What can I claim from tenants deposit?

clutton_2

dont waste your time - this all sounds like normal wear and tear to me - fix it = and spend your time getting your next tenant in as quick as possible

mlz1413

Do you have new tenants lined up? Are you advertising to get new tenants in asap?

if so you could go round with LA asap take a load of photos and then contact ex-tenants with your list. They may just agree and offer to pay, if they dispute then I would have a chat with your LA and see if they are willing to sort everything out and get some idea of timespan from them.

If you re-rent the place with any of the items on your list unrepaired then you won't have any reasonable grounds to expect money back from the deposit.

I think TBS has made a good point that in future when notice is handed in make an appointment to see tenants in the house and go through the inventory. Or as my old LL's agents did send a 10 page end of tenancy list - this detailed EVERYTHING that walls and skirtings must be clean and dust free, curtains and carpets free from stains and dirt, cupboards empty, meter readings rung to utility co's, time of exit, etc etc

But in the scheme of things many of the problems are small and can easily be rectified by you over a weekend so if you have new tenants waiting I'd be tempted to put it down to experience.

pulliptears

SquatNow wrote: »

How can you DROP a loft hatch?

They are normally attached to the ceiling....?

Lol, not all of them. You made me smile squat as I have managed to drop ours on several occasions causing a house shaking bang Never managed to knock the corner off it though and I have been dropping it with some regularity for 12 years...

MoneySavingSpender

I seem quite amazed by some of the responses on this thread.

It's as if tenants believe they can treat a property appaullingly and just tag it as "wear and tear"

I'm sorry but if a tenant causes damage under this guise I'd ask them to properly repair it.

olly300

jammy78 wrote: »

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.

If there isn't sufficient window coverings i.e. curtains then tenants will put up their own and will make holes doing it. You can't expect people to live in a place without sufficient privacy.

Most of the properties I've rented have had net curtains and normal curtains, plus blinds in the kitchen and bathroom to prevent myself and the people I lived with from putting up our own.

2. The corner of the loft hatch door is broken & will need replacing

Is it possible to lock the loft hatch or attach a padlock to it? This will help prevent your tenants from going up their again.

3. The grass in the rear garden is like a jungle & probably hasn't been cut in months (I left them a lawnmower)

Tenants have a habit of not caring for gardens or if they do they are likely to destroy some plants you have put in. It's actually easier as a landlord for you to arrange for a gardener to come round once month to cut the grass.

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.

Don't leave flimsy things like computer tables, ironing boards and chest of draws in the property otherwise expect them back in this condition.

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.

It's to be expected that you will need to repaint part of the property after every year. I suggest next time you make it clear that they should not decorate the property without your permission.


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?

1. blinds and curtains- if you didn't put sufficient coverings over the windows i.e. 2 layers nothing.
2.Loft hatch if you are going to repair it then lock it then get 3 quotes and charge them for the cheapest. If you are not going to lock it then don't bother repairing it otherwise it's bound to happen again.
3. Grass - cut it yourself. It's been raining and it's actually been very hard to time cutting the grass.
4. Computer table - nothing.
5. Paint - nothing. Repaint it after the next tenant leaves

Lastly my LA said they will check if the bills have been paid - do I trust them to do it?

Thanks a lot!

Check the bills yourself. Go and get meter readings now and ensure the utilities are changed into your name with those readings, or if you have tenants lined up ensure they put them in their names.