Holiday let..burnt surface...LL wants a brand new worktop??!!

poet123

Are there any pictures on the website of the cottage and the kitchen?

vax2002

This will be a contractual issue.
Read what the contract states that was signed.
Any judge will most likely enforce the contract with regards to damages.
All due respect, but a ruddy daft thing to do ?

Alias_Omega

I am sure to chase you, the landlord only has to write to you then go for the small claims court.

They could work out the cost to replace that section of worktop with a similar colour/thickness. This will include the cost to remove/fit the worktop by a professional, including the removal/supply/fitment of any kitchen tiles etc.

Though, the question would be how much would you have to pay towards this in regards to wear & tear, other damage etc?


(If i was the landlord, i would argue that you would only get a discount on the cost of the worktop through wear & tear, as the cost of removal/fitting of the worktop and the kitchen tiles does not change in relation to this.)

domcastro

If I had tenants who burnt the worktop, then I would want the worktop replaced. I can't see another solution.It's not like you can part-replace a worktop burn

BitterAndTwisted

Yes, ruddy daft thing to do but only daft in retrospect. If that cruddy worktop was fifteen years old I'd say you've only deprived the landlord of five year's worth of cruddy life on the outside. My own cruddy kitchen worktops are thirty years old and still look in pretty good condition. You may not wish to mention that. Any landlord who puts in non-heatproof worktops in a holiday let is certifiable. And any landlord who puts in non-heatproof worktops in a holiday let and expects to be compensated for the full value of replacement is a chancer.

clutton_2

funny how no one else appears to have burnt it before if it was that easy to burn ?

Alias_Omega

How big was the burn mark, and how close to the cooker?

Can you not suggest that they put them metal heat protector studs down that you can get from ikea.? As a good jesture you would supply them FOC if they cover the burn marks?

mum2one

We've peviously stayed at a private cottage that was rented through Hoseasons, if you check the small print, the 1st named person who booked the holiday is liable for any damages, unless you had taken out any accidental damage insurance.

As for the tub etc, that would be classed as a different matter, as you need to follow the complaints procedure, its all listed, generally it would be the contact number you had, then if not satisfied it would be Hoseasons,

It ouldn't take much for the LL to start court action, he'd argue you had an agreement, you damaged his propety, therfore to get it back to standard it would cost xx to get replaces, which would be a new worktop.

It may just be better to accpet the situation, see if you can split the bill between how many of you there where,

---

I found myself in a situation semi similiar, I'd had a hire car, which was pd for 1st by my insurers then the other party as he had admitted liability, neither company paid the accidental damage section, apparently that was upto me, but as it wasn't just a weeks worth of rental, 8 weeks in total, couldn't afford it, not expecting anything to happen... I had it damaged in a supermarket carpark, I was liable for the cost £300.

propertyman

Maybe its just me and how I was brought up- hot things on the cooker full stop.

Why should anyone assume or expect it's heat proof unless told otherwise?

Do you want stickers on the microwave and kettle that say if used contents may be hot?

It's someone else's home or investment but you still exercise a little care and common sense, if not out of respect for them but out of selfish self preservation........................!

So;

you made a simple mistake and being asked to pay for new work surface.

Your arguments are
1: none of the above - it as a simple accident there was no fault or negligence or intent.
2; review the deposit and tenancy to see if your liability is limited to say the amount of deposit or unlimited
3: the award to the landlord is an amount of money to put them in the position they would have been in if the disrepair- the burn- had not occurred. That takes into consideration the state of repair older and worn, reduces the amount.

Insist on proof that the work is being done as a condition of 3.

HOWMUCH

mazy_m wrote: »

I took the pan and it was hot and awkward in my hand and placed it on the surface for less than a minute as I usually do at home..

A thought went through my head that actually it might not be heatproof so I picked it up again and put the food in a bowl and put the pan into the sink.

It had left a small not very dark burn mark on the surface in all honesty it wasn't very noticable so I didn't really think much of it.

Part of the reason I thought it wasn't a problem was that the kitchen wasn't in a very good condition anyway there were stains etc there already and everything was very old and run down.


There were no heat mats or metal tray things etc so nowhere else safe to put a hot pan once picked up.

You could have returned the pan back to the cooker even if a trivet had been available would you have put the pan on it, who knows.
You caused the damage so in my eyes you should pay up. This is what I'd expect to do.
We do use rented cottages for most our holidays and I always take extra care when staying in someone's holiday home.

I didn't think is not an excuse not to pay for damage.