Question about damage by tenant

Mela322

We are the tenant in question.

A towel ring broke and we put 2 towel bars up. We were told to make it like our home and we neglected to get specific permission for the towel bars. We drilled into the tiles in the bathroom so we are looking at 4-6 tiles with holes.

We have been told we have to replace like with like or we need to retile the bathroom. It's not a large bathroom but the tiles will be from the early 80's so impossible to match or find. There are broken tiles by the bath that were there before we moved in and the tiles behind the sink and toilet are different but very similar. Would we be able to use a hardener to fill the holes and get a porcelain paint to match or would that still be considered a damaged tile?

I understand we are in the wrong but is there any advice for us? Are we required by law to replace all the wall tile in the bathroom?

I just need to make sure what to do. We aren't looking to get out of anything.

Thanks

marliepanda

Just leave the towel bars? Is your landlord so unreasonable he is unhappy with you replacing a towel holder with a towel holder?

I doubt the deposit service would see this as damage of the towel bars are left.

Pennysmakepounds

That sounds very petty of the landlord.

How long have you been in the property?

Mela322

marliepanda wrote: »

Just leave the towel bars? Is your landlord so unreasonable he is unhappy with you replacing a towel holder with a towel holder?

I doubt the deposit service would see this as damage of the towel bars are left.

No, landlord not happy with them being there and only wants the tile like for like or replace it all. That could be nearly 20 s/m of tile.

Thank you for your reply, marliepanda xx

Mela322

Pennysmakepounds wrote: »

That sounds very petty of the landlord.

How long have you been in the property?

We have been in the property for nearly 10 years and have only been late once on our rent and that was when the bank was setting up the original direct payment at the very beginning. Landlord has given us permission to put other things up but is now denying all that. Sadly, we have nothing in writing. Lesson learned.

Pennysmakepounds

Mela322 wrote: »

We have been in the property for nearly 10 years and have only been late once on our rent and that was when the bank was setting up the original direct payment at the very beginning. Landlord has given us permission to put other things up but is now denying all that. Sadly, we have nothing in writing. Lesson learned.

If you have been paying rend for 10 years, then the landlord has made a pretty penny from you, 50K + probably.

He/She is being really really petty about such a small matter.

Landlords like that need to be slapped...in my opinion.

KingS6

Please speak to CAB and Shelter regarding this. You may have to be prepared for the LL/LA to request a deduction from the deposit and you fight this out in the dispute process.

Perhaps the LL is more annoyed you have drilled into the tiles than the actual replacing of the towel holder. It became broken after all. Was suction cups or adhesive pads not an option? I do appreciate bathrooms are humid environments.

Regarding the fact that you say some tiles were already broken. Did you take photographs of this when you moved into the property? Is it also on the inventory? This should help you avoid being shafted for unnecessary repairs.

Can someone please advise if betterment would come into this if all the tiling had to replaced? Especially new for old?

david1951

Mela322 wrote: »

We have been told we have to replace like with like or we need to retile the bathroom.

Bit like saying that because you drilled a hole in the wall I need to knock it down and replaster.

I would be friendly but firm - say that you understand his position but you aren't prepared to re-tile the bathroom. Say that you are happy to sort this issue out when you hand back the house.

There is no need or requirement to sort this out now.

Pixie5740

Personally I'd do nothing. I sure as hell wouldn't be paying to re-tile an entire bathroom in a property I'd been renting for 10 years over a bloody towel rail.

At the end of your tenancy I doubt your landlord would be able to deduct much, if anything, from your deposit over this. For starters she isn't entitled to betterment which is more or less what she's asking you to pay for now by expecting you to pay for the re-tiling of a bathroom which has had at least 10 years use.

Tyler119

Agree with Pixie...yet again!

Has the landlord replaced anything in the property in 10 years? Anything such as paint, carpets, tiles, kitchen etc all have a lifespan when it comes to adjudicators making decisions on deposit deductions. A good deal of the interior of the property will have exceeded it's lifespan in terms of what can be claimed from the deposit.

It is very correct that he will be able to deduct very little from the deposit. I wonder if the LL has paperwork in relation to receipts for the interior of the property...to show the age of everything from carpets, to bathroom to the paint on the walls. If the deposit is disputed he will have to show that sort of evidence.

In terms of a check in report, was it carried out by himself or by an independent inventory clerk. If it was carried out by himself and is 10 years old, then it may have little relevance.

How often did he do tenancy inspections? You say all the permissions he gave you to make it your own was not written down. Fair enough, but on a 10 year tenancy period and on balance of probability, it would likely be viewed as probable that a LL would allow various alterations to the property. In fact the LL cannot refuse small changes to the property if it is deemed unreasonable. Refusing permission for knocking down a wall would be reasonable, but putting up a towel rail, perhaps refusing that sort of request would be deemed unreasonable.

Keep us all updated and ask as many questions along the way as possible. Whatever scheme the deposit is protected with, there is always really good information for tenants. Remember the deposit is YOUR money and will remain that way. It is the LL that has to prove he has the right to X amount of the deposit.

AdrianC

You've been in the place for over ten years, but have you been on the same original tenancy all that time? When did the original fixed term expire?