big problem-advice please

whizzkid_3

my friend has just told me she may have to give up university for a year because the bath in her rented flat has been damaged(though she doesn't know how and she was the last person to use it)

it will cost £700 plus to replace apparently(it's a posh flat),the property is not insured and she will lose her deposit of £700 at the very least!

she intends to work to pay it off .

surely there must be some alternative !

any ideas much appreciated

mandy_s_2

What sort of damage are we talking? Could it be blamed on wear and tear?

It might be worth your friend reading through her tenancy agreement to see if there is any sort of clause that will help her out. What a nightmare, poor thing!

dunstonh

The alternative was insurance. That opportunity has passed now. An expensive lesson learnt.

lynzpower

She'll need to speak to the private lettings officer at the local council or at her accomodation office in the UNI. Some of the places Ive lived in packed up, but that was wear & tear as they were student hell holes a la the young ones style

If shes living there on an AST then surely the people shes sharing with are severably lliable? So basically the damage is split between the residents if it cant be blamed on wear & tear.

In desperate circs she could try the welfare fund at the uni see if they have any money to donate

ben500

Firstly can you provide some info on the bath (make and model/colour would be excellent) fabric ie: fibreglass, stainless steel, resin, marble, ceramic, porcelain etc
Also what kind of damage are we talking about, scratch, chip, crack, caustic burn etc,

Read the tenancy documents it is rare that fixtures and fittings are the responsibility of the tenant and if the landlord hasn't adequately insured themself that's not your friends problem.

Does your friend have any contents insurance? if the tenancy docs state they are responsible for fixtures and fits then the contents insurers will almost certainly pay out on the bath, even if the landlord has the most basic of household cover {which if I'm not mistaken they are legally obliged to do so} then accidental damage to sanitaryware is excuse the pun "bog standard" in all policies.

I should be able to help given more info.

As suggested in above posts Stewed ents Union are the best option for finance if no cover applies and responsibility falls on the tenant somehow.

whizzkid_3

the plot thickens,

she is subletting it

not her name on the lease and she hasn't signed anything

whizzkid_3

it is a metal,enamel and glaze expensive bath with a chip right down to the metal!

thanks for your advice guys!

Rachel85

In that case its not her responsibility surely?

bylromarha

Don't know if it's worth checking out her parents home insurance? Some home insurance policies cover children at uni.

Bit of a long shot though!

ben500

If she's subletting she has no option from her own insurers or her parents for that matter, again if she is subletting I would expect her to have no obligation other than moral as I presume there is no tenancy or rental agreement to refer to conditions.

whizzkid_3

she is subletting from her cousin and is worried about family repercussions if she doesn't pay up.!!