friendly, informal relationship, with covering yourself by getting things in writing (hence the letter). But just because you are writing semi-formally to cover yourself does not mean you can't word it as a friendly letter!

Sounds easy and sensible enough, I'll sort that tomorrow or Monday.

Originally Posted by Yorkie1

Good posts above.
I also wonder whether it would be wise to make a list or take photos of any stuff you dispose of? It would show what you've done?

That sounds easy too, I'll make sure we do that.

For no other reason than I wanted to take photographs, here are a few pictures of the clutter, this is ~1/10th of the house and after 8 hours of tidying haha

[Fire Fox]

Sorry but I'd ring up the letting agent and tell them you need a skip. You can't put all that in the regular rubbish!

Or get a charity shop to collect anything clean and useable. British Heart Foundation collect furniture, they might collect other boxed items at the same time.

[citricsquid]

Just found a pair of pants in the tumble dryer...

[Jules2012]

Originally Posted by citricsquid

Just found a pair of pants in the tumble dryer...

Haha that just made my weekend. Disgusting though.

I do think though its rude the state it was left in, you should as suggested ring the agency for a skip otherwise call the council and ask them to do a special pickup.

Edit: Charity suggestion even better.

[florence4]

I don't know whether to laugh or gasp in horror! To be honest, since he hasn't actually signed the note, I'd be wondering whether someone has kidnapped him or bumped him off, and forged it to provide a cover story!

More seriously, that's an awful lot of work... I'd be inclined to contact the EA and ask them to arrange clearance, or offer to do that yourselves but for a charge.

Charities sometimes do house clearance too... We used the local hospice when my dad died. But be aware that they won't take anything they don't want, so you may still end up needing a skip in the end...

[crazy crow]

That's outrageous!

Lazy so and so. I would tell the agents and landlord to come and help. I can't believe he cleaned it properly with that much junk lying around.


Please let us know what happens

[crazy crow]

There is no way they can have done a proper inventory.

Keep photographing everything.

[citricsquid]

After a day of tidying (10am to midnight) I was finally happy, still need to clean everything (there's cobwebs, dirty windows, general household dirt) and I got ready to go to bed... but noticed my socks were wet, tried to find the source... turns out it's my bed. Why is my bed wet? Oh that's right, the upstairs en-suite shower pours water through the light fitting when used.

We have now condemned that bathroom, tomorrow when I call the agent re: junk I'll also be asking why one of the bedrooms seems to double as a bathroom! The listing didn't mention that! Thankfully there's 5 bedrooms and 2 are mine (one is my office) so after an hour of hand drying my mattress, sheets and duvet (we sat in a circle with hair dryers) I can sleep.

After we've cleaned tomorrow I will take some photographs of the house in its cleaned state because already the difference (without the junk -- we packed it into boxes and hid it in storage areas temporarily) is amazing.

[akamustang]

Ignoring the mess, that place is gorgeous!

[Fire Fox]

Gotta love you Citricsquid for having a sense of humour, you have made me giggle!

[DaftyDuck]

There is a welcome present in the cooler.

followed by

he has left behind a lot of .... frozen mince

I'd run. Fast. He's

found someone I loved more than bricks + mortar

and left her behind! Or, she's minced him up. Either way...

Frankly, I think you should be asking the agency for a discount for the amount of clearing and cleaning you are having to do. (s)He must really be in love...

[citricsquid]

Plumber is arranged to visit tomorrow to inspect the leak and the owner is coming to collect some stuff at some point, fortunately there was enough room in the loft spaces to hide everything short term... even if it took 2 days to do it.

Anyway some pictures, I haven't been able to take any of the bedrooms (5 bedrooms; 4 used as bedrooms, 1 as my office) or any of the other 3 bathrooms yet.












Full Album.

[toerag33]

Absolutely stunning home. Especially now you have it 'sorted'.

Make to celebrate and enjoy what you have achieved. MAybe he should pay you rent!

toerag33

[dotchas]

Lovely house, his new love must be something special!