Ex tenant threatening court over return of deposit

sarahevie

What would you do about the current tenants signing a statement that contradicts what they have put in their signed inventory?

DVardysShadow

sarahevie wrote: »

What would you do about the current tenants signing a statement that contradicts what they have put in their signed inventory?

Rejoice? Another one to keep in reserve. If it goes to court, you need to include the inventory in the bundle of papers for the other side. As it is contemporary with the start of the tenancy, it is likely to be taken as more definitive.

G_M

sarahevie wrote: »

What would you do about the current tenants signing a statement that contradicts what they have put in their signed inventory?

As suggested in my letter.

a) it's irrelevant. Like any good landlord you made good the defects/damage between the tenancies (did current tenants move in same day as previous tenants left? - even if so you could have done repairs.)

b) you have a signed inventory (do the snags/issues highlighted by the new tenants correspond with the damage caused by the previous tenants?)

At this stage avoid getting involved in details of the deductions - that opens the door for more exchanges of letters, arguements, compriomises.

Just deny responsibility and force the other side to either give up or take action. You have s strong case so the solicior will be advising his client
a) to try pressure but
b) NOT to take action

sarahevie

G_M wrote: »

As suggested in my letter.

a) it's irrelevant. Like any good landlord you made good the defects/damage between the tenancies (did current tenants move in same day as previous tenants left? No, there was a gap and I employed a cleaning team and a handyman to make good.

No the snags do not correspond with previous tenants damage, as I had noticed these and made good between tenancies.

Current tenants were more pedantic like scratches on bookcase, slight burn mark on worktop etc. Something I wouldn't easily be able to rectify and nothing major so I opted to leave at their agreement. They basically wrote an essay next to each item on inventory so that they cannot possibly be blamed for any blemish.

At this stage avoid getting involved in details of the deductions - that opens the door for more exchanges of letters, arguements, compriomises.

Just deny responsibility and force the other side to either give up or take action. You have s strong case so the solicior will be advising his client
a) to try pressure
b) NOT to take action

I was more interested in using the current tenants statement as evidence for how good condition the property was in, in case I have to make deductions when they leave. There statement is VERY contradictory to their views in the inventory. Where they often refer to things as 'exceptionally worn', 'marked and scratched'. Whereas their statement says everything was immaculate and near perfect condition

Soot2006

sarahevie wrote: »

I was more interested in using the current tenants statement as evidence for how good condition the property was in, in case I have to make deductions when they leave. There statement is VERY contradictory to their views in the inventory. Where they often refer to things as 'exceptionally worn', 'marked and scratched'. Whereas their statement says everything was immaculate and near perfect condition

For all you know your ex tenant could have given them a couple £100 to say "Yeah property perfect condition, we love it" .... got nothing to do with your inventory and actually nothing to do with ex-tenant seeing as there was a small void between tenancies.