Leaving a rented property-what more can I do?!?!?

bandraoi

Can't say I find £5 for a lightbulb excessive.

You're not paying for the lightbulb, you're paying for the time it takes someone to go and replace it. That includes going to buy it, typically finding a ladder, the time it takes to go to the house, and the time it takes to actually replace the bulb. Not to mention that to employ the person who does it for that period of time there will be a certain amount of overhead - office space, payroll, expenses processsing . . .

It's worth an hour of someone's time, and that is £5, even if you're only paying yourself minimum wage.

emsywoo123

I am glad Is tarted this thread now, if a blown lightbulb can be considered reasonable at £5

tbs624

bandraoi wrote: »

Can't say I find £5 for a lightbulb excessive.

You're not paying for the lightbulb, you're paying for the time it takes someone to go and replace it. That includes going to buy it, typically finding a ladder, the time it takes to go to the house, and the time it takes to actually replace the bulb. Not to mention that to employ the person who does it for that period of time there will be a certain amount of overhead - office space, payroll, expenses processsing . . .

It's worth an hour of someone's time, and that is £5, even if you're only paying yourself minimum wage.

Well, good for you Bandraoi - if you ever get to let out property and you think you'd be so unprepared for the realities as to have to make a special light bulb trip then maybe you're best staying where you are

I think Sooz covered it really:

sooz wrote: »

As for £5 per lightbulb...that is 30p per bulb and £4.70 for the health and safety report, scaffolding & expertise of the LA

As I said before, anyone with an ounce of intelligence who lets property out keeps spares for this sort of thing and *someone* has to go around the property anyway with a tick chart to check one lot of tenants out and the other lot in - they're already there at the property. And you need your ladder for that too because you want to look for dust and dead flies on the top of unreachable things so you can catch those dastardly tenants out. Give 'em an inch..........

I bet you'd even charge tenants for the cost of the biro to sign the tenancy agreement , and probably include the costs of at least a couple of sheets of lavvy paper per tenant in your admin costs, just in case all your add-on charges made them dive for your office lav.

You can do very well out of letting property without needing to fleece people on the petty issue of a couple of light bulbs.

chocolatefudge84

This thread has really surprised me! When I moved into the house I am currently renting it was filthy!! Took me hours tro clean the oven, the walls all needed a wipe down, there is STILL pencil and crayon marks on my bedroom ceiling!
I will make sure the house is clean and tidy but I will not be pleased if I am refused the deposit due to things like the oven not gleaming, as it wasn't when I moved in! I do regularly clean it but do not feel that I should have any professional work done on it. Am I being unreasonable?

tbs624

chocolatefudge84 wrote: »

This thread has really surprised me! When I moved into the house I am currently renting it was filthy!! Took me hours tro clean the oven, the walls all needed a wipe down, there is STILL pencil and crayon marks on my bedroom ceiling!
I will make sure the house is clean and tidy but I will not be pleased if I am refused the deposit due to things like the oven not gleaming, as it wasn't when I moved in! I do regularly clean it but do not feel that I should have any professional work done on it. Am I being unreasonable?

Look back though the thread and you'll see that a LL can only ask for a property to be returned in the same condition as it was at the start of the tenancy, fair wear and tear excepted. When you move in anywhere, if it is dirty and there is damage, then fully comment on it in the inventory if there is one, take dated photos, notify it in writing to the LL etc. A LL has to justify deductions - they can't simply tell you that they are making them, and then do so, without giving the opportunity to discuss the matter or pursue them to a court/deposit scheme adjudicator if necessary.