I wanted to know if anyone had experience of going to vcat if the real estate agent insists for steam cleaning. They have agreed that there is no stain or damage and also no evidence that the carpets were steam cleaned before we started the lease.
They tried to slap on a cleaning charge also but i had pictures of unclean shelves etc in the original condition report .
Is there any rule for mandatory steam cleaning.
This is in victoria.
Thanks
"even if there is a clause in your lease that says you have to."
I'd be taking anything that said 'the legal agreement you signed can't be enforced' with a verrrrrrrry large grain of salt.
You can't sign away basic rights. Same as the "waivers" when doing "dangerous" activities.
Sure. I don't think "i agreed i would steam clean on departure" is a basic right, though?
@Crow K: Having to clean something to a better standard than when you moved in is a violation of rental law generally. It is not the tenants responsibility to get the property to a condition suitable for sale or rental, it is their responsibility to get it to the standard it was when they moved in, or "reasonably clean".
No damage / discoloration pet. Furniture marks were already there and mentioned in the condition report .
Sorry but this post Hybroid just completely ruined my day. There are now certain conditions where tenants (who have two hands) can be forced to pay someone else to clean an apartment at the end of a tenancy in Victoria?!?
https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/library/forms/housing-and-ac…
A situation that does not exist in any other state in Australia. NSW, for example, only requires professional steam cleaning of the premise's carpets where a pet is kept (which doesn't strike me as outrageous):
The tenant agrees to have the carpet professionally cleaned or to pay the cost of having the carpet professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy if cleaning is required because an animal has been kept on the residential premises during the tenancy.
Did Dan Andrews just feel he hadn't screwed the populace of Victoria enough over the last few years?
Someone has pointed out that you may be able to argue that your own cleaning constitutes "cleaning to a professional standard" and thus professional cleaning is not required. Still the clause in that form does not make this clear.
I agree. It's just bs.
I would say to the agent show me the carpets were steam cleaned immediately prior to me taking possession and then I will pay for the same service when I leave.
Viz. restore the carpet to the same condition as it was.
If they cannot supply such proof just tell them we will see you in VCAT. But it won't get that far because they know VCAT will throw out the agents case.
Yes .. I think this seems best. I am pretty sure it was not cleaned as we got the rent immediately after the previous owners sold and vacated .
Will ask for previous cleaning bills.
https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/ending-your-tenancy/moving-…
However, "reasonably" is subjective. Why are they insisting on steam clean? Is it quite dirty or discoloured? Did you have pets?