Riddiculous deductions from deposit?

SerialRenter

You could argue with the Letting Agent for weeks... or, you could just go to the TDS and raise the claim for your deposit to be returned yourself and skip the useless back and forth.

https://www.tds.gb.com/deposit-disputes.html

ACG

dominoman wrote: »

The landlord already gets an annual tax allowance of 10% of your rent to pay for replacement and wear and tear so don't lose any sleep on his behalf!

I could be wrong but I think that is only if its furnished.

Ive been a landlord and had to go round sorting out issues that people have done without asking. I agree most of this seems crazy £18 for a lightbulb being the obvious one and its clear that they are trying it on.

But if you are putting nails/screws/pins in walls without permission and it needs rectifying then either the landlord has to do it or he has to get someone in.

Confusedandneedhelp

I once had a LL try charge me for the cost of a skip which wouldve been fine if they hadnt also charged me for her 'hours' driving to the tip using her car - (she'd verbally agreed, lesson was learned, get everything in writing - left behind two chairs and a desk/table) it was funny to see the break down of cost - "cost for skip (if it had been required) £100"

jjlandlord

ACG wrote: »

I agree most of this seems crazy £18 for a lightbulb being the obvious one and its clear that they are trying it on.

I disagree.
A priori the light bulb is the most reasonable one, and IMHO the one most likely to be accepted (unless the place is wrecked of course).

Before the outraged replies pour in:
If the light bulb itself is cheap (which we don't know) then really the tenant should have saved himself trouble and changed it.
Otherwise, the labour and time required to change it in addition of the cost of the part itself makes the sum of £18 in total very reasonable.

PasturesNew

Years ago landlords would go to the place themselves and expect to do 1-2 hours of tweaking themselves, at no cost. That was part of the business they ran... these days it's all put out to expensive companies and expensive agents to arbitrarily try to create as large a bill as possible for what could be a small oversight or simple 'extra wipe down here and there'.

nicegirl

Do keep us updated on what happens!

I am fully expecting to go through the same thing with our current letting agent when the time comes. I took in our inventory today, complete with an additional seven pages of notes and photographs!

lucie707

Thank you for your pointers you guys are so helpful.

Re the lightbulb - we did actually buy two energy saving (as stated in the contract) light bulbs but like a do do my partner packed them up along with the cleaning products just seconds before the inventory guys showed up. £18 does seem ridiculous but I guess it could have been worse and a lesson learned there to be more organised!

Re wall hooks - the place had quite a few when we moved in and I rang to ask if I could put up one more, I was told yes as long as I use wall hooks now nails. Seems madness they are charging to remove what was already there!

I admit to the place needing a paint, but it did when i moved in. Due to the age of the house we are not sure it's ever been re-painted more than once and it's always been let out (usually yearly).

Eejay

PasturesNew wrote: »

Years ago landlords would go to the place themselves and expect to do 1-2 hours of tweaking themselves, at no cost. That was part of the business they ran... these days it's all put out to expensive companies and expensive agents to arbitrarily try to create as large a bill as possible for what could be a small oversight or simple 'extra wipe down here and there'.

This is the thing I'm most looking forward to when the current tenant moves out of my husband's flat. We did quite a bit of decorating last time but we were getting married a few days later and really struggled with time (it's in a different city and we don't drive so had to cart all our DIY bits in a suitcase on the train!) - but he's putting money aside so next time he can replace the damaged laminate flooring in the kitchen with tiles, and put a new door between the living room and hallway which will allow light through I'm also hoping to get all the skirting boards and door frames done!

I can't understand why so many landlords insist on paying for a professional clean etc - I expect the tenants to leave the place somewhat clean/tidy but it's not that much effort to wipe the place down once they are gone if they've missed anything.

lucie707

Also, they are asking for my permission to carry out these works, so I'd assume no work had been carried out yet...but a new tennant has already moved in. I presume they haven't moved someone in and told them it's going to be freshly painted in a few weeks...so im wondering if it's going to be done at all? I'm guessing that's no business of the dispute services though?

dominoman

lucie707 wrote: »

Also, they are asking for my permission to carry out these works, so I'd assume no work had been carried out yet...but a new tennant has already moved in. I presume they haven't moved someone in and told them it's going to be freshly painted in a few weeks...so im wondering if it's going to be done at all? I'm guessing that's no business of the dispute services though?

I could be wrong but I thought the landlord could only claim for costs incurred, not for costs that might or might not ever be incurred in future.