Wear and Tear? Landlord Negligence?

Willow88

Good Evening,

We are moving out after a 4 year tenancy.

The tenancy hasn't been easy, we have had numerous different problems that the landlord has taken ages and numerous attempts at contact to fix (for example we had very little hot water for over a year)

The property is in fairly bad condition. And I'm not sure whether they try and take our deposit off us.

Firstly the garden, we told them months ago that the bamboo plant (that was there when we moved in) had over taken the garden. It had grown through the stoning, behind the fences into the neighbours gardens. I have been trying to fix it ( i had to dig up half the garden to remove numerous stalks that had grown metres away from the actual plant), I contacted the landlord and asked them to send over a professional. Never happened. Also the decking wasn't treated and has no drainage to either side so can't be brushed down and had now started to mould underneath.

The downstairs toilet has mould all over it, and the wallpaper has been removed at the bottom (by me, i asked for permission) as the toilet was leaking and they took 4 months to get it fixed then never fixed the mould.

The upstairs bathroom is wallpapered and its half falling up because of steam.

The upstairs toilet is badly stained because it took them months to fix a blockage.

Downstairs has water damage and discolouring along a couple of the walls, its feels damp also.

There is a hole in the wall in the kitchen because of our dog, but we are arranging and paying for it to be fixed professionally.

Plus we have put up a few nails and had to fit a stair gate at the top of the stairs (which i will fill in)

Also there quite a few marks on the carpet upstairs which we are paying to be cleaned professionally. And a small cross on the wall in coloured pen thanks to 4 year old

We are also getting a professional end of tenancy clean.

So I am arranging for the things i think we are liable for to be fixed, But where do I stand with the rest?

They have only been to see the property once since we moved in 4 years ago.

sorryitsme

That bamboo plant might be a form of Japanese knotweed. I had that in my old flat and you cant just dig it up it needs to be treated with chemicals. That is not your fault and is in your landlords best interests to resolve as his property will be unsaleable and unmortgageable.


I cant comment on your other points, but im sure someone will come along soon.

G_M

Provided you have records of all your letters reporting the various problems over the period of the tenancy (and hopefully the LL's responses too) you should be fine.

There is of course an ambiguous line between what is the tenant's responsibility (eg routine maintenance of a garden) and what is the landlord's responsibility (repairs & structural maintenance) and this can sometimes lead to disagreement.

That is what the deposit scheme arbitration process is for.

* Deposits: payment, protection and return

Willow88

Thanks for your replies. We are privately renting and haven't received a copy of the deposit scheme certificate. Which worries me...

Should I request one?

G_M

Willow88 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. We are privately renting and haven't received a copy of the deposit scheme certificate. Which worries me...

Should I request one?

Up to you.

Or just wait till you leave. If the return of your deposit becomes an issue, you'll be able to claim the penalty then (or make clear you will do so if the deposit it not returned).

Have you checked registration with each scheme? Maybe you lost the PI - it does happen.

Why stir things up before you know there is a problem.

Willow88

We rented through an agency at first then the landlord suggested cutting them out. So we received the original deposit back from the agency and then we transferred it over to the landlords. And we haven't seen them since so no paper work given, just e-mail contact.

I'll see how it goes and request it if needed.

Can you check the different schemes and see if its been registered? I'll take a look now, thank you.

G_M

Willow88 wrote: »

Can you check the different schemes and see if its been registered? I'll take a look now, thank you.

The link provided above was to assist you.

Try reading it....

Willow88

Clearly I should have stated that links won't open on my phone and I can't get to my laptop as I am under a sleeping baby. I planned to look in the morning.

I thought that information was too much and not really needed. But I also didn't expect such a condescending remark to a simple question.

[Deleted User]

We see similiar questions about deposit protection, several times a week, times that by 52, then that by a few years. It gets a bit boring writing the same thing over and over.., and lol, poor G_M does most of it. I tend to switch off myself.

The reply wasn't rude, no name calling etc, he's not psychic, couldn't possibly know you are sleeping under a baby, with a mobile phone that can't open links, so I'm afraid I think your reply is actually uncalled for and unnecessary.

It always amazes me how many people don't seem to realise how useful google is lol. And that the people who give help are volunteers, not paid, just normal members of the public trying to help people. I'm sure there are other things we could all do.