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
advice re landlady, conclusion of tenancy and deposit
Stevie1
Posts: 201 Forumite
Hello all,
We need some advise to do with the above, would appreciate your help.
Our AST rental agreement of six months is coming to an end on 1 November 2008, following which we are moving back to our own house. We have already agreed this verbally, with our landlady. Said landlady put a letter this week through the door confirming this, which is fine.
The query is how to behave concerning a maintenance issue;
About 6-8 weeks ago it became apparent that there was a leak from the bathroom - watermarks on the ceiling were showing downstairs in the entrance hall. We have looked as best we could (took bath panel off, checked pipes etc.) but could not understand where the leak was coming from.
A couple of days after we discovered this, and just as we were about to call the landlady, she arranged to come and pick up some items from the garage. While she was here, we told and showed her the leak and asked her to arrange for someone to come and check and repair. She decided she wanted to "leave it for now". Because we are responsible and good tenants, we didn't just leave it to get worse and eventually figured out that the leak was the result of a faulty bath seal (it wasn't done properly to begin with, but oddly looked perfectly fine). We have let the landlady know and she asked my husband to replace the seal. It wasn't a problem for us to do, my husband is very DIY handy and we even painted over the watermarks on the ceiling.
The advice we are after is therefore this - do we send the landlady a letter in reply to hers, confirming that we will move out on the agreed end of the tenancy but add something along the lines of; we confirm that as per her request, we repaired the source of the leak of which we notified her approx. 8 weeks ago, to the best of our ability, but that since she refused to arrange for a professional investigation and repair we shall not be held responsible for any damages etc etc etc.
I may be worried for no reason: the landlady has been, generally, OK to deal with and we have a reasonable relationship with her. She is however, a bored, lonely and slightly eccentric, middle-aged woman and I am not 100% confident she will not try to keep some of the deposit for a completely made up reason.
The rental was arranged by a local agency, which has also arranged for the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Solutions). The agency does not manage the rental and the landlady has chosen not to have an inventory at the beginning of the tenancy.
We need some advise to do with the above, would appreciate your help.
Our AST rental agreement of six months is coming to an end on 1 November 2008, following which we are moving back to our own house. We have already agreed this verbally, with our landlady. Said landlady put a letter this week through the door confirming this, which is fine.
The query is how to behave concerning a maintenance issue;
About 6-8 weeks ago it became apparent that there was a leak from the bathroom - watermarks on the ceiling were showing downstairs in the entrance hall. We have looked as best we could (took bath panel off, checked pipes etc.) but could not understand where the leak was coming from.
A couple of days after we discovered this, and just as we were about to call the landlady, she arranged to come and pick up some items from the garage. While she was here, we told and showed her the leak and asked her to arrange for someone to come and check and repair. She decided she wanted to "leave it for now". Because we are responsible and good tenants, we didn't just leave it to get worse and eventually figured out that the leak was the result of a faulty bath seal (it wasn't done properly to begin with, but oddly looked perfectly fine). We have let the landlady know and she asked my husband to replace the seal. It wasn't a problem for us to do, my husband is very DIY handy and we even painted over the watermarks on the ceiling.
The advice we are after is therefore this - do we send the landlady a letter in reply to hers, confirming that we will move out on the agreed end of the tenancy but add something along the lines of; we confirm that as per her request, we repaired the source of the leak of which we notified her approx. 8 weeks ago, to the best of our ability, but that since she refused to arrange for a professional investigation and repair we shall not be held responsible for any damages etc etc etc.
I may be worried for no reason: the landlady has been, generally, OK to deal with and we have a reasonable relationship with her. She is however, a bored, lonely and slightly eccentric, middle-aged woman and I am not 100% confident she will not try to keep some of the deposit for a completely made up reason.
The rental was arranged by a local agency, which has also arranged for the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Solutions). The agency does not manage the rental and the landlady has chosen not to have an inventory at the beginning of the tenancy.
0
Comments
-
Yes write a letter including this but ensure the main point of the letter is that this is a written confirmation of the fact you are moving out.
I would only state the facts in the letter about the leak as it's up to an external third party, not you or the landlady, to decide who is liable for other damage. Also you will put the landlady's back up and so she can easily find something else to keep your deposit.
I would also take digital photographs of the damage making sure the camera you use is properly timed and dated.
As you have no inventory make sure you take digital photograph including close ups of the state you left the property include things like lampshades, curtains, inside of cupboards, mattresses and carpets.I'm not cynical I'm realistic
(If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)0 -
I would only state the facts in the letter about the leak as it's up to an external third party, not you or the landlady, to decide who is liable for other damage. Also you will put the landlady's back up and so she can easily find something else to keep your deposit.
Not if the people on MSE have anything to say about it she can't.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 -
It would be a good idea to confirm in writing that you did notify the LL of the leak: repairs issues should always be reported promptly and it's useful to have this on record. You only need to add that your husband replaced the seal and repainted as requested, and leave the matter there. Keep a copy for your own records.
Agree with Olly's suggestion about photos. If you think the LL may quibble over the deposit,just arrange for her to call round the week before you move out, at a mutually convenient time so that she can discuss any potential problems with you and a prompt resolution can be reached.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.6K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.5K Spending & Discounts
- 247.5K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.6K Life & Family
- 261.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards