REA Requesting Professional Cleaning and Flea Treatment on Vacate

pyro love bird on 31/05/2022 - 14:00
Last edited 31/05/2022 - 17:15

Hi all,

My current REA has requested that I steam clean the carpets, professionally clean the home and treat the property for fleas.

I have indoor cats who do not have fleas and when I moved in no cleaning was done to the home. I spent several days cleaning every nook and cranny by hand.

Afaik I do not need to professionally clean a home if it was not done so when I moved in.

They have stated that because I have pets I need to get the home professionally cleaned and treated for fleas.

I couldn't find anything online or on the tenants VIC website about the rules around vacating when it comes to pets and cleaning.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Edit: Property was dusty and dirty when I moved in, had to clean it top to bottom myself

Home & Garden

Comments

  • wallet72 on 31/05/2022 - 14:06
    +4

    What does it say in your lease?
    Did you make note of the condition when you moved in?
    Pics etc?

    • pyro love bird on 31/05/2022 - 17:14
      +1

      My lease states that they can't make me professionally clean it if it wasn't done before I moved I'm. Which it wasn't

      They're claiming that because I have pets I have to get it done, plus steam cleaning and flea treatment of the property.

  • Hybroid on 31/05/2022 - 14:08
    +1

    There's a section on needing to be "reasonably clean" on moving out here: https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/ending-your-tenancy/moving-…

    It does state that you do not need to do more than "necessary" even if there is a clause in your lease. But you may have to defend any reductions to your bond if they claim against you for it.

    What is "reasonable" or "necessary" is highly subjective though. Doing a professional carpet steam clean and flea treatment after having pets would be reasonable to me to be honest.

    I will be doing professional clean when I move out because I feel that's what I should for the next tenant and what I would want to have already been done in the next place I go to.

    YMMV.

    • pyro love bird on 31/05/2022 - 17:17
      +1

      I am just a bit annoyed as it was not in a clean condition when I moved in, dust and dirt throughout the house. I sent the REA the part of my rental agreement stating that if it wasn't professionally cleaned before I moved in then I didn't need to do it when moving out.

      Its in a cleaner state now than it was when I moved in tbh.

      • Mukduk on 01/06/2022 - 01:03
        -2

        Every tenant in the history of tenancies has said the exact phrase "it's cleaner now than when I moved in". Not that it's not true. It's just lost all meaning.

        The only thing I can think to actually justify them charging you is if, like most pet owners, you're immune to the smell of your own pets. The agent might have walked in and immediately went "yep, cat smell". Or the landlord just instructed them to do it, and they're well aware that they're not justified

  • pegaxs on 31/05/2022 - 14:13
    +2

    And let me guess… it just so happens that their “brother” owns a cleaning business that will happily do the clean for you…

  • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2022 - 14:15

    tell them they're dreaming

  • dogboy on 31/05/2022 - 14:18

    Just tell them you will leave it in the exact same state as when you moved in.

    • pyro love bird on 31/05/2022 - 17:18
      +1

      So they have no footing in the 'you have pets' argument?

      • cookie2 on 31/05/2022 - 21:25

        Not if it's not in the lease

  • garetz on 31/05/2022 - 14:35

    Its your responsibility to leave it in the same condition you got it in, make sure you take plenty of photos before you leave.

    • pyro love bird on 31/05/2022 - 17:18
      +1

      I'll have to make it dirtier then

  • Save 50 Cent on 31/05/2022 - 17:49

    You mentioned the place was dusty but that is normal if it was vacant for a few weeks before you moved in. Doesn’t mean it was dirty. Different story if there was stains on the kitchen bench and food crumbs in oven.

    If I were you, I would at least hire a steam cleaner and do it myself and ignore the flea treatment thing. That is reasonable after having pets all over the carpet.

    • pyro love bird on 31/05/2022 - 21:59
      -1

      There were crumbs in the oven, on shelves, some small bits of rubbish left by the previous tenants here and there.

      The REA has requested receipts that it was all done. Sounds very costly, not sure how much it would all add up to be, but given that no cleaning was done when the previous tenants left, I'm not super keen on footing the bill for all of that

      • Save 50 Cent on 31/05/2022 - 22:29

        They can request receipts and you can just ignore them. They can never demand professional cleaning as far as I know.
        If the place was dirty and you noted that on the condition report, then they have no leg to stand on. If the condition report mentioned it was clean, then just clean it yourself to avoid the hassle.

  • Wickz on 31/05/2022 - 19:26
    +1

    Check through your lease to make sure there isnt a clause in there about the carpets. In 10 years, all of my leases have included a clause that required the carpets be professionally cleaned upon exit, and even in some of the pet clauses it again states professional clean (carpets only) and flea treatment. I am in VIC.

