Rented house inventory - Fair wear and tear?

sancho

We are moving into our first own house on Saturday!! Good times

We have to move all of our stuff and put the house back to how it was. Bad times

We have lived in this rented house for 6 years, so am thinking a fair amount of wear and tear will be allowed, that's quite subjective though imo!

Just been around and checked everything on the inventory and certain things that were described as being Very Good, i would say are now either 'Fair' or 'Good'. Is this acceptable?

Also there are venetian blinds on two of the windows; the lounge and our bedroom. The ones in the bedroom are a little mouldy along the bottom of them due to the condensation in the bay window. We have tried to clean them a few times over the last 6 years, but nothing seems to work. I suppose it's one of those things that we've just got used to it but when you compare it to the one downtairs it's pretty bad. Anybody got any tips for cleaning them?

We have also replaced things like light shades (the ones that were there were awful), toilet brushes and the shower curtain. We're happy to leave all of those things as our new house has them all, but the inventory says "White shower curtain" "green uplighters" etc. etc. Would it normally be reasonable to just leave what we have, or would we be expected to have it exactly as the inventory?

Sorry for rambling, hope someone can help

Thanks in advace

Gingernutmeg

Dettol mould and mildew spray can be very good for mould staining, but I'd go very carefully on fabric and test a small inconspicuous bit first. I don't think it's recommended for fabric but I've had good results on mouldy shower curtains and bathroom blinds.

Fire_Fox

Mould around windows is usually down to condensation, which means you haven't ventilated the house properly. Bedrooms suffer as you breathe out so much water vapour overnight. This is not classed as wear and tear especially if you haven't reported the problem the landlord. As gingernutmeg says, Dettol spray is very good but it contains bleach so don't get it on fabrics - IME it's fine on pale coloured paintwork.

Scuff marks, grease and even nicotine (sometimes) on walls come off very well with sugar soap. Try Stardrops on carpets and practically everything else.

BitterAndTwisted

Normally, if the inventory says "white shower-curtain" then that is exactly what the landlord will expect to receive back. If you have replaced items (and after the length of your tenancy any reasonable person would expect you to have done so) get in touch with the landlord and ask them whether your very attractive fake leopardskin one will suffice. If not, replace.

sancho

Makes sense, tbh the landlady has been very good, especially after reading some of the stories on here!!

The stuff we have replaced has been replaced with better quality stuff, and with quite a 'plain' taste. Like those round paper lamp shades. But as you say it's her house

6 years seems a reasonable amount of time, i know people who redecorate their whole house after 4 or so. If the kitchen wallpaper (never know why wallpaper was put in the kichen, especially with no extractor fan) is greasy and stuff i would say it's not unreasonable to redecorate after that amount of time, or is that not how landlords think?

Obviously we will clean it though, that star drops stuff is great, although i haven't seen it for a while and i think we're nearly out

Fire_Fox

Home Bargains or Wilkinsons for Stardrops. If it's a washable wallpaper you might get away with sugar soaping it, just don't use a very wet cloth. Do a test patch over the kitchen cupboards where it can't be seen - if she is a decent landlady she will appreciate the effort.

roses

sancho wrote: »

The stuff we have replaced has been replaced with better quality stuff, and with quite a 'plain' taste. Like those round paper lamp shades. But as you say it's her house

You mean those hideous ones from Ikea that get ripped everytime you try to change the light bulb? Did you replace it from the white paper shades or to them?

As stated above, ask the landlady what she wants back.

sancho

From them

That's what i'm hoping Fire Fox, that she will notice that we have tried, we've called her twice in six years, once because there was a leak and the ceiling started to sag, and the other time because we wanted to paint a couple of rooms.

Think we've been pretty good tenants, want to get all of our deposit back though, then we can buy me a really nice oven in our new house!!

Jowo_2

Fair wear and tear as an approximate definition is natural deterioration after ordinary usage which rules in things like the sun fading furnishings and thinning of carpet around door ways and rules out all marks, stains, dirt (including) grease splashes and mould caused through tenant behaviour and so forth.

Having said that, landlords are obliged to take into account the age and original condition of any items when making deductions from the deposit and cannot enjoy betterment (new replacement costs for old items).

Fire_Fox

sancho wrote: »

From them

That's what i'm hoping Fire Fox, that she will notice that we have tried, we've called her twice in six years, once because there was a leak and the ceiling started to sag, and the other time because we wanted to paint a couple of rooms.

Think we've been pretty good tenants, want to get all of our deposit back though, then we can buy me a really nice oven in our new house!!

You should put all complaints and requests to alter the property into writing. This is to protect you if there is any dispute regarding the deposit. You shouldn't really have changed the lampshades without written permission.