NWR: WWYD?

AlexiaANDRobert

Background:I needed a tenant.  2nd cousin who I hadn't seen in forever saw that on facebook, inquired, was recently married, seemed cool, moved in.  Being the nice (stupid) landlord that I am, I didn't charge them a deposit or a pet fee.When they moved out, I just asked them to clean everything and leave it in the condition in which they received it.Fast forward:The place is gross.  There is dog hair IN the kitchen drawers and in every nook and cranny.  The blinds have spiderwebs and dust.  The light fixture in the kitchen looks like it's from the Addams Family.  Dust, hair, and spiderwebs are on EVERY surface and in every corner.Cousin's wife posted on facebook about the condo and wanted to see pics of our progress.  We're painting and re-doing the floors.I want to post something like, I'll post pics as soon as I clean the dust and dog hair out of and off everything.  OR just let them know that the condo was left in really bad shape and I don't appreciate it and I'm really pissed off at them.I invited them to my wedding. 

mandysmear

Well honey, it's kind of your fault if you didn't have anything in writing or a pet deposit.  I would just clean it and deal with it.  Just because it's family.  And I know what burnt family bridges are like.  Not fun.

anna.oskar

I'd post it.  You didn't properly contract with them, so nothing you can actually do, but nothing says you can't let them know they're pigs and you're ticked.

danieliza1127

Did they sign a lease?  Was there anything other than a verbal request that they leave it the way they found it?  If not, then you don't have much to stand on.  Although there's nothing wrong with saying "hey I thought we agreed you guys would clean up when you moved out.  The place is really dirty.  When are you available to come and clean?"

wadingmoose

People often have different perceptions of clean.  Especially pet owners.I would leave it alone.

Kati0105

Although there's nothing wrong with saying "hey I thought we agreed you guys would clean up when you moved out. The place is really dirty. When are you available to come and clean?"Yeah, I would do something along these lines.  I wouldn't publicly shame them for their filth on FB though.

wadingmoose

PS: I don't live in a pig sty, how ever, I have recently discovered cat hair in my work keyboard illustrating to me, yet again, how hard it is to get pet hair completely out of your life.

Golfer'sLady

Annoying but as a landlord, it's really your responsibility to do the final cleaning. It is lame they didn't at least try to clean but with no deposit there isn't much you can do but roll your eyes and get clean (or hire someone else to do the dirty work!).

vallyhoo

Is the question whether or not I would say anything to them in response to her message on FB?If so, no I would not say anything. It would not solve a thing.Lesson learned.

SarahSmile23

ditto danieliza.

ffmaid

I would ask them when they are planning on coming back over to finish cleaning the place.

danieliza1127

Also, they may not see dog hair everywhere as it being dirty.  Also, I don't see what you inviting them to your wedding has to do with it.  Just because they aren't really clean and didn't dust or vacuum before they moved out doesn't make them horrible people who shouldn't be able to come to your wedding.The more I think about this, the more I think I would probably just clean it and take it as a lesson learned.

J&K10910

Well really this is your fault for not charging a deposit.  And reason #3490349509409 that you shouldn't mix family with business.  But me telling you that is far from helpful now, as you already have learned this.  Honestly, I'd tell them directly (like call them, or drop in on them) and tell them they didn't leave the place in acceptable condition.  Then I'd ask if they preferred to come back and clean it themselves, with a checklist provided by you so they didn't miss anything, or if they'd rather pay a service to do it for them.  But, since you said you're painting and redoing the floors, I'm guessing it's way too late for that.  So don't be passive aggressive at this point, suck it up because you messed up, and move on.  Greet them warmly at the wedding and act like it didn't happen.

ac_in_dc

Let it go. They didn't mean to do it. Some people are just slobs.

awed81

How long ago did they move out? I would play dumb and say "What day did you want to come clean out the rest of your stuff and do a walk through? And then see how she responds. It seems like they are taking advantage of the situation if it's as gross as it sounds. You would think a normal person would clean the place extra good if it was owned by a family member.

SwedishChick2011

Well, at least they didn't destroy anything, right?  Are you going to clean it yourself or hire someone to do it?  If it's really bad, maybe just hire someone and be done with it.  Yuck.

