Old landlord is charging £75 for a snapped off washing machine handle?

Planner

Orpheo wrote: »

Posters are ganging up on the OP..

A majority of posters agreeing what the correct answer is doesnt amount to 'ganging up' it simply amounts to the correct answer.

If the op doesnt want to accept it, it still remains the correct answer and still doesnt amount to 'ganging up'.

Maybe the op would be better asking their question on the 'Please validate everything I say without question' forum accessed off the main forum page?

DVardysShadow

Why is everyone focussing on the act of breaking the handle rather than the stuff we really know about the landlord's entitlements here?

Huge leap of faith. I doubt that the OP set out to break the handle, I am assuming that it broke as part of fair wear and tear - it just was no longer up to the job. If that is the case, then the landlord should get nothing and should just get on and repair it. But even if there was an element of negligence on the part of the tenant, for the comparable situation with carpets - a careless spill, we all say 'no betterment'. So the tenant should not have to pay more than the value of the washing machine. If it is about 10 years old, I would say it is worth about £25 to £40 tops.

Orpheo

Planner wrote: »

A majority of posters agreeing what the correct answer is doesnt amount to 'ganging up' it simply amounts to the correct answer.

If the op doesnt want to accept it, it still remains the correct answer and still doesnt amount to 'ganging up'.

Planner, or should I call you Great Arbiter Of All That Is Correct? It is not the correct answer. It is disputed. Accusing the OP of disregard to her responsibilities is simply unpleasant and fallacious as the OP is clearly looking for guidance as to what her responsibilities are. Because something became herdthink doesn't make it correct. The handle broke in everyday use, the handle's integrity was obviously deteriorated to the point that the next person who attempted to use it would be the one who broke it. It broke through natural wear and tear and therefore is the landlord's responsibility. There, I have presented you with a controversy so there is currently no correct answer. If I were the OP, I would dispute it and I would prevail. Oh yes.

Planner

Orpheo wrote: »

Planner, or should I call you Great Arbiter Of All That Is Correct?

The second one please.

Eton_Rifle

Why don't you raise a deposit dispute and let it go to arbitration? Then a decision will be made by neither you nor your landlord concerning fair wear and tear and/or what proportion of compensation the landlord should receive for a ten year old machine.

Yorkie1

In my former rented place the washing machine was really quite old (probably at least 15 years). The plastic on the dial became gradually more brittle and eventually snapped when I operated it one day. I wasn't being negligent or heavy-handed, it's just that wear and tear became 'tear' rather than 'wear'.

sooz

Yorkie1 wrote: »

In my former rented place the washing machine was really quite old (probably at least 15 years). The plastic on the dial became gradually more brittle and eventually snapped when I operated it one day. I wasn't being negligent or heavy-handed, it's just that wear and tear became 'tear' rather than 'wear'.

Did you inform your landlord at the time it happened? in which case your landlord may have been more likely to believe you that it was wear & tear, particularly when informed of it nicely, promptly, & shown the brittle handle.

Hammyman

*Kat* wrote: »

I dont think I have a disregard for my responsibilities at all. I'm just asking if there's an alternative way. For example, my uncle is a plumber, can he go and fix it?

Why would a plumber know how to repair an appliance? And it is entirely up to the landlord whether they decide to accept that offer or not. My thought is they'd rather have someone who repairs appliances doing it rather than someone who just solders in pipes.

poppysarah

I'd assume if you can easily buy the spare part then it happens often.
Replacing should be easy.

Wear and tear imo unless there's signs of someone using a crow bar. (And the fact you can buy a spare one indicates it's a common fault imo)

olly300

poppysarah wrote: »

I'd assume if you can easily buy the spare part then it happens often.
Replacing should be easy.

Wear and tear imo unless there's signs of someone using a crow bar. (And the fact you can buy a spare one indicates it's a common fault imo)

I think part of the issue is that the OP "forgot" to tell the landlord before they moved out.

I've had accidents in the past in rental properties and have told the landlord immediately if I can't replace/repair the item. I only had to pay once.

Landlords tend to believe you had an accident if you tell them immediately and apologise particularly if they aren't trying to get the property you just left in a condition to rent to new tenants.