RE:Rental situation

lindseyh2

Hello

Im thinking of moving out of my rented property within the next 6 months, I have been in the property for about 3 years, the flat when I moved in was not very clean and is very dated and old ie beige bathroom!, to put things into perspective the spotlights in the kitchen were marked as yellow on the inventory but when I cleaned up they were white! I keep the place very clean (which the letting agent always comments on when inspecting) and have replaced disgusting curtains and lampshades with nice new ones which I will leave because I will not subject anyone else to the originals!

I am going to repaint etc when I leave, but I have a little issue whereby I put a split in the side of the bath (which is now so old you cannot get a replacement panel, it was when I was cleaning it) and dropped a perfume bottle on the sink which has cracked it (my plumber friend said this would only crack because the enamal is so brittle due to the age) I cant get these items repaired or replaced easily and am going to hold my hands and admit it when I move,

Would the agent be able to charge me for a whole new suite? it is about 15 years old and the toilet top has cigarette burns all over it from a previous tenant which was slyly covered up with a shelf!

I dont really care about my deposit, and im not going to fight them for it but im not paying for a brand new bathroom suite is this reasonable?? I dont want to take the mick either

barnaby-bear

lindseyh2 wrote:

Hello

Im thinking of moving out of my rented property within the next 6 months, I have been in the property for about 3 years, the flat when I moved in was not very clean and is very dated and old ie beige bathroom!, to put things into perspective the spotlights in the kitchen were marked as yellow on the inventory but when I cleaned up they were white! I keep the place very clean (which the letting agent always comments on when inspecting) and have replaced disgusting curtains and lampshades with nice new ones which I will leave because I will not subject anyone else to the originals!

I am going to repaint etc when I leave, but I have a little issue whereby I put a split in the side of the bath (which is now so old you cannot get a replacement panel, it was when I was cleaning it) and dropped a perfume bottle on the sink which has cracked it (my plumber friend said this would only crack because the enamal is so brittle due to the age) I cant get these items repaired or replaced easily and am going to hold my hands and admit it when I move,

Would the agent be able to charge me for a whole new suite? it is about 15 years old and the toilet top has cigarette burns all over it from a previous tenant which was slyly covered up with a shelf!

I dont really care about my deposit, and im not going to fight them for it but im not paying for a brand new bathroom suite is this reasonable?? I dont want to take the mick either

Enamel chips and cracks in brand new suites if you drop glass bottles on it - as I know from a very bitter experience.

Yes they can charge you a proportion of the repair costs, but only a proportion - put it in context homebase have a brand new suite for £250 at the moment. People give second hand sinks away when they refit.

The more it looks ok the less they notice, bath panel B&Q big stores do MDF cutting service £5 will get you a new panel size thing and paint it if you are worried or advertise on freecycle - old bath panels of odd proportions . I imagine £20 for panel and £50 for sink (mainly fitting) kind of order of deductions that would seem non-excessive.

You don't have to repaint if it's not in your contract, wear and tear and needing painting usually LLs responsibility. Be careful about leaving furniture/decor changing them, some agents charge for 'disposal' if not on original inventory and for replacement of the original. Send a letter in advance offering to leave the replacements.

real1314

So:

You cleaned the spotlights from yellow to white, replaced the horrible curtains with nicer ones, replaced the lamp shades with nicer ones and intend to re-paint to a better standard than when you moved in.
You've cracked a £20 bath panel and a £50 (max?) sink. They are both quite old, so they'd be looking at 10% (?) of the value as compensation. £7?

I'd discuss it with your LL and see if they agree that you have recompensed their losses by making other improvements.

After 3 years of (presumably) trouble free renting, they'd have to be a bit mean to be bothered.
Most competent DIYers can fit a new sink and bath panel. Not even half a days work for a plumber.

barnaby-bear

real1314 wrote:

So:

You cleaned the spotlights from yellow to white, replaced the horrible curtains with nicer ones, replaced the lamp shades with nicer ones and intend to re-paint to a better standard than when you moved in.
You've cracked a £20 bath panel and a £50 (max?) sink. They are both quite old, so they'd be looking at 10% (?) of the value as compensation. £7?

I'd discuss it with your LL and see if they agree that you have recompensed their losses by making other improvements.

After 3 years of (presumably) trouble free renting, they'd have to be a bit mean to be bothered.
Most competent DIYers can fit a new sink and bath panel. Not even half a days work for a plumber.

I was guessing £70 reasonable deduction for landlord to make not £7 - to be fair to landlord a cracked sink is unreasonable and outside wear and tear and an hour and half plumber easily £50 and recompensing £7 for half a day including material (do you know the price of mastic) diy is cheeky ... £7 is taking the p&ss, I'd rent with old curtains etc but not with a cracked sink.