Rented House - Wooden worktop.

TeddyGirl

We are moving out of our rented house on 30th Nov. We are a bit concerned we won't get our deposit back (was put in the scheme thing but we never filled out an inventory).

Basically the kitchen (which is very small) has wooden worktops, which look really nice but are a pain in the bum and the sink doesn't have a draining board attached.

We got a draining rack which collects water at the bottom so water doesn't go on the work top and an absorbent mat thing as an extra precaution. But the work top has discoloured and a bit seems to have sunk aswell (will take pictures when I get home).

We have been in the house almost a year and there is mould on the downstairs toilet wall and the bathroom wall which the landlords are aware of and they said it's something to do with the drain or chimney or something (old terraced house).
Also the carpets were never put down properly so they are coming up but that is in no way anything we had anything to do with.

Also we have made some improvements to the house (with permission) such as putting up a satellite dish and clearing the previously filthy back yard so we have looked after the house

We have tried our best to keep the house as clean as possible and it is really getting to us, not only because we might lose our deposit over the work top but because it also looks unhygienic !

Does anyone know if this can count as fair ware and tear ? Or does anyone have any advice as to how to repair the damage, don't want to use a stain on it because I would then have to do all the worktop and make sure it matches etc.

I have read that oxalic acid might help with the staining but sounds a bit risky, can someone reassure me or give me advice ?

It's only £525 deposit at the end of the day but it will all help when it comes to doing up the house we are buying !

fairy_lights

If there was no inventory then the landlord/agent can't prove what condition the house was in in the first place, so can't claim you've damaged anything.
Pretty idiotic of them to put wooden worktops round the sink, was it even varnished or treated, or just bare wood?

TeddyGirl

I'm pretty clueless but it looks varnished but I have put a slightly damp plate down before and it stains. Also just been googling and it says wooden worktops should be oiled.....I had no idea, it didn't say anything in the contract about oiling the worktops or I would have done it !!!

Also think it's pretty stupid that they put a sink similar to this http://www.kitchensinkstore.co.uk/kitchen-sinks-and-taps/villeroy-and-boch-farmhouse-800mm-sink-with-overflow/?hfm_source=KSSGooglebase&hfm_medium=COMPARISON&hfm_campaign=October2014&utm_source=KSSGooglebase&utm_medium=COMPARISON&utm_campaign=October2014&gclid=CI2NzK3rnMECFc7HtAodVn4AXg
in there so there is no drainage which is why we have the special draining rack and absorbent mat.

Unitoons

I had wooden worktops in my previous kitchen and they were fine but had to be oiled every three months. If you were never advised by the landlord that this was how to care for them then I don't see how they can have expected you to be able to look after them properly!
Wood worktops will last for years and years but only if cared for properly!

TeddyGirl

I will read thought the contract and the instructions they left (just how to deal with boiler etc) but I read them through thoroughly when we first moved in, as did my fianc! and we didn't see anywhere saying about the worktop.

Also when I moved in the hood of the cooker was like 5mm thick of yellow/orange oil so I spent a whole day cleaning that. They can't say we haven't looked after the house ! And the amount of times we have screamed in pain after standing on one of the exposed carpet nails !

Fluff15

If there was no dual signed inventory, then they cannot prove that you have caused the damages. It is their responsibility to prove you caused the damages, not you try to disprove and show you did your best. No photographic proof before the tenancy = no proof. If they try to claim anything, raise a dispute with the deposit agency and get it back.

TeddyGirl

Thanks for your help. They seem like nice people (if a little naive about renting e.g not knowing they had to provide smoke and CO alarms). They have only done one check since we moved in (at 6 months when renewing our contract).

Lucy_Lastic

CO alarms? Do you mean Carbon Monoxide alarms? Is this now a requirement? I didn't know about that.

TeddyGirl

Well I asked for smoke alarms (to which they told me it was my responsibility and then I replied that it wasn't) and when they brought them round (for us to fit) they also gave us a CO (yup carbon monoxide) alarm.

However after talking to my grandfather in law who rents out a few houses, it is the law and they have to be placed at a certain height and not near a window and 1 per room with gas appliance (ours is in the bathroom where the boiler is).

peter1000

love my solid oak worktops

TeddyGirl

They look beautiful but without knowing I had to oil them, they are a pain in the bum !