Landlady demanding a brand new door, what are my rights?

silk_2

Van1971 wrote: »

At the time, I had no idea this was an option. I would have bought a new door, if it wasn't for the fitter telling me that it wasn't necessary and that I could just replace the panel. I suspect that your LL doesn't know that either?

Either that or they want to get a new door out of you.

Pretty much sums my thoughts up on both accounts. Hopefully not the latter!

silk_2

neas wrote: »

also if u have fitted flap into old door panel then there no way new panel will match.... which imonis very unfair to landlord as when u leave its a door with an obviously diff panel...

No, no no!

1, The panel is identical, you can see yourself in the picture. Try actually looking?
2, The professional UPVC fitter who I asked to change the doors said that they don't do that, they do panel swaps. I got three fitters saying the same thing. I told EA all about my plans. Which part was I hiding exactly????

At least *I* did my homework here, you clearly didn't even google before replying.

A lot of tennants just get this done without saying anything to their LL. Why? Because they can't tell the difference afterwards! Sigh. As usual this is the thanks and the attitude you get for being honest.

Let me say this three times so it sinks in.

The door has not been tampered with.
The door has not been tampered with.
The door has not been tampered with.

Tomorrow I will have the professional fitter I used telling the LL just this. It is a normal procedure, a standard job, to fit or change panels. It is not door tampering or any other such foolhardiness. Changing an entier UPVC door on the other hand? Asking for trouble. Their words, not mine.

If the LL had a genuine issue with any of this she could have said no up front. Don't ignore that blatant fact please.

thegirlintheattic

I also don't get why you went ahead with the panel alteration. The e-mails are clear, the LL did not want a flap put in the original door but had no issues with you putting in a new door with flap and swapping it over at the end of the tenancy. Doesn't matter if it does damage or not, she did not want the original door interfered with. Doesn't matter if you will not be able to tell afterwards or if you did it professionally. Doesn't matter if the panel is a better idea than a new door. She didn't want it done.

You ignored her wishes and went ahead and did what you wanted and are now complaining about it. She said NO to the panel idea.

She cannot make you put the door back to it's original condition now but she can give you notice and require any damage (if there is damage) to be made good by the end.

I can understand why she is not happy.

real1314

Tell the LL you will hand the property back in the condition it was rented to you, subject to reasonable wear and tear. If she then wants to ask for any costs, she can do it then.

It's really all a storm in a tea-cup; you have simply swapped out a replaceable part. If you wanted an extractor fan fitting to a window and offered to have a new pane / double glaze unit fitted to take one, then offered to replace the original at the end, would she have a problem with that?

I think it's clear the LL has no concept of how a uPVC door is actually fitted and that the panels, the glass , the trims etc are all replaceable. :cool:

neas

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I also don't get why you went ahead with the panel alteration. The e-mails are clear, the LL did not want a flap put in the original door but had no issues with you putting in a new door with flap and swapping it over at the end of the tenancy. Doesn't matter if it does damage or not, she did not want the original door interfered with. Doesn't matter if you will not be able to tell afterwards or if you did it professionally. Doesn't matter if the panel is a better idea than a new door. She didn't want it done.

You ignored her wishes and went ahead and did what you wanted and are now complaining about it. She said NO to the panel idea.

She cannot make you put the door back to it's original condition now but she can give you notice and require any damage (if there is damage) to be made good by the end.

I can understand why she is not happy.

was my point too. u didnt like answer so did what u wanted... there is no way 100 percent to tell a tradesman will not damage sometjkmg... there always a chance.

i looked at his picgure and coulrnt tell what i was lookinf at except one thing looked damaged the edge of thing on top.

id say id want a tenant out who modified parts of house without confirmation... at first u said they verbally agreed but from trace it seems jnlikely they ever agreed only in way of u getting a new door.

in that light there jot a big colour didf... but i think there will be a diff... looks to be slightly even in dark light.

neas

real1314 wrote: »

Tell the LL you will hand the property back in the condition it was rented to you, subject to reasonable wear and tear. If she then wants to ask for any costs, she can do it then.

