Ending tenancy, Iron mark on mattress

toberemembered

Hi, I wanted to ask advice on the best course of action R.E. damage to a mattress which occurred during my student tenancy this year. I am part of a TDS.

• The mattress was new when I moved in
• There are two obvious iron marks on one side, with some light tears in the fabric, I believe it is still perfectly functional with a good life ahead, particularly if repaired or patched (can provide pictures)

In the short term I need my deposit back ASAP (£280, ideally in full) due to current cash flow problems, so a prolonged dispute would be problematic. I'm determined to do right by both the agency and my housemates, but the agency come across as quite cut throat on deposit matters (from speaking with the property caretaker). I have no idea how much would be deducted for repairs but suspect the letting agency would charge an unreasonable amount, or insist on a replacement mattress. I've left this very late as my tenancy ends on the 30/06/15.

I see several options:

• I could patch the fabric myself using the correct tools and information from the web, but I am unsure what the agency's reaction to this would be.
• I could buy a replacement mattress (£125) and keep the current one for a future house.
• I could arrange for it to be professionally repaired, or offer to arrange this after speaking to my letting agency and fessing up.

All of these might be unfeasible in the time left though!

• We could delay the problem 1 year, with my housemates agreement, which would allow me to pay them for deductions at the end of their tenancy, and resolve the short term money issue as:
• My housemates have renewed the tenancy for another year, and brought in another person to replace me
• There are two other identical mattresses in the house, both undamaged and also new at the start of this tenancy
• One of these could be switched over temporarily
• The agency will only be checking my room, rather than the whole house.

Any advice or suggestions much appreciated!

[Deleted User]

To be honest, you are trying to 'get out' of paying for damage that has been done.

One of your options leaves the Housemates paying for the damage when the damaged mattress is eventually discovered. I'm sure they need their deposit back as much as you do.

You might find with careful washing and sewing, the mattress can be repaired. You'll have to do a good standard repair though. I could because I sew well, a lot of people can't though.

Letting another potential housemate down .., not overly good.

The fact that you are short on cash, is nothing to do with the LA or your housemates, its your problem.

Time to grow up and realise that careless behaviour will cost (ironing on the mattress or whatever you did). You won't do it again.., that's how we learn. Sorry if this seems unsympathetic but this is how it goes. You could I suppose flip the mattress and hope no one notices.

silvercar

A less honest person would turn the mattress.

Alter_ego

I can understand the iron marks, but how did small tears happen?

Buy the replacement at £125, or let the agency buy one for your complete deposit.

Red-Squirrel_2

It takes some doing to wreck a mattress in less than a year!

You'll just have to bite the bullet I'm afraid.

HappyMJ

silvercar wrote: »

A less honest person would turn the mattress.

That's what I'd do....and leave the bed made up with a mattress protector and sheet. A little damage is expected so the small tears I wouldn't worry about. I would take that to tribunal saying the mattress as so cheap that it tore very easily a better quality mattress would not have torn.

Mojisola

toberemembered wrote: »

[*]There are two other identical mattresses in the house, both undamaged and also new at the start of this tenancy

HappyMJ wrote: »

That's what I'd do....and leave the bed made up with a mattress protector and sheet. A little damage is expected so the small tears I wouldn't worry about. I would take that to tribunal saying the mattress as so cheap that it tore very easily a better quality mattress would not have torn.

But the LL would have evidence that the other two identical mattresses are undamaged.

toberemembered

Thanks for the replies, the tears are tiny and part of the singe marks caused by the iron. I appreciate the point about taking responsibility and wouldn't consider not fessing up, I was wondering if delaying that moment until future would make sense given my current difficulties.





The second is the worst

TBeckett100

Arrange a farewell drink with your housemates at the local pub

Then just as they are waiting at the pub, you could swap your mattress with your least favourite housemate

HappyMJ

I really doubt the damage is so bad that the mattress is unusable.

Not sure if this link helps or not... http://www.arla.co.uk/info-guides/property-guides/deposit-protection-guide/betterment-and-apportionment.aspx

toberemembered

HappyMJ wrote: »

I really doubt the damage is so bad that the mattress is unusable.

Not sure if this link helps or not... http://www.arla.co.uk/info-guides/property-guides/deposit-protection-guide/betterment-and-apportionment.aspx

Thats very helpful thank you, fingers crossed they'll charge a reasonable amount, it would be much simpler just to tell them the problem. I had heard horror stories about the agency from the caretaker about trying to charge £40 for several marks left by blue tack, or replacing an entire mattress due to a 1" stain.