    • pyro love bird on 31/05/2022 - 21:55

      Mine states that it does need to be done if it was done prior to me moving in which it wasn't.

      Nothing in the pet clauses other than that I must keep the premises clean and pay for any damages that occur because of pets

      • Wickz on 31/05/2022 - 21:59

        Can you paste the extra phrase/words from your lease please, it will help us assist.

        Also think about how it’s going to be your word against the realestate if you want to push them about “it wasn’t done prior to me moving in”.

        I guess the question really is, what are you trying to achieve and is it worth the time trying to fight the real estate agent.

        • pyro love bird on 02/06/2022 - 19:39
          1. Professional Cleaning
            83.1. The Rental Provider must not require the Renter to arrange professional cleaning or cleaning to a
            professional standard on the termination of this Agreement unless:
            83.1.1. professional cleaning or cleaning to a professional standard was carried out to the Premises
            immediately before the start of this Agreement and the Renter was advised that professional cleaning or
            cleaning to a professional standard has been carried out to the Premises immediately before the start of this
            Agreement; or
            83.1.2. professional cleaning or cleaning to a professional standard is required to restore the Premises to the
            same condition they were in immediately before the start of this Agreement having regard to the Condition
            Report and taking into account fair wear and tear.
            83.2. The Renter must have all or part of the Premises professional cleaned or pay the cost of having all or part
            of the Premises professionally cleaned if professional cleaning becomes required to restore the Premises to
            the condition they were in immediately before the start of this Agreement having regard to the Condition
            Report and taking into account fair wear and tear.
  • Room Temperature on 15/09/2022 - 17:52
    Merged from End of Lease - Real Estate Requesting Property to Be Sprayed for Fleas

    I have just moved out of a rental of which I had an indoor cat for the duration of my lease. The agent managing the property is asking for me to pay for a flea spray, as mentioned in my lease agreement. My hang-up is that there are no signs of fleas in the home or on my cat and I'm dubious if this can even be enforced.

    As far as I can find, there is no explicit legal requirement to have the property sprayed for fleas. I've had issues with REA slipping sneaky clauses into my previous leases and am suspicious of the same here.

    According to https://www.tenants.org.au/resource/guide-renting-pets-nsw

    "Cleaning at the end of premises
    Additional terms in the residential tenancy agreement that require you to have the premises professionally cleaned or fumigated when you move out are usually illegal and invalid, but there is an exception where you have been permitted to keep an animal on the premises.

    You may only be required to have the premises professionally cleaned or fumigated if it is necessary to rectify an issue. It is not enough that you simply kept an animal – there must be some uncleanliness or infestation as a result. For instance, your landlord cannot require you to fumigate the premises if you kept a goldfish. We are aware of agents claiming cleaning costs without providing evidence of the need to carry out cleaning."

    Would appreciate a second opinion on this, especially with anyone with experience in this matter, thanks!

    Poll Result
    • Ignore them and let them try to claim it on the Bond (0 vote)
    • Pay for Flea Spray, it's a condition of the lease (7 votes)
    • elgrande on 15/09/2022 - 17:58
      -1

      As far as I can find, there is no explicit legal requirement to have the property sprayed for fleas.

      Yes there is, you just mentioned you agreed to it in your lease agreement when you signed it.

      • TimmyTims on 16/09/2022 - 12:39

        Just because you agree to a clause in the lease when you signed, doesn't make it enforceable. If a clause imposes requirements over and above what is required under the law, it is invalid.

        If the house was fumigated immediately prior to moving in, then you may be required to do it as you need to leave the property in the same or better condition

        • elgrande on 16/09/2022 - 19:29

          If a clause imposes requirements over and above what is required under the law, it is invalid.

          Lol, if that was true there would be no need for contracts, as everything would be contained in statute.

          • TimmyTims on 19/09/2022 - 13:07

            @elgrande: I know that's how it is for a rental contract in Vic and pretty sure that's how it is in other states;

            Rental agreements entered into from 29 March 2021 may include a term about professional cleaning, or cleaning to a professional standard [section 27C, regulation 12].
            Such terms are not intended to impose requirements for cleanliness over and above what is required under the law. The law only requires renters to keep and leave the property reasonably clean [section 63].
            Where a professional cleaning term is included in a rental agreement it only applies if:
            The property was professionally cleaned or cleaned to a professional standard immediately before you moved in, and the rental provider told you this had been done, or
            Professional cleaning, or cleaning to a professional standard, is needed to restore the property to the same condition it was in before the start of your tenancy, taking into account fair wear and tear [section 27C, regulation 12]

            Consumer Vic guidelines

    • JuanLove on 15/09/2022 - 18:02

      The quote your provided proves the REAs point, not yours. Did you read your own quote?

    • brendanm on 15/09/2022 - 18:12
      +2

      You've had an animal inside, and also agreed to it, get it sprayed.

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