UK Landlord Forum / Life

Any help would be much appreciated, My tenant is moving out tomorrow and has paid her rent up till end of month as re lease but went up tonight to do final checks as arranged but she was still packing and said she hasn't had time to clean yet so I refused to do final check. She wants to hand the keys over to her friends so they can do the cleaning. She is moving to Italy so I don't want keys handed over to  strangers. What are my rights?

Be wary of advice from a forum and always domyour own research.

I dont believe there is whole lot you can do unless you have both signed a Deed of Surrender, technically speaking you dont need a deed but in absence of written evidence hard to prove a case.

The tenant has right to the property until the end of the term and unless there is a clause expressly forbidding handing over keys to friends.  (I doubt there is such a clause in your tenancy agreement) then there is nothing to prevent her "lending" a key to friend.

You are of course entitled to keep whatever is justified from the deposit which can include costs for aborted check outs.
You obviously charge the rent until you get back possesion of the property.

Thanks for your reply, fortunately for me she decided to hand keys back this evening. the house is dirty and damaged to carpets, blinds re paint on them and ripped but nothing major. So rubber gloves at the ready as have a bit of scrubbing to do

As I learnt from this forum,be  that aware you will not be able to deduct anything for your own  time spent getting the place sorted out.You can only charge for cleaning materials.If you get a cleaner in,you can claim everything if you have receipts.

Heavy is correct.
Suggest take pictures of everything before appointing a cleaning crew.
You will need them if the tenant disputes the claim.
Note todays newspaper in one of the pictures will put date of pictures beyond dispute.

Ensure deposit you have will cover the cost of cleaner and minor repairs.

Best of luck