We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
What can I claim from tenants deposit?
jammy78
Posts: 133 Forumite
Hi All,
My tenants moved out yesterday & I have just been round to inspect the property & found these problems:
1. In the bedroom they put up blinds & have left a total of 8 holes where the screws were.
2. The corner of the loft hatch door is broken & will need replacing
3. The grass in the rear garden is like a jungle & probably hasn't been cut in months (I left them a lawnmower)
4. Computer table I left has obviously been dismantled & then put back together again but a shelf has been badly damaged & if you put anything on it the table will collapse.
5. I found notice there has been damage to the walls but they have tried to paint over it, but didn't use exactly the same colour.
I haven't spoken to my LA yet & there are also going to send someone round to check it out.
Now can I claim for the above damages, if so how much is a reasonable amount for each? Or do I have to wait for the LA inspection outcome?
Lastly my LA said they will check if the bills have been paid - do I trust them to do it?
Thanks a lot!
My tenants moved out yesterday & I have just been round to inspect the property & found these problems:
1. In the bedroom they put up blinds & have left a total of 8 holes where the screws were.
2. The corner of the loft hatch door is broken & will need replacing
3. The grass in the rear garden is like a jungle & probably hasn't been cut in months (I left them a lawnmower)
4. Computer table I left has obviously been dismantled & then put back together again but a shelf has been badly damaged & if you put anything on it the table will collapse.
5. I found notice there has been damage to the walls but they have tried to paint over it, but didn't use exactly the same colour.
I haven't spoken to my LA yet & there are also going to send someone round to check it out.
Now can I claim for the above damages, if so how much is a reasonable amount for each? Or do I have to wait for the LA inspection outcome?
Lastly my LA said they will check if the bills have been paid - do I trust them to do it?
Thanks a lot!
0
Comments
-
Let the check out inventory clerk sort it out for you. They should also be able to assign a value to each of the deficient items. There is no point fixing anything until they come, else how else to prove anything was amiss in the first place?Signature on holiday for two weeks0
-
Hi All,
My tenants moved out yesterday & I have just been round to inspect the property & found these problems:
1. In the bedroom they put up blinds & have left a total of 8 holes where the screws were. 1/2 hour job for a decorator. Get 3 quote, use the cheapest.
2. The corner of the loft hatch door is broken & will need replacing. Wear and Tear
3. The grass in the rear garden is like a jungle & probably hasn't been cut in months (I left them a lawnmower) 1/2 hour job for a gardener, get 3 quotes, use the cheapest.
4. Computer table I left has obviously been dismantled & then put back together again but a shelf has been badly damaged & if you put anything on it the table will collapse. Will be a percentage of the purchase price of the item, based upon age. If it's over 5 years old, forget it.
5. I found notice there has been damage to the walls but they have tried to paint over it, but didn't use exactly the same colour. Wear and Tear
For the gardener/decorator make sure you get COMPETETIVE quotes else they could be contested.Bankruptcy isn't the worst that can happen to you. The worst that can happen is your forced to live the rest of your life in abject poverty trying to repay the debts.0 -
Did the tenancy agreement state that tenants must cut the grass?0
-
daphne_descends wrote: »Did the tenancy agreement state that tenants must cut the grass?
The tennant should leave the garden, like the rest of the property, in the state it was when they arrived.
If I was the LL I would just mow it myself though.... it's simply not worth arguing over it.Bankruptcy isn't the worst that can happen to you. The worst that can happen is your forced to live the rest of your life in abject poverty trying to repay the debts.0 -
The tennant should leave the garden, like the rest of the property, in the state it was when they arrived.
If I was the LL I would just mow it myself though.... it's simply not worth arguing over it.
But I moved in in June and the plants in the garden had leaves on them, where do I buy new leaves to stick on the plants when I leave in December?
0 -
Jammy - do you have an inventory from the start of the tenancy, signed by both parties?
When did you /your LA last inspect the property?
Have you scheme-registered the tenants' deposit?0 -
Jammy - do you have an inventory from the start of the tenancy, signed by both parties?
When did you /your LA last inspect the property?
Have you scheme-registered the tenants' deposit?
Yes I had done a full inventory & they did sign it.
The LA inspected the property 3 months ago & yes it's in the deposit protection service.
Surely the loft hatch isn't wear & tear as they must have dropped it to do that damage? I can't see that being cheap to replace?!
The computer table was only 3 months old.
Looking at the agreement:
To keep garden including pathways, lawns, hedges etc... neat tidy & properly tended at all times.0 -
Hi All,
1. In the bedroom they put up blinds & have left a total of 8 holes where the screws were.
Why the holes are there why not use them to put a blind up? saves the next tenant doing the same thing and you going through ths=is at the end of the next tennancy.
I would hate a bathroom with nothing over the windows.Any spelling mistakes are entirely on purpose to check you're paying attention
0 -
What comments did the LA make at the time of his inspection or are you/he saying that all of this only occurred in the final 3 months?
That's way too prescriptive and would probably be challenged as an unfair contract term - you can as someone has already posted only ask a tenant to make sure that state of the garden is similar to that at the start of the tenancy. So, if you can show that the grass was well maintained at the start then the tenant should clearly have cut it before leaving: as has been suggested, get some quotes for the necessary work.To keep garden including pathways, lawns, hedges etc... neat tidy & properly tended at all times.
The problem with "fair wear and tear" is that there is no firm legal definition but you have to take into account things such as the original age and condition of anything at the start of the tenancy, the ratio of its average useful lifespan to its value,what would be reasonable usage which in turn is dependent on things like how many occupants there are and how long they have lived there.
You or the LA could initially phone the tenant and highlight the areas of concern and see what they have to say. You do have to confirm any proposed deductions in writing to them and they can obviously challenge those if they disagree. You could invite the tenants to return to sort the garden out themselves as an option.
If it is possible to get a replacement shelf for the computer desk then that's another option.
If you are a first time LL you should learn from this experience and arrange for either you or your LA to call round to have a chat with the tenants within the final couple of weeks so that any possible areas of dispute can be discussed and resolved before the tenants move out. If tenants are fixing blinds up it may mean that you need to provide better quality curtains in the property,although they should obviously have checked first and made good afterwards.
You will need to also notify the scheme admin people that there is likely to be a dispute.0 -
Yes I had done a full inventory & they did sign it.
The LA inspected the property 3 months ago & yes it's in the deposit protection service.
Surely the loft hatch isn't wear & tear as they must have dropped it to do that damage? I can't see that being cheap to replace?!
The computer table was only 3 months old.
Looking at the agreement:
To keep garden including pathways, lawns, hedges etc... neat tidy & properly tended at all times.
How can you DROP a loft hatch?
They are normally attached to the ceiling....?Bankruptcy isn't the worst that can happen to you. The worst that can happen is your forced to live the rest of your life in abject poverty trying to repay the debts.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.4K Spending & Discounts
- 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards