My landlord sent us a letter

[kjarva]

We had a flat inspection last week. As we always do come inspection time we frantically cleaned for 3 days before our inspection. Today I got a letter from the letting agency advising us that we had failed our inspection due to our flat being 'disgusting, filthy and untidy'. The letter also commented that there was a smell of cat urine (it was the day before bin day so we hadn't put one of the bin bags out yet and it did have litter box emptyings in it).

I am absolutely fuming as the flat was cleaned to a reasonable standard and I don't see how a few books piled on the living room carpet is terribly untidy. I also don't see what untidyness has to do with anything, as long as the place is clean. The LA has said if we dont pass an inspection in a week they can evict us. Can anyone advise? (Obviously we are going to clean like maniacs for a week but our letting agency has played silly buggers with us before)

[MrShed]

When did you begin the tenancy, and what is the fixed term?

[kjarva]

the tenancy started in July 2007 and the fixed term was 6 months. I live in Scotland so unfortunately the deposit scheme doesn't apply to me.

[MrShed]

You are outside of the fixed term, hence you have very little security of tenure. Yes they can evict if they want. They could try to evict on Section 8(breach of tenancy) basis, but I doubt that would succeed and they know it. However, they can automatically get eviction using a Section 21 notice, which requires 2 months notice.

[MrShed]

Do you have a Short Assured Tenancy, or an Assured Tenancy?

[kjarva]

It's a short assured tenancy. Thanks for the help by the way

[MrShed]

No probs

The general advice above stands(they can evict and give 2 months notice) - the process differs.

Suggest you read this:

Shelter Scotland - Eviction at the end of your tenancy