Expensive washing machine left at previous property legal advice..

lucasmeister

Hi

I rented a student house run by the universities tenancy scheme with a few other people. While I was at the property I purchased a washer/dryer for us to use. A year has passed and we have moved out and some first years have moved in. My intentions were to take the washing machine back when I came back to uni this year. I went to the university and they say that I cannot have it back and I am not allowed in to retrieve it. I moved out of the property approx 3 months ago. Is there any way I can get the washing machine back? I have all receipts etc and it was purchased under my name. The new tenants are using the washing machines (they have not disposed of it).

Thanks

Ginger_Red

The University don't have any right to keep it - it's your property.

Threaten to take them to civil court (it won't be a police matter), and they should agree to let you take it.

Badger_Lady

Why did you wait so long after moving out? Whilst I can see your point about being the owner, it seems as though you left it there unclaimed...

Having said that, the Landlord (the university?) should really have contacted you about it before making any decisions as to who it now belonged to.

Perhaps it's different in student accommodation, but my lodgers have left all sorts of things behind before now - I've spoken to them and confirmed that they can't be arrsed to move it, then disposed of or kept it as I preferred.

mrcol1000

If its a year old then its value would have dramatically decreased. If you factor in the cost of storing the washing machine at the house for three months I would guess your both probably about even. Its a bit cheeky to move out of a property, leave something there and then move back to the area a few months later and expect to just walk in and get it. Next time either take it with you or pay for it to be stored properly.

ILW

I would have thought that you contracted to remove all personal items from the property at the end of your tenancy. They could have just chucked it on a skip.
Why did you not take it when you moved out?

lucasmeister

I have only just moved back into my uni town the other day. So I couldn't have taken it before as I would have had nowhere to put it.. The uni tenancy scheme should fall under normal tenancy laws as it was a rented house (not halls or anything)

lucasmeister

mrcol1000 wrote: »

If its a year old then its value would have dramatically decreased. If you factor in the cost of storing the washing machine at the house for three months I would guess your both probably about even. Its a bit cheeky to move out of a property, leave something there and then move back to the area a few months later and expect to just walk in and get it. Next time either take it with you or pay for it to be stored properly.

Its a washer/dryer and cost about £400 so cant have gone down in value that much

G_M

Put your request in writing. Remind them it is your property and they have no right to keep it.

Ask how they propose to return it to you, or when they will give you access.

If no joy, go to the small claims court.

lucasmeister

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Why did you wait so long after moving out? Whilst I can see your point about being the owner, it seems as though you left it there unclaimed...

Having said that, the Landlord (the university?) should really have contacted you about it before making any decisions as to who it now belonged to.

Perhaps it's different in student accommodation, but my lodgers have left all sorts of things behind before now - I've spoken to them and confirmed that they can't be arrsed to move it, then disposed of or kept it as I preferred.

They have not contacted me at all about it and not told me that I left it there

lucasmeister

G_M wrote: »

Put your request in writing. Remind them it is your property and they have no right to keep it.

Ask how they propose to return it to you, or when they will give you access.

If no joy, go to the small claims court.

Is there anything I can quote in the letter that shows I have any legal rights to take it back?

ILW

lucasmeister wrote: »

I have only just moved back into my uni town the other day. So I couldn't have taken it before as I would have had nowhere to put it.. The uni tenancy scheme should fall under normal tenancy laws as it was a rented house (not halls or anything)

So you expected them to store it for you for free until you felt it was convenient to collect it? Did they agree to that arrangement?