It's not that I haven't done what I ought to have done, it's just that there's so much to do

[nineveh_uk]

When I grow up and own my own house and don't have to spend nearly all weekend preparing for the four-monthly inspection*, I shall have more time for writing. But what on earth is then going to motivate me to put away all my Christmas trip packing so there is floor space in the spare bedroom***, or sort out the coats in the porch, or throw that random shoebox in the bin?

Things done: house (except bathroom and kitchen floor, to be done Wednesday night), food shopping.

Things undone: CV updated (a task that's been waiting a good year), fic written, Christmas diary finished, amaryllis planted, financial papers sorted, mending, exercise had, new landline phone set up, emails sent, ironing etc. etc.

Also, where on EARTH am I going to put my stuff if my parents move this year? I will have to hope that they buy a house with a large boarded loft.

But at least it was all mostly indoors and in the warmth and I was lavish with the central heating, and my cold is receding if catarrh-y. I have absolutely got to pick up the fic again this week, or I'm going to start to forget things. Resolution set!

*The place is always reasonably clean and tolerably tidy**, but only an idiot would not be cynical about letting agents, and when I leave want to be able to say "You have inspected the place regularly and never found a fault with the way I kept it - return all of that deposit or I'll see you in court."

**For a value of tidy that includes there being paper on every flat surface, and things in the nearest drawer at the time.

***I have never managed to travel light.

Comments

[antisoppist]

But what on earth is then going to motivate me
Procastination? Looming deadlines were always when I decided it was essential to clean the oven.

When I shared a student house, I discovered that other people's tidy was nothing on any surface at all, whereas mine, as the tidiest person in my family, was the papers on every flat surface neatly categorised and lined up at right angles.

We had one lot of letting agents who we told we were leaving a month before the end of the lease, when we gave the keys back. We were prepared to lose a month's rent but not for losing the deposit for not having mown the lawn since moving from Guildford to Bristol.

[nineveh_uk]

Procrastination can be a powerful motivator. I just need to keep up a supply of things I want to do even less (like re-write my CV).

I cut my lawn with the machine provided - it's a falling-apart machine, so it doesn't go very short...

I like surfaces to be clear, but my work desk shows that this does not translate into keeping them so for 24 hours.

[sonetka.livejournal.com]

Ha! We didn't quite have to get to "I'll see you in court" but I did have to escalate to "I consulted my lawyer and he informs me that you cannot legally bill us for that, here's his name and contact information if you want to confirm." (I feel so out of depth saying things like "consulted my lawyer", thought of course what it meant was "I made a phone call to the lawyer who handled our wills and also specializes in real estate"). If you're wondering, they were trying to hold us responsible for utilities until the end of the month when we had moved out on the 5th -- and they had been doing TONS of repainting etc afterwards, because they wanted the walls to be more neutral colours, and at one point had left the lights on for three solid days. Of course, the agent didn't realize I knew this, but our new house was only a few blocks away from the old one, and I have to walk by it to get to the bus. Never underestimate the scuzziness of an agent.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

That's very scuzzy indeed! Mine seem to be reasonable so far, but why take chances?

[sonetka.livejournal.com]

Mine were very reasonable and good right until the moment we moved out, so it's definitely a good move to keep all the documentation. We did get it all back in the end, but I was greatly annoyed -- and also couldn't help wondering how many tenants they'd pulled that on who didn't fight back.

[azdak.livejournal.com]

I had no idea letting agents were allowed to walk in and inspect your living space while you were still living in it. That seems like a breach of privacy 8although I can quite see that it would insure that the place looks tidy at least three times a year).

What an awful lot you've got done! I feel exhausted just contemplating it!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Not that anything will necessarily be done, but once they're in writing as things the tenant has raised they can't affect the deposit if they worsen.

I always make sure that if I report something it is via email for just this reason. The agency seem fine so far, and very good at getting repairs done quickly, but I'm working on the principle that it pays to be careful. I don't care that the oven seal is elderly and scorches the cupboard a bit (not dangerously, it's just a bit of grease escaping and can be wiped down) but I want it plain that I told them about it and not taking action was their choice.

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine recently had awful landlords who came round every few weeks to check the state of the property and criticised them for things like "clothes on the bedroom floor" and "rubbish in bin" (not an overflowing bin, just an ordinary kitchen bin with some rubbish in it).

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Argh! And though I thikn you can deny entry and complain for that sort of thing, it can be hard to feel you're in a positiion to do so. Mine are nothing like that - it's only 3 times a year and I do get lots of notice. And it's the agency rather than the landlord (though I have met the landlord as he came round personally once when he was arranging for some work on the guttering).

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

They spent a lot of time talking to Shelter and CAB and so on; it sounded pretty grim. I, thankfully, haven't experienced that, though (like you, I deal with the estate agency, not the landlord, and they're fairly reasonable and quite good at responding to stuff).

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It has to be reasonable notice and access - they aren't being unreasonably demanding and it's a quick check, not a go through your stuff. I can see why they'd want to check people aren't wrecking the place, but it is a bit annoying, and it does drive home the fact that it isn't actually mine.

[(Anonymous)]

Coming from the other end, I wish we had this system in place here! Theoretically landlords CAN ask to inspect the house at any time, but the tenants were good so we didn't. And found out later that they had left a window open when the sprinklers ran, and water came in and ruined the wood floor. :(
- M

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

It's the periodic stories of people wrecking places running cannabis factories that really make me appreciate why landlords would want to check!

I would be lovely to a wood floor.