being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

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MDMK
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being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by MDMK »

Not sure if I am being unreasonable, and this maybe is the norm in Thailand. It sounds made up and unreasonable to me. But I am open to being told it's normal enough.

A bit of background. We're all set to spend our first winter in Hua Hin. Definitely 4 months, but could possibly stretch to 5. We have found a house to rent. Owners are back in Europe due to health reasons, house has been empty for the last 18 months or so, has been let out via airbnb but only 3 times in 18 months, the 3 short term rentals together make a total of 5 weeks in 18 months - sp for all intents and puropses, empty for 18 months. We've agreed on everything, price, deposit, no parties, the lot. The owner has calculated an amount into the rental price to cover gardener and pool man, fair enough, we're happy with the rental price and happy we have one hassle less. The owner of the house (the husband) did say they knew a good cleaner if we were interested, I said we weren't.

Now when I said we weren't interested, I meant in his cleaner.

Last two times in Hua Hin (when we stayed in airbnb rentals) I have used a woman who works for friends of ours. I was very pleased with her, after 2 visits it was like she'd worked for us for years. I didn't have to explain anything. She just intuitively knew how we liked things done. She is very thorough, and she is flexible. I have agreed with her that she'll come twice a week for 3 hours. But like we did during our holidays, if we need her more she's more than willing. She'll do laundry, she'll mend things, she'll shop if we need it, heck she even packed 2 cases for our return journey without being asked. In short, perfect for us.

The owner got back to me to make sure we really didn't need his cleaner, and to give a character reference for his cleaner. I explained we'd be using someone else.

This is where it began to get tricky. He is not pleased we're using another cleaner. His cleaner is also cleaner for all the neighbours (or most of them) and he feels that makes his cleaner more trustworthy. I would rather clean myself than have my cleaner gossiping about me with the neighbours.

I know I will spend a lot of time with any new cleaner "working them in", why should I when I have a woman who already knows all that. To top it all off owner's cleaner charges more (roughly 10% more) and will be less flexible I am sure as she has more houses she looks after.

House owner feels a lot more comfortable with his cleaner and is kind of pushing us on this issue.

We're at a bit of an impasse.

No money has changed hands yet, but he expects us to a pay a deposit this week (roughly the equivalent of 2 months rent). I'm fine with everything we've agreed on except the cleaner.

I'm at the point of telling him to jog on and find other renters, I just want to make sure that this is as weird as I think it is. The owner keeps saying things like "it's normal in Thailand when you rent a home to rent the cleaner that comes with the house".

Just editing this to add, I have offered to supply him with references for our cleaner if that would make him feel more secure, and I have also pointed out that we're paying a hefty deposit for breakages etc, so if something did disappear or get broken, and if I was enough of a twat not to replace it (which I am not), that's what my deposit is for, he can dock the price of a stolen or broken item from that. He is still not a happy bunny. We're not getting this rental at any knockdown price, we're paying I would say slightly above market value I think, we could get cheaper, but this one is nice.
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by robcar »

Personally I'd be telling him to jog on. There are hundreds of nice up-market houses, maybe thousands for rent in Hua Hin. If he wants your money he'll take your terms or no deal
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by Nereus »

The owner keeps saying things like "it's normal in Thailand when you rent a home to rent the cleaner that comes with the house".
When I had my house out for short term rental, the terms were that my cleaner, at my expense, presented the house ready for use. Any "cleaner" after that was up to the client. After the client left, the house was inspected and cleaned, again at my cost, before any deposit was returned. There is no "normal" anything in Thailand!
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by MDMK »

if he had initially calculated the cleaner (and costs) into the rental price, the way he did with the gardener & pool boy... I would have stopped after first contact as I don't want the same cleaner as my neighbours . It's the way I have spent so much time emailing with him only to learn this "security issue" he has so late in the day. Jog on matey will be my next and last email to him. I get a few controlling vibes from him. I reckon he wants his cleaner as he will get a weekly update of how the house looks and what type of people we are. If he was just upfront I would've understood and would have offered to let one of the neighbours check in on us and have a look around the house.

Thanks for the replies guys.
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by Dannie Boy »

MDMK wrote: Mon Jul 30, 2018 5:15 pm if he had initially calculated the cleaner (and costs) into the rental price, the way he did with the gardener & pool boy... I would have stopped after first contact as I don't want the same cleaner as my neighbours . It's the way I have spent so much time emailing with him only to learn this "security issue" he has so late in the day. Jog on matey will be my next and last email to him. I get a few controlling vibes from him. I reckon he wants his cleaner as he will get a weekly update of how the house looks and what type of people we are. If he was just upfront I would've understood and would have offered to let one of the neighbours check in on us and have a look around the house.