It's really all a storm in a tea-cup; you have simply swapped out a replaceable part. If you wanted an extractor fan fitting to a window and offered to have a new pane / double glaze unit fitted to take one, then offered to replace the original at the end, would she have a problem with that?

I think it's clear the LL has no concept of how a uPVC door is actually fitted and that the panels, the glass , the trims etc are all replaceable. :cool:

that isnt what happened tho... its like putting a hole in the original glass... then replacing it at end with a similsr glass.... which slightyl doesnt mtach other panes... why should landlord have slightly diff panel colours ( due to aging) when she said no?.... oh bevause tenant decided to thats why...

silk_2

neas wrote: »

was my point too. u didnt like answer so did what u wanted... there is no way 100 percent to tell a tradesman will not damage sometjkmg... there always a chance.

i looked at his picgure and coulrnt tell what i was lookinf at except one thing looked damaged the edge of thing on top.

id say id want a tenant out who modified parts of house without confirmation... at first u said they verbally agreed but from trace it seems jnlikely they ever agreed only in way of u getting a new door.

in that light there jot a big colour didf... but i think there will be a diff... looks to be slightly even in dark light.

The picture you are looking at is an underlying standard door with the new panel laid over the top shown purely to prove I did proper colour and UPVC matching. Once installed it fits snugly insdie the door frame.

If you don't know how this works why are you even replying?

The existing panel with flap:



The brand spanking new, all paid for by me, panel;



The proof it matches:



How the door did look, and will still look when I move out



Sorry but what's the problem again?

neas wrote: »

that isnt what happened tho... its like putting a hole in the original glass... then replacing it at end with a similsr glass.... which slightyl doesnt mtach other panes... why should landlord have slightly diff panel colours ( due to aging) when she said no?.... oh bevause tenant decided to thats why...

She didn't say no, she said yes, which is why I pursued it further and took the advice given by professionals, whilst also telling her and the EA that I would take said advice. Tell me again where I went wrong, because I think I missed it.

thegirlintheattic

silk wrote: »

She didn't say no, she said yes, which is why I pursued it further and took the advice given by professionals, whilst also telling her and the EA that I would take said advice. Tell me again where I went wrong, because I think I missed it.

"I am sorry but I am not happy with having a dog flat installed in to the current door, but if the tenants wish to get a different door and have that installed then this would be fine, but I would want the current door stored in the garage at home.
Also if there is any damage done to the current door why it is in storage then the tenants will have to have this replace or repaired."

This is a no not a yes to putting in a panel.

princeofpounds

Some people here are so unable to grasp the reality of removeable panels it is untrue.

Taking out a door panel and putting it back at the end of a tenancy is no different to unscrewing a lampshade and temporarily replacing it, or changing the lock barrel, or hanging your own shower curtain on a rail, or unscrewing a white loo seat to put in one with a design.

Tenants are permitted to make all of these sorts of changes to fittings because it causes no damage. Strictly speaking the landlord's input is not even needed. Fittings are not sacred. They just need to be returned to place on exit in fair condition.

The only concern I have sympathy with is discolouration due to different ages of weathering, but to be frank with a White PVC door it is not likely to be an issue unless we are talking several years and even then a deposit arbitration or court might not even care; the door is still functional, some parts have just been used more than others.

silk_2

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I also don't get why you went ahead with the panel alteration. The e-mails are clear, the LL did not want a flap put in the original door but had no issues with you putting in a new door with flap and swapping it over at the end of the tenancy. Doesn't matter if it does damage or not, she did not want the original door interfered with. Doesn't matter if you will not be able to tell afterwards or if you did it professionally. Doesn't matter if the panel is a better idea than a new door. She didn't want it done.

You ignored her wishes and went ahead and did what you wanted and are now complaining about it. She said NO to the panel idea.

She cannot make you put the door back to it's original condition now but she can give you notice and require any damage (if there is damage) to be made good by the end.

I can understand why she is not happy.

I ignored her wishes? Did you perhaps skim the part of the email trail where I explicitly asked/said the panel approach would likely be taken and explicitly asked if the paperwork would be the same in either case?

I love how people make up their own version of events whent he truth is right here in text.