How to protect my rental deposit

wildheart83

I've been in my rented property for a couple of years and recently the council gave us wheelie bins instead of using big plastic bags.

The problem with this is that there's no access to the back garden other than through the house so I can't store them in the garden. The front path isn't wide enough to have them there either, so the only place left is the front garden which isn't ideal.

I asked the landlord if he could get a couple of slabs down so that the bins can sit under the window sill so that they can't be seen from inside but mostly so that the garden isn't being churned up, but he refused, saying it wouldn't look nice.

I am now worried that when the time comes to move out, I'll be hit with deductions to rectify damage caused by these bins sitting on the grass all the time.
Is there anything I can do to make sure this doesn't happen, other than get something in writing from the letting agency confirming that LL is unwilling to do anything?

da_rule

I think you have it. Just make them aware that the way they are having to be stored has the potential to damage the grass unless the provide some sort of hard standing. If they refuse to do it or just don't reply at least you've got something.

If they do make a deduction you will still have to contest it but at least you'll have some evidence that they were aware of the issue and did not act to prevent the damage.

Davesnave

Or buy a couple of rolls of turf from B&Q and lay them just before you vacate.

G_M

wildheart83 wrote: »

.....
I asked the landlord if he could get a couple of slabs down so that the bins can sit under the window sill so that they can't be seen from inside but mostly so that the garden isn't being churned up, but he refused, saying it wouldn't look nice.

Was this a conversation or did he respond in writing? If written, then you have your protection for the future. If oral, then

Dear Mr landlord,
Just a short note to confirm our conversation last (Monday).

As you are aware we now have wheelie bins which have to be stored in the front garden. These do damage to the lawn/beds/whatever.

I understand that you are not happy about laying paving or some other solution to protect the lawn/beds.

This of course is fine with me/us, but of course I/we cannot now be responsible for the long-term damage that will be caused by moving the bins each week.

Regards

wildheart

wildheart83

I emailed but they phoned to let me know LL wasn't willing to do anything. I'll send a note off to them now to reiterate things.

I know I could get turf or whatever, and I'm almost certain that if I offered to pay for slabs he'd be fine but it's not damage I've caused so I'm not going down that route.

KILL_BILL

take dated photos of the area where your going to put the bins before you put the bins in place so that he(landlord) can see that any possible damage was due to his unreasonableness

FBaby

This of course is fine with me/us, but of course I/we cannot now be responsible for the long-term damage that will be caused by moving the bins each week.

'Dear Mr Tenant, I do not think it is unreasonable that you should wheel the bins through the house once a week to store in the back garden'

Or 'I have measured the front path and it is wide enough for them to be stored there'

I don't think it is as black and white to consider that any damage will be deemed the responsibility of the landlord just because he didn't agree for the bins to be stored in front of the window.

Guest101

FBaby wrote: »

'Dear Mr Tenant, I do not think it is unreasonable that you should wheel the bins through the house once a week to store in the back garden'

Or 'I have measured the front path and it is wide enough for them to be stored there'

I don't think it is as black and white to consider that any damage will be deemed the responsibility of the landlord just because he didn't agree for the bins to be stored in front of the window.

The landlord doesn't have to agree


The tenant has to behave in a reasonable manner. It's a change to the conditions that is beyond the control of both LL and tenant

sparky130a

FBaby wrote: »

'Dear Mr Tenant, I do not think it is unreasonable that you should wheel the bins through the house once a week to store in the back garden'
Chances are it is unreasonable....
Or 'I have measured the front path and it is wide enough for them to be stored there'
Unless the LL has streetwork's experience they'll have no idea of the legal measurements required....
I don't think it is as black and white to consider that any damage will be deemed the responsibility of the landlord just because he didn't agree for the bins to be stored in front of the window.

The OP has tried to suggest a simple cost effective solution. The LL is being short sighted IMO.

FBaby

We have no idea if he is being short sighted. He may have his reasons and indeed, he may consider that the path is wide enough.

The point is that it's not because he has denied OP wishes that OP is assured that no claim for damage could be claimed.

It would be like saying 'I now have children, they are likely to make marks on the walls, so can I pain a black colour so it's not so visible' and if the LL says no, he replies 'fine, but if they are marks all over all other the white walls, don't go claiming for any damage as you refused our request'.

Guest101

FBaby wrote: »

We have no idea if he is being short sighted. He may have his reasons and indeed, he may consider that the path is wide enough.

The point is that it's not because he has denied OP wishes that OP is assured that no claim for damage could be claimed.

It would be like saying 'I now have children, they are likely to make marks on the walls, so can I pain a black colour so it's not so visible' and if the LL says no, he replies 'fine, but if they are marks all over all other the white walls, don't go claiming for any damage as you refused our request'.

It's nothing like that, if the tenant chooses to have children, they are his or her responsibility. (such marks would take several years to actually appear)