wear and tear

Jewel_2

Just about to take on a rental property. In the information from the letting agent, it says about holding a deposit that may be retained for damage, repairs etc at the end of the tenancy. In the olden days (!) there used to be something about wear and tear, but I cannot find anything. Does this still exist? EG, what if we knock a cup of coffee on the carpet and it stains?

DVardysShadow

Knocked cup of coffee is probably not FW&T

amy104

Ditto you are allowed fair wear and tear but stains caused by yourself ie by spilling coffee don't really fall into this catagory.

superfran_uk

Fari wear and tear would be things like carpets being worn down through regular use, not having stains on them.

Fire_Fox

Wear and tear is things looking 'used' from repeatedly using items for their designated purpose; accidental damage is you scratching the wall when moving furniture or staining the carpet.

Jewel_2

Thanks - so if stain actually stained the carpet and all the carpets are the same in the house, would we claim on our own household insurance, or would the landlord be liable (just an ask, it hasn't happened, I was just wondering)

I remember renting a flat out years ago and we accepted that they accidentally broke the top of the cistern - are landlords more picky nowadays?

Fire_Fox

Jewel wrote: »

Thanks - so if stain actually stained the carpet and all the carpets are the same in the house, would we claim on our own household insurance, or would the landlord be liable (just an ask, it hasn't happened, I was just wondering)

I remember renting a flat out years ago and we accepted that they accidentally broke the top of the cistern - are landlords more picky nowadays?

Why on earth should the landlord foot the bill for a tenant's carelessness? It's more letting agents that are picky as that is what they are paid for, landlord probably won't get involved.

A stain is accidental damage, if the tenant caused the damage the tenant puts it right. Your contents insurance will cover your belongings only, unless you have paid extra to cover damage to others property. Basically the tenant would have to shell out for professional clean, OR the cost of a clean or even replacement (if stain was bad enough) will be taken out of the damage deposit.

Note that they could only claim against you for a like-for-like replacement so if the carpet is old they can claim for the value of an old carpet. For just a stain chances are you'd be charged for a professional clean so you may as well do it yourself.

Jewel_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Why on earth should the landlord foot the bill for a tenant's carelessness? It's more letting agents that are picky as that is what they are paid for, landlord probably won't get involved.

A stain is accidental damage, if the tenant caused the damage the tenant puts it right. Your contents insurance will cover your belongings only, unless you have paid extra to cover damage to others property. Basically the tenant would have to shell out for professional clean, OR the cost of a clean or even replacement (if stain was bad enough) will be taken out of the damage deposit.

Note that they could only claim against you for a like-for-like replacement so if the carpet is old they can claim for the value of an old carpet. For just a stain chances are you'd be charged for a professional clean so you may as well do it yourself.

What I was after was some means of protecting ourselves from this situation should it happen. We are moving into a really nice house with the same carpet throughout and we have a child (not that she drinks coffee!). If I ruined an expensive carpet in my own house I could claim, I wanted some way of protecting myself in the same way. Can you pay extra to cover damage to other people's property then (like you would with driving someone else's car under your own insurance).

I'm going back a long way to when I was a landlord (and also a tenant), but stains on the walls, floors and furniture within reason was seen as wear and tear, and I'm sure as a landlord we were covered for these things.

Is your deposit all they can take from you? (note I haven't even moved in yet, I don't expect to vandalise the place, it's just for peace of mind).

anselld

Jewel wrote: »

I'm going back a long way to when I was a landlord (and also a tenant), but stains on the walls, floors and furniture within reason was seen as wear and tear, and I'm sure as a landlord we were covered for these things.

Is is not and never has been. What you might have chosen to accept as fair was up to you (and indeed there may or may not be some leeway with the current LL)

Jewel wrote: »

Is your deposit all they can take from you?

They may claim for all damage even if it does exceed the deposit.

Regarding insurance I am sure if you choose the right policy you can cover anything (for a price). eg here

Jewel_2

Thanks I think I will go for the most comprehensive just for peace of mind. Have very clumsy other half and there are lovely work surfaces etc, and kids around all the time.

Perhaps I was just a perfect landlord

hopper13

If you do spill coffee get some baby wipes on it and it will clear it up so you won't have to worry about it.