Blu Tac and deposit - Update

nigem

LL has been in touch today to say that they have breached the contract. He has forbidden them to repaint or touch up walls, as contract says that the walls will be decorated at tenants expense. (doesnt say that its to be done by professional though!)

There are about 5 out of 15 walls affected, with 4 or more marks on them. They have tried to remove marks as suggested on google and think it will work.

However....should they annoy the LL further by touching up???

FireWyrm

I'd dig in for a fight if I were you. It sounds like the LL has his eye on that deposit to fund his Christmas or late summer holiday.

1) you are going to need to dispute this with the DPS, so, ger your paperwork together and find out which DPS has your money.

2) take your own pictures...and I mean good quality shots and lots of them

3) stop corresponding with the LL. He sounds like he's made up his mind, your best bet is not to tip your hand. If he doesn't have a decent inventory and cannot prove a financial loss, he will lose at arbitration..simple as.

4) clean that place from top to bottom, don't skimp. Don't give him any more ammunition than he already has. That flat must be spotless other than these 'marks'. You also want to be able to show that the marks are practically invisible, the LL needs to decorate anyway, the LL is being unreasonable and looking for betterment.

5) your contract can offer the hearts blood of your first born, it doesn't make it legal or reasonable. Redecoration at the expense of the tenant...wonder how many times he's pulled that wheeze on unsuspecting people. Don't let him.

johnmcga

I agree with FireWyrm. The landlord wants the cash, and is using the Blu Tac to justify keeping it.

It sounds to me as if £950 is very excessive given the damage. I would certainly be ready for a fight - and I hope the deposit is in a protection scheme, as that could help in this sort of situation,

Cate1976

This might be too late for OP but when I asked Dad how to remove the posters from my room in halls of residence at the end of my first year at uni, he gave me the following advice:

When you take the posters off the walls, remove them but leave the blu tac or white tac on the wall.
Using a clean finger roll the tac off.
If there are any marks wipe over them with a damp cloth and leave to dry, depending on how long the posters have been on the walls, you might need to do this a few times.

Have done this in every place I've been in and put posters up.

nigem

The flat looked good at checkout, with the marks removed and painted over. LL was still finding a few small issues to complain about and try to claim money for nothing.
My friend had done some checking in advance, and despite having a receipt for the deposit stating the name of the deposit company it would be held with, and a clause on the AST saying where it was held, there was no registration number and the LL was ignoring texts asking for it.
Phone calls to the 3 companies revealed that it hadnt been protected.
So the LL had no option but to refund the deposit in full!

Thanks for all you help

Cate1976

So glad your friend got their deposit back. Sounds like the LL was a not so good one. Hopefully he won't be as harsh with the next tenants.