Tenant damage or wear and tear?

Gleeful

Ok, it was more to show the extent of the problem rather than to ask anyone to identify how it happened!

That's one part of it. There are other areas throughout the bathroom where the problem has occurred.

Will it help us any that there is also a crack in the wall down the side of the bathroom door? Will this help to prove that it was a structural problem?

DannyboyMidlands

All wear and tear.

BitterAndTwisted

The crack down the side of the door could suggest a structural problem. Or two. It would need a structural engineer to know whether the two things are connected or not. I admit, it is highly suggestive. Of probably some dodgy DIY among other things.

PasturesNew

They all sound like "age of the property" and "age of the equipment" issues, nothing any tenant could have done to prevent any of those problems. If a landlord OR tenant OR anybody had been living in the house they'd have occurred. Therefore £0 to pay.

gingertips

for my money they are all wear and tear, but check your agreement you may be required to notify the landlord at the first opportunity that you notice so that he can put right? If not, might be harder for you to argue.

Gleeful

Update: The landlord is blaming us for the tiles and probably the sash window so I think it will be a dispute to get my deposit back.
What do I need to do to protect myself? Take pictures of everything?
Thanks.

BitterAndTwisted

Unless your landlord can prove that you willfully and mischieviously broke the sash-window mechanism, they are living in a dream-world.

I would WRITE to the landlord and point out that you have only ever use that window for its intended purpose and that you believe the cord broke through normal use due to its age.

As to the tiles: if there is movement of the floor, say so.

Should your landlord seek to charge you for these issues of disrepair, or to make deductions from your deposit, you need all the evidence you can get your hands on. Did you notify the landlord about these cracked tiles IN WRITING when they occurred?

LudaMusser

If the landlord chases you for any of the three listed areas their being really petty. It would`nt surprise me at all though. I would take photos of any areas you`re worried about before you move out so you have a good case if there`s any comeback, this is what I did. I must have taken 30 photos the day before I left and amazingly they did`nt question anything even though I was positive they would on a piece of damaged wood on the TV stand

Gleeful

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Unless your landlord can prove that you willfully and mischieviously broke the sash-window mechanism, they are living in a dream-world.

I would WRITE to the landlord and point out that you have only ever use that window for its intended purpose and that you believe the cord broke through normal use due to its age.

As to the tiles: if there is movement of the floor, say so.

Should your landlord seek to charge you for these issues of disrepair, or to make deductions from your deposit, you need all the evidence you can get your hands on. Did you notify the landlord about these cracked tiles IN WRITING when they occurred?

I hadn't even noticed they were cracked if that makes sense. I thought it was just the way they were supposed to look? I really hadn't paid much attention to them.

I shall write to the landlord ASAP

emtwigg wrote: »

Hi, did he put your deposit into a tenancy deposit scheme as he is legally obliged to? This is to help protect you in situations like this, as they will intervene so he can't unfairly blame you. If he hasn't done this, he's breaking the law and can be heavily fined. Hope this helps your situation, I'm no expert but it should ensure things are fairly dealt with so look into it.

It is protected, yes.

LudaMusser wrote: »

If the landlord chases you for any of the three listed areas their being really petty. It would`nt surprise me at all though. I would take photos of any areas you`re worried about before you move out so you have a good case if there`s any comeback, this is what I did. I must have taken 30 photos the day before I left and amazingly they did`nt question anything even though I was positive they would on a piece of damaged wood on the TV stand

Oh, he is petty. He did exactly the same to the previous tenants. I'm aware of this because I know them fairly well. They had a nightmare getting their money back. He was trying to charge them for all sorts. Interestingly, when he came to inspect the flat, he moaned about the previous tenants leaving the place in a shocking condition and how he'd had such a bad experience. I bit my tongue!

poppysarah

Tiles on floor should only crack if they are not laid properly.
Were they new when you moved in? (That'd be a big clue ... if they were old and not broke then it's not wear and tear... But to be honest floor tiles should meet quite tough standards,)