Advide needed re : Fair Wear & Tear

Mackie211

Good Morning ,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice re what can be classed as fair wear and tear, details as follows :-

- Moved into property in May 2004

As the property has been let out to me for over seven years now , what can the landlord look at deducting ?

We are having the property cleaned by a professional cleaning company, all carpets deep cleaned , curtains dry cleaned etc ...

All walls and painted surfaces will be wiped down etc ..

I am just a bit concerned that Letting Agents being only one step away from Estate Agents will try and get away with deducting what they can from the deposit.

After trawling through various forums it seems to me that after seven years pretty much everything (there is no damage to any of the property) they they come up with can be put down to fair wear and tear ?


Does anyone have any experience or advice concerning this ?


Many thanks in advance,

Darren.

BitterAndTwisted

Was there a full inventory done, noting the condition of the property and all its contents when you moved in?

Mackie211

Yes there was and it states in good condition or fair condition for all paintwork .

Mrs_Arcanum

The majority of items should have a 5 year life (some less a few more) so would be very suspicious of any claims made against anything given the efforts you have made re cleaning.

BitterAndTwisted

Only a moron would expect all of the paintwork to be still in good condition after seven years. As long as there's no discernible dirt or damage you should be OK. If the landlord wants to make any deductions from your deposit they will have to justify them with documentary evidence.

nikki_angel

Will it be harder to contest though as I am assuming that the deposit won't be in a scheme due to starting tenancy in 2004. Unless of course a new contract was signed since 2007.

Mackie211

I will have an invoice from the clenaing company , a receipt from the window cleaner and a receipt for the dry cleaning but I just know what these letting agents are like ...

A friend of mine who used the same agents and had been in a property for 6 years had them come round and go through everything with a fine tooth comb stating that the property should be in the same state as it was when it was originally let out even down to the bathroom grout being a slightly different colour to the original white (obvioulsy after 6 years there would be slight staining on the grout !)

hmmm

Im preparing for an argument for them but would prefer it if i didnt have to !

Mackie211

Oh tenancy agreement resigned every year so the deposit is registered with MyDeposits

nikki_angel

Excellent news.

may_fair

Read the official guide (for all three schemes): 'Guide to tenancy deposits, disputes and damages'

You can download it here - last one on the list.

http://www.depositprotection.com/document-library/processes.aspx

FOXY1

As a landlord Id expect to have to repaint everytime a tenant leaves, I add this to my costings and makes no difference whether they are there for 6 months or 6 years. Damage should only be paid for.