Is it wear and tear?

d0nkeyk0ng

Silly question but recently moved out of a property. Had to move out swiftly as had been doing long shifts at work so unable to spend as much time as I wanted, plus had short notice of new job offer. Meant I had very little time to pack.

Anyway, cleaned the property to the best of my ability and moved out over two days. Couldn't clean garden as it had been raining for two weeks, pretty much everyday.

Lettings Agency used DPS and inventory check. Wasn't able to attend the checkout as I was over 200 miles away and it would cost me £100 in fuel and 6 hours' driving for this.

They're charging £180 for cleaning, despite me doing my best. If I'd known this, wouldn't have bothered. They're charging me for the garden. I accept this as I couldn't do it myself.

But they wanna charge me for replacing cracked tiles in bathroom, regrouting, resealing bathtub and sink and repaint the dado rail. This with the garden is £140.

Now whilst I was there, tiny bits of grout would come off the wall every time I cleaned the bathroom. Some of the tiles had hairline cracks and these just got worse. Figured it was all wear and tear. Is it?

Wanna raise a dispute but no point if it's gonna cost me more time and money which I don't have!

clutton_2

if you did not report this little cracks and bits of grout falling off at the time they first started, then you are responsible, in my LL view, for the ongoing damage, and should pay to have some tiles replaced, but not all.

if you did report it and the LL did not repair it - and it got worse through landlord neglect, then the LL should pay.

did you and the LL sign an inventory on check in and also on check out ?

how long were you in the property and how many of you lived there ?

DawnW

Also as a LL (though not as experIenced as Clutton, who gives great advice IMHO) I would actually expect to sort out the tile / grout problem myself prior to getting new tenants in, but would expect you to have left the house and garden perfectly clean /clear.

d0nkeyk0ng

I didn't think anything of it at the time.Put it down to wear and tear and left it alone. Signed a check-in inventory. LL didn't. Wasn't there at check-out and haven't received anything to sign for that. How would this impact on the situation?

one bed flat, one person, one year
Will have a look at the check-in inventory tomorrow.

As for the cleaning, underestimated how long it would take me to pack and clean. In future will hire a professional cleaner to save me the headache.

shakerbaby

d0nkeyk0ng wrote: »

I didn't think anything of it at the time.Put it down to wear and tear and left it alone. Signed a check-in inventory. LL didn't. Wasn't there at check-out and haven't received anything to sign for that. How would this impact on the situation?

one bed flat, one person, one year
Will have a look at the check-in inventory tomorrow.

As for the cleaning, underestimated how long it would take me to pack and clean. In future will hire a professional cleaner to save me the headache.

Believe me even if you had got the place professionally cleaned these parasites would have kept you deposit and send a 'cleaning bill' as they all live off the deposits of their decent tenants.