Rows of drawing pin holes in the wall by tenant who put up cloth prints on the wall

confused_landlord

So the tenant put loads of cloth prints on the wall, held up by drawing pins. I dont know what is the appropriate amount to charge him. I have asked that he get quotes from decorators to get them covered and leave a corresponding amount of money with me but he has not done so. I am currently not in the UK and I dont know how much to charge. Also, if he does not leave the amount requried, what is the process to get the money in small claims court?

System

Didn't he put down a security/damages deposit?

I would just charge him for wall sealer (polyfiller etc.) and paint and DIY, if you get more tenants then it's not worth paying someone to redecorate again and going through the whole claims process.

lynzpower

This really does seem rather petty to be honest.

A tube of filler is about a fiver ( im certain it would take about 1 millionth of a tube to fill a drawing pin hole) tin of white paint ditto a fiver. So you could charge them a tenner. Lets face it are you really going to get a contractor out for this job? They will PTSL at the minute nature of the work.

I really cant see drawing pin holes making your property difficult to let at all in fact im sure no prospeective tenant would really even notice it!

confused_landlord

Thanks. I only saw the room when the throws were held up with the pins. Admittedly, since the throws have come down I have not seen the walls to assess the extent of the problem but I assure you we are not talking about a couple of random holes, but of rows and rows of pin holes holding up cloth.

I am worried that rows of small holes are harder to cover up then one big gaping hole. They are all over the walls, at different heights. But if I am incorrect in my assumption, and the holes are easy to cover up, I am more than happy to not deduct money from the tenant.

p.s: I allowed the tenant to not pay his last months rent and am currently holding 1 weeks deposit.

N79

I'm sorry but I am not able to understand the problem here. Presumably your agent has viewed the property to assess the damage (since you are outside the UK I assume that you had someone in the UK acting as your agent in some capacity, even if only as a mail forwarder)? What do they say? Obviously if you intend to charge then ask your decorating contractor (or your agents if you have one) for a quotation and start discussing this with the tenant.

If T disagrees and the cost is more than the remaining deposit then you would need to file a case in the small claims court. In order to do this you need the Ts current address and there needs to be some realistic prospect that the T has the money otherwise you are throwing good money after bad.

Captain_Mainwaring_2

lynzpower wrote: »

This really does seem rather petty to be honest.

A tube of filler is about a fiver ( im certain it would take about 1 millionth of a tube to fill a drawing pin hole) tin of white paint ditto a fiver. So you could charge them a tenner. Lets face it are you really going to get a contractor out for this job? They will PTSL at the minute nature of the work.

I really cant see drawing pin holes making your property difficult to let at all in fact im sure no prospeective tenant would really even notice it!

If it's so petty, why don't YOU go around there and fix it for free? I expect the OP will give you a nice cup of tea while you do it.

In my experience people who say "how petty" generally live in a dump with kiddies scrawl over the walls.

Gangstabird

Captain_Mainwaring wrote: »

If it's so petty, why don't YOU go around there and fix it for free? I expect the OP will give you a nice cup of tea while you do it.

In my experience people who say "how petty" generally live in a dump with kiddies scrawl over the walls.

Meeeee-ouuuuwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

confused_landlord

I have an agent who is just a friend really. He will take photos next wednesday.

I have paid decorators about 50gbp an hour in the past, and I advised the tenant that I reckoned it would take 2 hours to cover up the mess but I asked the tenant to get a quote himself and said i would deduct the corresponding amount from the deposit. The tenant has not bothered to get a quote so it's up to me to arrange it.

To be honest, the tenant was only on a 3 month tenancy and I am particularly annoyed 'cos I think it was unnecessary to put pins in the wall for just a 3 month contract. The previous tenant caused damages but he advised me of the fact, and I did not deduct any money as I did not want to penalise him for his honesty. I got the feeling this tenant was trying to get one over on me, as I only realised the situation due to visiting the place and seeing the damage myself.

My concern is that with my DIY skills, any work to do to cover up the holes will actually make it worse. And there is the added pressure that once the filler has been applied, the walls will have to be repainted. All for the sake of a 3 month contract!!

Captain_Mainwaring_2

confused_landlord wrote: »

I have an agent who is just a friend really. He will take photos next wednesday.

I have paid decorators about 50gbp an hour in the past, and I advised the tenant that I reckoned it would take 2 hours to cover up the mess but I asked the tenant to get a quote himself and said i would deduct the corresponding amount from the deposit. The tenant has not bothered to get a quote so it's up to me to arrange it.

To be honest, the tenant was only on a 3 month tenancy and I am particularly annoyed 'cos I think it was unnecessary to put pins in the wall for just a 3 month contract. The previous tenant caused damages but he advised me of the fact, and I did not deduct any money as I did not want to penalise him for his honesty. I got the feeling this tenant was trying to get one over on me, as I only realised the situation due to visiting the place and seeing the damage myself.

My concern is that with my DIY skills, any work to do to cover up the holes will actually make it worse. And there is the added pressure that once the filler has been applied, the walls will have to be repainted. All for the sake of a 3 month contract!!

Jesus Wept, who at £50/hr? Picasso, or the burk who laid on his back and artexed the Sistine Chapel ceiling? I'm led to believe that slapping a bit of dulux about isn't that technical, and looking at some of the trogs who seem to gain employment doing so, I can but concur.

abaxas

Most important question. Do you have an inventory?

No inventory = no deductions.

lil_me

I think it would be irresponsible not to obtain 3 quotes and use the one which offers the best value for money and I am almost certain if this went to a small claims level they would request to see several quotes. There is no point at all unless you are a painter and decorator of stating how much time, paint or what cost would be involved. I just asked my best friends partner who has his own decorating business, he said if you're paying £50 per hour shop around as you're being ripped off

You will also need to check what it states in the tenancy agreement your agent used, if there was restrictions on hanging pictures etc, if it stated they should make good any holes made when putting up items and if he stated which paints to use or if they should contact the landlord to get the required paint type (so that any patching work can be done to match)