Check out inspection carried out, amount agreed, LL changed mind and wants more

emlou2009

We recently moved out of a rental property and met with the LL last night for the check out inspection. We had cracked a mirror in a built in cabinet which we are happy to pay for a replacement of, and we had also disposed of a faulty and dangerous electric fire but because it was in the inventory she decided she wanted to charge us for it. She, my OH, her daughter and I were all browsing Amazon for a replacement fire cost when she said "let's just call it £50." We agreed and thought that was that, but awoke this morning to a text from her saying she now will be deducting double that.
Unfortunately we have nothing in writing except a text from her acknowledging that she agreed that amount last night but changed herind after research. She says she has 24 hours to change her mind. Is this correct? Where do we stand please?
(The deposit is protected with TDS but we've lost the details.)

stator

How old was the fire? If it's old she won't be able to claim the cost of a brand new one.
The 24 hrs claim is nonsense, nothing is binding until it's done and signed.
Usually it's best to just request the whole amount back from TDS and let the landlord try to prove her deductions are fair.

emlou2009

She claims it was brand new and that she'd never used it, but we lived there four years. So if she is truthful it would still be at least four years old.

fishpond

She will need proof of original purchase, which, of course she has, as any LL keeps receipts for 6 years + ?

emlou2009

I'm actually have quite happy to let her have the original £50 we all agreed on, I reckon it'd cost her that to replace the mirror door. I'm mostly just annoyed that SHE said £50, obviously just to get rid of us, and has gone away and decided to double it! It feels very dishonest.

emlou2009

If I take it to dispute, what's likely to happen? If she provides quotes for a new mirror dooor and a new fire that are more than she's asking for already will I have shot myself in the foot?

Pixie5740

She isn't entitled to betterment and TDS know this. At the very least she has had 4 years use from the mirror and fire, she doesn't get new for old replacement. Nor can she claim for a more expensive, better quality mirror or fire.

I wouldn't bother texting back and forth. Just claim your deposit back from TDS and if she then proposes reasonable deductions then agree to them.

J_i_m

For her pendanticness I'd be minded to invite to take a very long walk of a very short peer.

As long as you're making good on anything you've caused then that ought to do. Anything else is fair wear and tear and she is being unreasonable.

emlou2009

Thanks all. I hadn't considered the betterment side of it so taking that into account I think her original £50 suggestion was quite fair. She's saying a new mirror would be £35 and a new fire £62.

TrickyDicky101

J_i_m wrote: »

For her pendanticness I'd be minded to invite to take a very long walk of a very short peer.

Ronnie Corbett, maybe?

chris_m

J_i_m wrote: »

to take a very long walk of a very short peer.

How about Baron Deben? I think he's fairly vertically challenged.
:rotfl: