House Quality on End of Tenancy

msralmjs

Hi

This winter, like the last, has brought very cold weather. We have a kitchen that has external walls on three four sides (including ceiling) so the internal walls get very cold. That the window is single glazed does not help.

When cooking, we look to keep the room ventilated as much as is possible, using the extractor fan and opening the window if possible, but it is impossible to keep it both warm and ventilated - it can be one or the other!!

Long story short, the cooking invariably leads to (light) condensation on the walls. Over time, this has lead to the (cheap paint, with no undercoat) to crack.

The issue is really asthetic - indeed, the agents have seen it in an inspection, and said that 'others have worse', but it has got a little worse since, and I'm concerned that if and when we leave, they will try and charge us for repainting the kitchen.

I don't see why we should - as I said, we have tried to keep a very cold room as ventilated as possible, and were responsible enough to note it with them when it first started to turn up 14 months ago. I haven't yet tested it with the Agents, but am I likely to be successful in this approach?

Thanks!

N79

Borderline between fair wear and tear and damage. It will only be an issue if your LL decides to try and charge you for it - if this is the only issue then I personally believe that it should fly as wear and tear. If there are other issues relating to T caused damp then that would tend towards the whole lot being damage.

Personally I would wait and see if that happens. If the LL is happy then there is not problem.

tbs624

There are paints which are specifically formulated for kitchens and bathrooms - if your LL has been tight enough to instead use a DIY shed's own brand value emulsion, for example, then I think you have a pretty good argument for it being FW&T.

As a T, all the LL can expect of you is that you ventilate the room when cooking, which you say you do, that you make sure that the extractor fan does not become clogged with dust/fat etc and that you wipe down any excess condensation from time to time.

You say that you reported the state of the emulsion (in writing, with copy retained, I hope) 14 months ago - LL has had plenty of time to address the issue.