Repairing damage/wear and tear on end of tenancy

caprikid1

"I'm all for a fair relationship between LL /LA and tenants, but in the years I have spent renting it has always been the LL/LA trying to shaft me,"

I suspect you bring out the best in people.

Conrad

Tenants are over the moon when an accommodating LL allows pets, yet when it comes to vacating this good will is often not returned in EQUAL measure as can be gleaned from the OP where it all comes a across a bit begrudging and legalistic.
Perhaps she ought to think back to how happy they were to have found a LL willing to accept the pets.


As a LL this sort of thing just makes me have a blanket ban on pets etc. Why risk tenants with short memories?

societys_child

Cats scratching wallpaper is not "wear and and tear", it's damage. Regardless of it being old, if it hadn't been damaged it wouldn't need replacing would it.

Conrad

ognum wrote: »

I agree with this, the LL is certainly wrong.

I don't know if it's this black n white. Two adults enter into an agreement on the assumption one will reciprocate the same spirit of accommodation and fair play.
LL's are often ordinary folk and cannot really afford an inventory - perhaps like me they already spend thousands doing up and equipping a place prior to let.

I see this all the time (there's a letting agency in my office). A tenant over the moon to have found an accommodating LL, only for them to become of ill temperament later on when it suits.


Sure every LL should have an inventory, but some people still rely on good faith and a handshake not expecting to be shafted one day.


What goes around comes around. We have found this over time, for example certain tenants get a bad name in the town as being awkward and then no one will touch them.

SerialRenter

Conrad wrote: »

Sure every LL should have an inventory, but some people still rely on good faith and a handshake not expecting to be shafted one day.

Presumably this is only a mistake they'd make once.

Or, rather, i'd hope they would do their homework and act like a real business to avoid having this issue in the first place.

But of course I'm always up for keeping the relationship amiable between all parties, the tenant has to take responsibility for damage, the landlord has to understand the concept of betterment.

Eejay

We have a similar problem, although thankfully we live in a flat so the hallway isn't as big (still fairly long though). The wallpaper was old, has been painted over several times, and our cats have wrecked it. They've scratched at every 'outward' corner they can find and taken chunks out of it, exposing grey wall underneath.

They've done similar around the window in the living room, although this was newly decorated and so we were fortunately able to find the same wallpaper, buy a few extra rolls, and when we're ready to move we'll redo that wall (well, I'll probably get my Mum to do it as I've never put wallpaper up before and don't want to mess it up!).

We informed the LA about the damage the cats had caused and asked if it was okay for us to redecorate the hallway before we go. The wallpaper is old but it was in good condition and would have lasted a few more years if the cats hadn't wrecked it. We've suggested paint might be a better option if the LL is to allow cats in the future as many of them love textured wallpaper (I spent a fortune on scratching posts but the wallpaper is so much more fun!). The LL said it's fine I would hate to think that our cats and our attitude had spoiled the chances of future tenants being allowed pets, so will go out of my way to ensure that doesn't happen.

Conrad

SerialRenter wrote: »

Presumably this is only a mistake they'd make once.

Or, rather, i'd hope they would do their homework and act like a real business to avoid having this issue in the first place.

But of course I'm always up for keeping the relationship amiable between all parties, the tenant has to take responsibility for damage, the landlord has to understand the concept of betterment.

You are correct of course, but I do feel there is also an unspoken set of rules and fair play between buyers and sellers - I myself am a stickler for treating others the same way I expect to be tret. Cannot abide cheats or those that show a nice face when they want something and then the other cheek when it comes to them acting in accordance with the spirit the landlord showed them.


If we were to advertise ourselves on a dating website, I imagine we all would state we were honest cuddly types, but the reality is quite the reverse all too often. We all have a gsoh and are great drivers too! Yea, course.


Given the OP's situation I would have the entire wall / hall redecorated afterall the owner showed me compassion and trusted my intentions. He would not expect a mealy contribution to a wall that would have had no need of attention were it not for my cats. BTW cats have killed all the reptiles and amphibians round our way, why do people want a relative of the original African wild cat killing our beautiful wildlife? This in itself is a selfish act.