Damage to hollow wooden door in rented flat.

divadee

I have been renting the same place for over 2 years. Look after it really well. Never damaged anything and have a good landlord (he uses a letting agent as fully managed) that fixes anything if it breaks.

On getting the ironing board out yesterday it slipped and I have damaged the internal bathroom door. It has a dent and a small hole in it now. The problem is these doors are a kind of dark mahogany and I have looked online and can't see anything similar at all to them to replace it.

To make matters worse we have an inspection on Tuesday! And the letting agents are very very hot and pick up every little thing. I don't think I have had a 'clean' inspection as they always pick up on something. Last time it was limescale on the draining board (there wasn't any it jut needed a wipe it was water stains that had dried!). So I know they will pick up on the door straight away and I don't know what they will say or do about it.

Should I email them today and send pictures of the damage and ask how they want me to proceed with repair etc.... I'm not trying to get out of paying for it. I am fully willing to pay to replace or repair but don't want to be ripped off!

Penelope_Penguin

Do you have a picture of the door? Somebody may be able to spot one online.

James_Tyroll

I would take some pics and ask them, probably better to be upfront so they don't think you're trying to hide it

But do some looking around for replacement prices, even if it's not the exact same - a hollow wooden door should be very cheap so don't get ripped off!

divadee

Is the door in full.




Is the damage.



As you can see it's the foot of the ironing board that just caught the door.

Sagz_2

Stick a BATHROOM sign over it ��

Penelope_Penguin

Thought it might be like that They were very common in houses built in the 70s, and lots of people are now ripping them out. I sold my mother's house last year, and both her house and the one opposite had about 8 doors just like that removed and dumped.

There are a few on eBay for around £10, but no indication of the cost of transport if you're not local. Otherwise, do you have a salvage place near you, or your local recycling centre may store doors for people to buy, or maybe contact someone doing renovations who might be taking one out.

HappyMJ

divadee wrote: »

I have been renting the same place for over 2 years. Look after it really well. Never damaged anything and have a good landlord (he uses a letting agent as fully managed) that fixes anything if it breaks.

On getting the ironing board out yesterday it slipped and I have damaged the internal bathroom door. It has a dent and a small hole in it now. The problem is these doors are a kind of dark mahogany and I have looked online and can't see anything similar at all to them to replace it.

To make matters worse we have an inspection on Tuesday! And the letting agents are very very hot and pick up every little thing. I don't think I have had a 'clean' inspection as they always pick up on something. Last time it was limescale on the draining board (there wasn't any it jut needed a wipe it was water stains that had dried!). So I know they will pick up on the door straight away and I don't know what they will say or do about it.

Should I email them today and send pictures of the damage and ask how they want me to proceed with repair etc.... I'm not trying to get out of paying for it. I am fully willing to pay to replace or repair but don't want to be ripped off!

It's an accident so don't worry too much about it. We all have accidents every now and again and most LL's will understand. The letting agent is probably rubbing their hands with glee thinking about all the fees they can charge both to you and the LL.

Keep an eye out for one local to you, go and collect it and get it fitted before the end of the tenancy and you won't have to pay the letting agent's fees to arrange the work for you.

[Deleted User]

I know this is probably a mad idea, but it is just an idea. Is there any way you could carefully remove all the bits, stick them together like a jigsaw puzzle, put a piece of wood on a screw in the hole, pull it forward so it glues in place to provide a firm backing. Then piece the missing bits together to cover up the hole. Or just find the missing flakes, bring the backing forward (tape it and pull or something) and stick the missing flakes back on.

Or find a mahogony stain, bring the backing bit on the left hand side forward and try using the mahogony stain, then varnish the door again.

I'm sorry, I know its not a perfect repair plan but it might help, particularly as its such an old door.

Otherwise trying to locate a replacement is a good idea. It only needs to be replaced before you move out so don't worry too much about the inspection report. You should have time to find one. If you leave it, its the installation costs that the LA will charge that will be painful, not the price of the door as the DPS won't allow betterment (new door for really really old one).

helphelphelphelp

Cant help where to find a replacement door, but to buy some more time, leave the door open, get one of the door hooks to put over the top of the door and hang some towels on the door. May just keep it hidden from the agent whilst you can find a more reasonably priced replacement

NYM

Have a look on your local Gumtree.

-or-

Wickes do a cheap door that you can stain mahogany perhaps..

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Lisburn-Internal-Ply-Veneer-Door-Flushed-1-Panel-1981x838mm/p/165646

mpet

If you Google Sapele doors, there are a number of places that sell these - depends how much you want to pay though. Also try eBay - you may get lucky.