My leather sofa is 'stuck' inside previous rented property!

Anarchist

Ello,

I've recently moved out of a rented ground floor flat (around mid December), however when trying to get the furniture out, we realise we had a problem.

About 6-9 months ago the landlord replaced all the doors/windows from wooden framed double glazing to PVC double glazing. While doing this, the frames he replaced them with were considerably smaller than the old frames, and now our leather sofa will not fit back out through the front door. There is no physical way we can get it out of the property.

I've sent the letting agents a letter to inform them of this, asking them to have the sofa removed (by either removing the front door frame or the master bedroom window pane) and deliver it to us, but they have ignored my request. I do not have contact details for the landlord, and do not particularly get on with them or the letting agency due to lots of issues before (failing to repair minor problems with the flat one of which resulted in a minor eye injury, taking over a year to replace the double glazing though it had rotted and needed replacing ages back, peering through windows and letting himself into the property while my fiance was asleep alone etc).

I've been back to the property and somebody has been there, but they have still not replied. What can I do about this, as I've already forked out cash for a van to move the sofa which has been wasted, and in my opinion the landlord has created the issue by replacing the frames with smaller ones without telling us or checking it would be a problem.

Thanks for your help!

Lorian

Have you tried standing it on one arm and swivelling it though the doorway?

thesaint

Sorry to about your situation

Legally, I do not know where you stand.

I think that you would be liable for the costs of getting the sofa out though. I do not think that you can expect the landlord to fork out to have the door frame removed so that you can get your sofa out.

In the same way that the landlord didn't check whether the sofa went through the door, neither did you. It's not something that most people think about when replacing windows and doors, it's pot luck surely?

either send the letting agent another letter giving a time frame to reply, or give them a call.

izoomzoom

Why not getting hold of a furniture removal company and see if they could get it out ? For one piece, they might even do it on the house

We had friends that moved around a lot and we were surprised about the size of things they could get out, as well as how well they could pack their van. (We used three van loads, - they used one).

Anarchist

Thanks for the replies,

Believe me though, I've tried every which way, it wont physically fit through the door in any way at all (we've had about five of us onto it and I'm pretty good with that sort of thing, trying it everyway). I've been told the easiest/quickest/cheapest way is to use a couple of bricks (one for each pane in the back window, apparently one will do but two just to be safe) but this isn't really an option.

I've also been told that PVC window panes aren't that difficult to remove, and it should fit through the rear window. Anybody have any knowledge on this?

maninthestreet

uPVC double glazing window panes are designed to be replaceable, as the seals on the panes eventually fail, and the pane must be replaced. Any competent DG fitter should be able to remove it for you, and replace it after you've got your sofa out.

HouseHunter_2

I had to have a uPVC window removed to get my sofa in (and out again). Cost £100, and took about half an hour (that's taking out and putting back in).

Hay_2

We took our bay out to get two sofas through a couple of weeks back.Took two DGs about 30 mins.They cut the seal,unscrewed the frame,lifted the window out...took out the sofas and popped it back in...We tried every other way but it was totally impossible so resorted to the windows.Good Luck :beer:

martin1018

A friend of mine is a double glazing fitter / repairs chap. I've had stuff fitted by him and removed by him.
It is so easy to remove the glass panel, although you must be careful.
Usually these days on the inside of the window, around the glass are uPVC 'fillets' which can be removed with a sharp knife/palet knife.
Insert the blade into the crack where the main frame meets the piece of uPVC, not by the rubber but by the main frame, somewhere near the middle of the panel. Prise the fillet off - the first one will be quite hard but the remaining 3 will be easy. You will need to be careful not to mark the frame/fillet but it is possible.
Make sure that the glass is held in place so it does not fall onto you.
With the fillets removed you should see some plastic 'packers' (coloured wedges basically) which hold the glass firm. Make a note of where these are so that you can replace them when putting the glass back. Now remove the glass panel which will be heavy. When putting it safely against a wall place it on two bits of wood so that it is supported.
Now get the sofa out.:j
Replace the window panel putting the 'packers' back so that it is a snug fit. Put the fillets back, best to do the two short ones plus a long one, banging them home **carefully** with a rubber mallet - don't hit the glass, just the fillets!
The last fillet is the more problematical. Put one end into the corner and bend it to get the other end in. It will bow out a bit but it will go back when pursuaded by the mallet, the last bit being the hardest. With a fairly new instalation it should be fairly easy as the uPVC will still be fairly malleable.
If you are reasonably competant with DIY it should not be too much of a problem as long as you take it easy and carefully.
If unsure a window fitter would do it I'm sure, for a few quid if asked nicely, as for them it will be about a two minute job to get it out and the same to put it back. Asking at your local uPVC window company might find a fitter willing to do it after work for some folding stuff!

Good luck.

PoorDave

Frames are generally just screwed into the aperture (screws behind opening bits in frame) then the whole unit sealed around, in my experience.

Thus it should be easy to get either the door frame or a large window off/out.

However, don't go doing this/getting it done without checking it's OK with the landlord first!

dandare

like the above posters i've been in the same position a few times. easiest thing to do is get the windows panes taken out, it's no big deal, check with your landlord they may get the folk who fitted them to do it, hopefully for free or pay a bit each as it has now left your sofa stuck, if not £50/100 and 1/2 hour does, keeps you right with the landlord as well .