What's fair for lodger deposit deduction?

athina_2

Hi, I have a lodger who is amicably moving out as he is going back to his home country after living un the UK several years (he was with me 8 months).

He is moving out in 2 weeks. I had a look at his room yesterday and there are a few things I am really unhappy about, although I haven't spoken to him yet.

The dark beige carpet was brand new and fitted the morning he moved in. Now it has got quite a few stains on it. They might come out with my carpet washer but I won't know unless I try.

The radiator has come off the wall - he didn't tell me this, I saw it during my inspection. The room was newly decorated, plastered & painted when he moved in. Surely radiators don't just come off the wall? The radiator was only fitted last year a few days before he moved in.

I had an antique style bureau in pristine condition. He left incense burning on it with no protection and hot ash has now left a few stains on the bureau.

I invest a lot of money in maintenance and really take good care of my house and furniture and it really upsets me when people are careless.

I was just wondering from others if deductions are fair and if yes then how much.

Jowo_2

Zero if you didn't have a detailed inventory/schedule of condition that you both signed at the outset since if he disputes it in court, the judge will find in his favour because you cannot offer any proof of the condition of the room at the outset of the tenancy.

Otherwise negotiate with him a sum that you are mutually happy with and encourage him to rent a carpet cleaner from a local DIY store or supermarket to clean it before he leaves.

Next time, get a schedule of condition/inventory in place, get a bigger deposit, tell the lodger upfront that it is always your policy to deduct in full for all damage, including getting in professional cleaners to clean the room if not left in the same condition, that you require them to report all repairs and that all incense/candles are not permitted in bedrooms because of the fire risk.

clutton_2

""the judge will find in his favour because you cannot offer any proof of the condition of the room at the outset of the tenancy.""

not necessarily true-- receipts from workmen showing the redecoration and new carpet dated just before the commencement of the Lodger agreement may well be acceptable...

athina_2

clutton wrote: »

""the judge will find in his favour because you cannot offer any proof of the condition of the room at the outset of the tenancy.""

not necessarily true-- receipts from workmen showing the redecoration and new carpet dated just before the commencement of the Lodger agreement may well be acceptable...

Yep, I have got the receipts in addition to photos - although I didn't give him the photos when he moved in, I took them for my own records.

The carpet and bureau are clearly damage. What about the radiator though? Could that be through plaster becoming loose even though the room was replastered last year? I've had three lodgers ever since I first started renting out and this is the very first time I've ever felt like making a deduction

I also have a signed agreement from him stating room must be left in same condition it was found in etc.

sequence

I wouldn't deduct for the radiator, could just have been bad fitting. I've seen the radiators fall off new builds after months so...

But the rest of it sounds fair to deduct some for.

gozaimasu

I would say that a fair deduction would be the amount that you are going to pay to repair all of those things!

bristol_pilot

Nothing. This is a lodger, not a tenant and there shouldn't have been a deposit in the first place. Pick your lodgers more carefully in future.

roses

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Nothing. This is a lodger, not a tenant and there shouldn't have been a deposit in the first place. Pick your lodgers more carefully in future.

Absolute rubbish, there should always be a deposit no matter what type of rental it is.

bristol_pilot

It's NOT a rental - that's the point.

roses

bristol_pilot wrote: »

It's NOT a rental - that's the point.

If it's not a rental when someone pays someone else money in exchange for staying in a room then what is it?

Wee_Willy_Harris

bristol_pilot wrote: »

It's NOT a rental - that's the point.

It may not be a tenancy, but it sure IS a rental.