Ethical dilemma - moving out in a month, should I pay for a repair

lissliss

Hi everyone,

I'm currently living with three friends in a shared house. When we moved in 18 months ago, part of the terms were that after a year we would become the owners of all the contents.

I'm moving out in almost exactly a month, and the washing machine has just packed in. It hasn't been looked at yet but I've heard horror stories about how much washing machine repairs tend to cost.

I'm minded to ask my housemates if I can be excused from paying towards the repair cost, but I'm worried about upsetting them (my decision to move out in the first place did).

Should I pay up for a quiet life, stand my ground and refuse to pay anything because i will hardly see yhe benefit of it being repaired, or contribute a smaller sum based in the fact that I've contributed to its wear and tear? I'm desperate not to upset anyone but at the same time I don't want to be a pushover.

BigAunty

Glad you're not my flat mate.

If you contribute towards a repair for an item you've had the use out of, let me get this straight..... it makes you a pushover?

Idiophreak

lissliss wrote: »

I'm desperate not to upset anyone but at the same time I don't want to be a pushover.

This isn't what you mean. You mean "I don't want to pay more than I have to". Being a pushover has nothing to do with it.

Firstly, I'd check whether the white goods were covered under the contents agreement. When I rented as a student these were always excluded from the normal "contents" and the LL would pay to repair these if they broke.

Secondly, you should pay your share. It doesn't matter if you use the next one at all...the fact is you contributed to to the death of the old one, so you should pay for it's replacement.

lissliss

Youre correct that I don't want to pay more than I have to (who ever does?) but it just seems a little unfair that I'll be paying for something that I'll probably only use it once or twice while the others will have the use of it for as long as it lasts and get to sell/take it with them if and when they move out.

Unfortunately we've checked with the landlord and the white goods definitely count.

I didn't expect such a strong reaction - I must be more stingy than I thought!:o

Thrugelmir

lissliss wrote: »

Youre correct that I don't want to pay more than I have to (who ever does?) but it just seems a little unfair that I'll be paying for something that I'll probably only use it once or twice while the others will have the use of it for as long as it lasts and get to sell/take it with them if and when they move out.

Unfortunately we've checked with the landlord and the white goods definitely count.

I didn't expect such a strong reaction - I must be more stingy than I thought!:o

You were happy with the agreement at the outset. Your choice to leave.

lissliss

I know, but I naively assumed a brand new washing machine would last more than 18 months...

Anyway having been reduced to tears by the reaction on here I guess I'll be paying up if I want to keep my friends

3v3

lissliss wrote: »

I know, but I naively assumed a brand new washing machine would last more than 18 months...

Anyway having been reduced to tears by the reaction on here I guess I'll be paying up if I want to keep my friends

Really? Oh dear!

I do understand your point about looking ahead to the usage you will not benefit from, but it's more a question of paying towards the wear-and-tear that you have contributed to with your past usage.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for modern washing machines to conk out/need replacement parts after 18months, which is why companies try to sell extended warranties at the point of sale. The other point may be that, just because you have been using it for 18mths, doesn't necessarily mean it was brand you when you moved in (unless you know otherwise?).

Look for a local trepairman or three, ask their opinion over the phone of a guestimate based on what you know about the problem. You may be surprised and it may not be such a horror story afterall. It would be better if you could go on a friend's personal recommendation of a local repair person but otherwise, asking 2 or 3 from the classified section of the local paper is probably a start (or yellow pages etc).

Good luck, hoping its not as horrendous as you fear and it all ends amicably.

phill99

Friends? You're lucky to have friends with an attitude like that.

So you use a washing machine probably 2 or three times a week for 18 months and don't expect to have to pay to get it repaired, or you think you should pay less because you won't get the benefit from it in the future. What about the benefit in the past? Does that count? Or do you think you should pay less for previous use? Maybe you only used it twice one week and one of your house mates at least 5 times for at least 2 weeks.

And what about the loo seat if that breaks? Do you think you should pay less because you're a guy and only sit on it once a day but "the girlies should pay more because they sit on it at least six times a day"

Good God.

Whirlee

Or your mates might be more understanding. I lived with my old housemate for 3.5 years and we would just ask each other what the other thought was right or fair. We generally agreed and if we didn't immediately we could negotiate something that satisfied us.

Why don't you say you want to have a chat generally about moving out - there must be lots of things to discuss if the four of you now own all of the contents and you are moving out. You can discuss how to find your replacement, whether that person buys in to the contents that you all own, or whether you should take your quarter share with you and the new person doesn't own anything. You could negotiate that the washing machine (and/or other items that you do take with you) are treated as your share, you would then be excused from paying for a new one and can just arrange to dispose of the old one. Alternatively if you get a quarter of the contents you might feel less ripped off at paying for a new/repaired washing machine.

You might find it more economical to buy a new one than repair it.

lissliss

Thanks, I was just a little shocked because it didn't even enter my head that I was being unreasonable!

I think I had it in my head that if we'd all been moving out in a month we would have just left it broken and gone to the launderette once or twice and done a bit of handwashing etc, so I felt I was getting a bum deal.

Anyway I'd rather pay up than lose friends, and I definitely accept that I contributed to the wear and tear etc.

It was definitely brand new when we moved in (it still had some of the wrapping on) but I'm guessing it's not of the best quality.

I will definitely try what you suggested and seek out some local repairmen. Rather give my money to them than some big company anyway!

lissliss

Whirlee wrote: »

Or your mates might be more understanding. I lived with my old housemate for 3.5 years and we would just ask each other what the other thought was right or fair. We generally agreed and if we didn't immediately we could negotiate something that satisfied us.

Why don't you say you want to have a chat generally about moving out - there must be lots of things to discuss if the four of you now own all of the contents and you are moving out. You can discuss how to find your replacement, whether that person buys in to the contents that you all own, or whether you should take your quarter share with you and the new person doesn't own anything. You could negotiate that the washing machine (and/or other items that you do take with you) are treated as your share, you would then be excused from paying for a new one and can just arrange to dispose of the old one. Alternatively if you get a quarter of the contents you might feel less ripped off at paying for a new/repaired washing machine.

You might find it more economical to buy a new one than repair it.

It hadnt even entered my head to take any of that stuff, even though I technically own a quarter of it. It would seem a bit mean, and that's why I didn't see a problem not paying or only part paying towards the repair.

See, I'm not as mean as I sound;)