Thanks for the replies guys.
All I would suggest is keep your comments civil but to the point, simply say that you don’t need his cleaner but if that’s a deal breaker, you will look elsewhere - then it’s up to him!!
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by MDMK »

Dannie Boy wrote: Mon Jul 30, 2018 5:31 pm
All I would suggest is keep your comments civil but to the point, simply say that you don’t need his cleaner but if that’s a deal breaker, you will look elsewhere - then it’s up to him!!


Hi (house owner)

I’ve had a long chat with (my husband) this morning regarding using (your cleaner) instead of (our cleaner). It just isn’t going to work for us. I was under the impression that the gardener and the pool boy come with the house and their costs are part of the price we agreed, other things we needed we were free to do or hire in. Whether it’s a cleaner I wish to employ or a cook or a driver or a babysitter, I have never considered these things something that my landlord had a say in. I hope you will reconsider, you know we love your home, I know we would make very good, very low maintenance tenants. We just like to have people of our own choosing around us. I 'd appreciate it if you'd let us know by the end of the week as we need to get accommodation sorted. All the best


is that ^ civil and to the point? I verge towards the long winded (hehehe, I hide it so well, huh) and sometimes I come across as not being civil, I don't mean to... it's just the way I talk.
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by PeteC »

Absolutely. I wouldn't change a thing. With no racial slur intended, is the owner German, over 50-60? It all sounds like some events in my past life here when I used to rent from one. Very nice people, but set in their ways. Pete :cheers:
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by MDMK »

PeteC wrote: Mon Jul 30, 2018 7:10 pm Absolutely. I wouldn't change a thing. With no racial slur intended, is the owner German, over 50-60? It all sounds like some events in my past life here when I used to rent from one. Very nice people, but set in their ways. Pete :cheers:
not a million miles away PeteC. They're Dutch, but definitely not the laid back variety of Dutch. 8)

"set in their ways" ok, I will run with that one. Much more tactful than what I had in mind. Hehe. I think they're only early to mid 60s. But really they come across as from a whole other era, like my grandad who would be 118 if he was alive today. If I am like that in a decade I will shoot myself.

I've had a bit of back n forth in email and whatsap with the husband and today and right now if he gave me it rent free I'd tell him to stick it. I have had sick buffalo stories to convince me to hire his cleaner as she really needs the money, I have had scare stories about thieving Thai maids, scare stories about lazy Thai maids who take the piss out of green Farangs like me, and I've been patronised to within an inch of my life and spoken to like I have never traveled further than the local supermarket. My last whatsap said basically "thanks anyway, I hope you find some nice people to rent your house who also hire your cleaner. We'll be looking elsewhere".

His annoying shite is still coming in. :banghead:

Thanks all :thumb:
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by MLS »

MDMK, I hope you find somewhere pretty much perfect, soon, and more fool them for being so intransigent!
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by moater »

You dodged a bullet on this one! Be thankful you found out who your potential landlord really was before you committed to a relationship.
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by MDMK »

yeah I was getting the feeling that what started as normal concern for your house (I'd be crapping it if I rented my home out too) was turning in to something much more controlling and busybody-ish.

thanks all, you've been great sounding boards.
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by Homer »

Perfectly understandable request from an owner who has seen, heard or experienced himself the damage a renter can do. His cleaner is also his early warning source.
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by MLS »

Owners' perogative and understandable if they’ve been 'burnt' before, sure, but perhaps they’d save wasting potential tenants' time by stating this requirement very clearly right from the start.
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by hin »

We do not have a cleaner, do not need a cleaner, and do not want a cleaner. What would a landlord do about that..? Bug the house..? We don’t want a life with spies lurking around us. If he lives in fear of his tenants he shud sell, not rent, and invest the money somplace else. There are more ways than one to het ulcers and a landlord who has them will surely pass pas them on to his tenants
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Re: being stuck with the cleaner who comes with the house

Post by PeteC »

If the man is Dutch I make the assumption that the wife is Thai given that they own the house. Yes of course, there are other possibilities. If the wife is Thai the cleaner maid may be a member of her family that she wants to support, and she's putting pressure from hell on her husband to assure she's hired for the job. Pete :cheers:
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