Deposit deductions

test0r

I am being charged £200 for a new mattress after moving out. The reason is that there are some brown drops on the mattress (looks like someone has bled onto it).

I am 100% sure that it wasn't me (it is literally impossible that I caused these stains). I firmly believe that they were there when I moved in, but without me realising.

Unfortunately, I have no way to prove this. The only way I could have proved it would have been if when I moved in I had removed the mattress cover and taken high res pictures of every part of the mattress.

Is there anything I can do, or should I just chalk this up to naivety of not doing the inventory thoroughly enough when I moved in, and take the loss?

I've asked the letting agent for a before picture but they don't have one. When I moved in the property had a mattress cover around it, which I didn't look underneath. I signed the inventory saying it was fine. And then when I moved out, I did not take any pictures. Does this basically mean I'm screwed?

pmlindyloo

A difficult one.

A couple of points to consider.

You could take this to dispute using the Deposit Protection scheme where your deposit was protected. The onus is on the landlord to prove that the mattress was not stained when you moved in. In their favour is the fact that you signed the inventory saying the mattress was fine. Against them is the fact that there are no pictures. Decision could go either way.

You could try negotiating with the LL. They can not claim for betterment i.e they have to take into account how old the mattress was and its quality and adjust for fair wear and tear. In other words they cannot claim for a new mattress.

So, how old is the mattress? Can you remember the name and look up the replacement cost?

Someone. hopefully, can provide you with the formula for working out what percentage of a replacement mattress you might have to pay.

pmlindyloo

Something to read about betterment:

http://www.arla.co.uk/info-guides/info-for-landlords/deposit-protection-guide/betterment-and-apportionment.aspx

marliepanda

Interesting as to how it's 'impossible' you caused the stains.

Did you never use that mattress?

Do you have no blood?

test0r

I don't know how old the mattress was when I moved in. I was there for about 3.5 years. I don't really know about this betterment stuff, but I don't think a blood stain is fair wear and tear. As you say, I signed the inventory saying the mattress was fine. So stupid of me...

bouicca21

Dreams are advertising that mattresses only last for 8 years. That means yours is practically half way through its life, even if it were new when you moved in. What sort is it? Pocket sprung, traditional springs, memory foam?

I doubt £200 is reasonable. You really do need to look up betterment.