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Letting Agency are claiming cleaner not returned keys afer confirming receipt

Started by tennisplayer, April 11, 2021, 02:05:56 PM

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tennisplayer

We have left our flat on Monday and returned the keys to the agent on Monday. Tenancy ended on Tuesday. We booked cleaner for Tuesday and letting agent gave them the keys. Cleaner didn't start till late afternoon and said he had to go back on Wednesday to finish. On Wednesday lunchtime he messaged to say he was finished and that he was going to return keys to agent. Agent said they had received keys from 'cleaner' and were going to do the check out that afternoon.
Lease ended on Tuesday and now agent is charging an extra days rent because cleaner finished up on Wednesday. We have not paid cleaner until we have confirmation from agent of satisfaction with clean and deposit return which agent won't give. Cleaner is now claiming they still have keys (clearly not true as they messaged to say they were going to return them), agent is backing him up and saying we will have to pay all extra days rent until cleaner returns keys. Cleaner says he will not return keys until he is paid (only did job 4 days ago). It is all collusion between cleaner (recommended by agent) and agent. So worried as to what is going to happen regards our deposit. Flat was left in excellent clean condition. Rent was always paid on time. We have applied to TDS for rent return.
Any adivce would be gratefully received. Thank you very much.

heavykarma

This sounds very unreasonable.I have never charged for a matter of hours extra time.If they had to turn away someone waiting to move in the next morning it might be another matter.Make it plain you will challenge this if they pursue it.If you have seen photos that they did a good job,I would pay the cleaners anyway regardless.