SarahSmile23

alexia, i forgot about all the work you have already done on it. i'd prob let it go. but feel free to  biitch to us about it!

wadingmoose

I, for one, have NEVER removed switch plates to clean behind them.

J&K10910

Ok, hold on just a second.  I've rented several places and NEVER ONCE gotten charged for cleaning (so I assume I do a good job).  Never have I removed light switch covers and cleaned under them.  That seems like it's a lot to expect.And honestly, we have a cat.  I vacuum twice a week and there's still cat hair everywhere.  Even right after I vacuum.  I kind of think you're being unreasonable, now.

SarahSmile23

j&k, alexia mentioned the light covers as an example of the massive amounts of hair, not to imply her tenants should have cleaned them!

AlexiaANDRobert

NONNO NO!!! That's not what I meant.  It means I was close to the floor and sitting on the ground so I could see the dog hair and dust all over the carpet.

AlexiaANDRobert

Thanks Sarah - phew!

wadingmoose

Also, if I left a place and I knew the landlord was replacing the flooring, I probably wouldn't spend a lot of time scrubbing.I also didn't vacuum my own rugs prior to ripping them out either so perhaps I'm just disgusting.

J&K10910

Oh, sorry.  In my defense, I wasn't the only one to misunderstand.  You worded it kind of oddly.  But yeah, there's a difference between linger pet hair, and pet hair and dust everywhere, you're right.

saschaduran

Even if you did charge a deposit you can't really keep a deposit for dust, hair and dirt.  Only if something was damaged.  So that is irrelevant.I would be really mad though.  I would avoid saying something publicly on facebook, but I would write her a private message.  My friend left my condo in that condition after renting it.  A bag of trash left in there, grease caked in the sink.  It was so disrespectful and disgusting.  I knew she was a dirty pig so it was ultimately my fault but I thought she may have more respect for my property.

AlexiaANDRobert

I don't think if I was going to set a bomb off in the place should make a difference in how you leave it. There is a brown ring in the toilet.  Food splattered on the wall behind the stove dried to the wall.  Crusty film or something and dried food on the fridge shelves.  ALL the walls are scratched.  Mildew in the bathtubs.I can't paint when there is dust everywhere, so regardless of whether or not I was pulling up the floors, it made the job that much more disgusting.  I had to scrub the kitchen walls because I'm not painting over dried food.The facebook comment would be an extremely poor choice and childish and immature.  But sometimes I think it would feel so good.  I guess there isn't even a  point in writing them an email because the damage is done.  It's just gross and rude.

AlexiaANDRobert

I'm not implying that you're disgusting by not vacuuming your rugs before pulling the floors out. I'm implying that they're disgusting for not vacuuming the floors regardless of whether or not I was pulling them out.

Nebb

Ahh the joys of renting stuff out to people. Sounds dirty but it could be worse. When I managed a rental apartment this one couple abandoned their apartment and shortly after I was informed by their neighbor that she had fleas in her apartment and they were all in the hall. I had the entire floor done by an exterminator and it turns out the fleas were coming from the abandoned apartment. The flea infestation was SO bad, the man doing the spray's legs were black up to his thighs (covered in fleas), and it had to be sprayed twice before the carpets were ripped up, and once afterwards. Then we had to completely redo the floors and walls in hopes of getting the cat pee stench out. He said it was one of the worst cases of fleas he has ever seen. Spiderwebs and pet hair sounds pretty nice after that!

cdeshane

I would post your response. My sister did that to my grandma. Gram had a house that she used to rent out and allowed my sister to live there. She painted all the kitchen cupboards bright blue and it was horrible. She never charged a deposit and my sister just bailed. Never cleaned anything. My mom and I ended up going to paint it a normal color again.

AlexiaANDRobert

Ew. Nebb, you're totally right. That is super gross and I should be thrilled that it wasn't my case. I think I just have really high expectations, especially when you're helping someone out.

AlexiaANDRobert

Oh, and I have dogs, so dog hair doesn't gross me out.  The amount makes me think they NEVER vacuumed and that grosses me out.