TV on wall

Old_Tug

I live in a rented flat and in my tenancy agreement it says that I need to get written permission to fix anything to the wall (which "will not be withheld unreasonably").

Because the front room is small and because I have a young child and a heavy TV (which is not very stable on its stand), I have asked the landlord if I can mount it on the wall. I have clarified that I will of course make good any damage to the wall caused by mounting it.

He has told me that he won't allow it, and his reason is that even if I make good the damage it "will never look quite the same".

Personally I think that I have good reason to request that I mount it and I don't think that his objection is reasonable (because the "will never look quite the same" would apply to anything screw or nailed to the wall, and so completely excludes anything being put up).

Just wondered what other people on this forum thought.

lucylucky

Landlords rules.

The landlord presumably doesn't want 4 or 6 holes in the wall, to hold the bracket, which will then need to be filled when the bracket is removed and the wall painted.

Seems reasonable to me.

F_T_Buyer

Why don't you offer to leave the bracket if you were to move out? Any coats hooks etc I have put in a rental property I said I would leave when I move out. P.s. I assume it's a cheap one from ebay etc?

BitterAndTwisted

If you offered to have the holes in the wall professionally filled and decorated at the end of your tenancy your landlord might change their mind.

Otherwise, as said the landlord rules.

hazyjo

If I were a LL, I'd worry about the safety aspect of it too. If you don't fit it properly and it falls on someone or damages something, who's liable? More hassle than its worth. You don't know what state the walls are in either until you start drilling holes. One of my bedroom curtain poles fell on my head cos the walls are so shot! Some walls just crumble as soon as you start drilling anything into them. You don't want to cause damage and end up having to get the whole wall replastered, let alone just having holes filled in.

I don't really like tellys on walls, but the people we're buying from are actually leaving a plasma telly on a wall in the lounge (no charge). Obviously more hassle to take it down then leave it up and write off the cost. It'll do us until we move it to another room, but then we will have to decorate that wall (or find a big picture to hide the holes!).

Jx

mustrum_ridcully

F_T_Buyer wrote: »

Why don't you offer to leave the bracket if you were to move out? Any coats hooks etc I have put in a rental property I said I would leave when I move out. P.s. I assume it's a cheap one from ebay etc?

I second that suggestion. Wall mounted TVs are becoming commonplace and if it's a small flat preferable to having a TV cabinet/stand.

timmyt

Old_Tug wrote: »

I live in a rented flat and in my tenancy agreement it says that I need to get written permission to fix anything to the wall (which "will not be withheld unreasonably").

Because the front room is small and because I have a young child and a heavy TV (which is not very stable on its stand), I have asked the landlord if I can mount it on the wall. I have clarified that I will of course make good any damage to the wall caused by mounting it.

He has told me that he won't allow it, and his reason is that even if I make good the damage it "will never look quite the same". correct I would agree wih that so you cannot say he is beig unreasonable

Personally I think that I have good reason to request that I mount it and I don't think that his objection is reasonable (because the "will never look quite the same" would apply to anything screw or nailed to the wall, and so completely excludes anything being put up). wrong, small pin pricks

Just wondered what other people on this forum thought.

sorry OP, try being a Landlord and you'll soon see why

Old_Tug

I did offer to have everything fixed up professionally but he still said no.

If I can't do this I don't see the point of the clause saying that "permission will not be withheld unreasonably".

It is inherent in putting a hole in the wall that it will never quite look the same, so if that can be used as a reasonable way to withhold permissions they can just veto anything.

It seems to me to be identical to me saying that you need written permission to use my car, which won't be withheld unreasonably, and then saying that you can't borrow it because the tyres will never look the same, and claiming that is a reasonable reason to refuse.

getmore4less

get a floor based cantilever stand or build a false wall and mount it in that

lucylucky

Old_Tug wrote: »

I did offer to have everything fixed up professionally but he still said no.

If I can't do this I don't see the point of the clause saying that "permission will not be withheld unreasonably".

It is inherent in putting a hole in the wall that it will never quite look the same, so if that can be used as a reasonable way to withhold permissions they can just veto anything.

It seems to me to be identical to me saying that you need written permission to use my car, which won't be withheld unreasonably, and then saying that you can't borrow it because the tyres will never look the same, and claiming that is a reasonable reason to refuse.

Landlords rules. I don't see anything unreasonable and your analogy is poor.

If you don't like them move if you can.

Old_Tug

lucylucky wrote: »

Landlords rules. I don't see anything unreasonable and your analogy is poor.

If you don't like them move if you can.

I appreciate your opinion, but why is it "landlord rules"?

Aren't we equal parties in a contract? If I decide to go ahead and put the TV on the wall, and he decides to evict me, doesn't he have to go to court and prove that I have breached the contract, and wouldn't that involve him convincing the court that he withheld permission reasonably?

Perhaps he would be able to do that, but surely it isn't just the case that he can make up the rules.