Another "leaving rented flat - cleaning etc" thread...

martin2345uk

Hi guys

Sorry to add yet another one of these threads but was hoping for some specific advice on a few things related to sorting out our flat in order to get our deposit back...

1. My biggest concern is this:



The wall has been "singed" by the electric heater, we only noticed how bad it is after taking down the picture! The heater was there as part of the flat when we moved in - all we've done is use it... will this count as us having damaged the wall?

2. There is a coffee table in the lounge, over the 3 years it's got pretty marked:



The table isn't mentioned in the inventory checklist but you can just about see it in one of the inventory photos. Thing is I assume we'll need to pay for a new one, as unable to clean those marks off, but supposing it's no longer made, how much of an expensive one would we be liable for..?

3. The toilet seat (no photo this time, phew) was badly fitting and wobbly, so we just bought a new one from Ikea (one that actually matches the rest of the bathroom!). We disposed of the old seat. Do you think they are likely to make us replace it with one matching the original?


Not trying to get out of anything by the way! Will happily pay our dues, just trying to ascertain what that's going to end up being roughly...

Thank you!

Lifeforms

The heater is part of the inventory/basics of the flat so shouldn't cause a problem as you've only used it, by using that it's caused the wall issue. Is it burn/singe marks, or dust or dirt coming up? have you tried to wipe away following any wall paper guidelines?

Maybe sit on the table (not literally!) if it's not listed as part of the inventory then they can't claim for it.

Toilet seat, if it matches, isn't offensive then it'll be fine, as long as something is left in it's place. Is the toilet seat listed as the old one by description in the inventory?

I was told with stuff like the shockingly awful curtains that I threw out, that so long as I a) kept them and put them back up at the end, or b) left a replacement I could replace things like that, same as the toilet seat. Horrible sharp plastic thing which was like sitting on ice in the winter. First thing to go!

martin2345uk

Thanks for the reply!

Re the wall, it's actually a painted wall and I've not tried wiping it as was scared I'd wipe paint off! Any suggestions on what to wipe it with...?

The old toilet seat isn't mentioned but it's in one of the photos... :-/

flutterbyuk25

Try one of those magic wall/mark erasers maybe? Get them in Tesco/home bargains etc? Like these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/JML-5020044770276-Magic-Eraser-V1352/dp/B00097ECGM

I found they work on most things!

martin2345uk

Thanks - but I'm wary of making the thing a hundred times worse, like getting it smeared all over the wall, then we would be liable surely?

LEJC

looking at the photograph and taking into account that you have been in the property for 3 years,then it may be possible to argue that the wall has become discoloured over the years due to normal usage of the heater.

I would be wary of trying to clean it off as it probably has scorched the wall.

Most houses will see discolouration over a period of time where pictures are hung and thats nothing to do with not keeping the property clean.

martin2345uk

Hmm I had a little test at wiping a spot with just a warm damp sponge and it's clear if I carry on in that vein i'll make a royal mess of the whole thing! Going to leave it and if they point out the bit I've "cleaned" and say they'll charge us because of that bit, I'll say well you'd have had to sort the wall regardless of whether or not I'd attempted that little bit, and it's only because of your heater in the first place!

Thanks for the advice though guys, this forum never fails to help

GM11

the wall is normal wear and tare i wouldn't worry about it as the heater was with the flat therefore not your fault the wall is discolored. as for the table, get the cheapest nastiest tesco value toothpaste or similar (the cheaper the better as normally more abrasive) water it down a little to a sticky paste, dip a cloth in the paste and give the table a clean with it. toothpaste will normally shift most stains and can also be used to clean DVD's that are scratched and wont play

regards jason

luvchocolate

The marks above the heater are normal mine was just the same and used a cream cleaner on a little bit and it came clean I was worried it would bring the paint off but it was fine. test a small area first.

fionajbanana

I rented a place with my ex and the toilet seat hinge broke and got a new one replaced.

The seat was one of those see through acrylic ones and got something similar in Argos from one of their sales. On the inventory it just said - toilet seat.

We had a plastic washing up bowl which spilt and had to get a new one. It did say round blue washing up bowl. Thank you pound shop. It was a a different shade of blue but if its blue - doesn't matter if its baby blue or navy blue.

Also we had some ornaments in the inventory and just put them in a box in the spare bedroom when we moved in. One of the things listed was two duck ornaments. We could not find them. Fortunately, the school at the bottom of the road had a car boot sale. First boot/stall we came across had 2 ducks and they wanted 20p for them.

Sometimes a vague description on the inventory can help!

Somethings like the marks about the storage heaters are natural (not too sure if that is the right word to use). My friend is very clean and cleans twice a week and yet when she decorated her lounge when removing the pictures, there were the picture marks on the wall.