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Tenant made a mess...

Tenant of a property I own has just left, leaving black smears on the walls where he tried to rub off some mould.

The lettings agent are sending one of their painting contacts round to give a quote for painting with anti-mould paint. This will then be taken off the tenant's deposit which was 1 month's rent.

I want to save money on the labour by doing this myself.

I'm itching to get started but would I need full written quotations and/or receipts for the work before you can legally demand to keep some or all of the tenant's deposit?

Feel like I'm in limbo at the moment, just want the quote from the agent so I can say 'take that money from the tenant's deposit, but forget your guy because I'm going to paint it myself'.

Anyone know the best way to proceed?

Thanks
«13

Comments

  • ProDave
    ProDave Posts: 3,785 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Wash with bleach (wearing rubber gloves) that will wipe the mould off and kill any spores.

    Wash again with sugar soap, re paint with ordinary paint.

    Address the heating / ventilating issues or tenants lifestyle issues to stop it happening again.

    Just painting over it with any sort of paint is a waste of time.
  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Tenant of a property I own has just left, leaving black smears on the walls where he tried to rub off some mould.

    The lettings agent are sending one of their painting contacts round to give a quote for painting with anti-mould paint. This will then be taken off the tenant's deposit which was 1 month's rent.

    I want to save money on the labour by doing this myself.

    I'm itching to get started but would I need full written quotations and/or receipts for the work before you can legally demand to keep some or all of the tenant's deposit?

    Feel like I'm in limbo at the moment, just want the quote from the agent so I can say 'take that money from the tenant's deposit, but forget your guy because I'm going to paint it myself'.

    Anyone know the best way to proceed?

    Thanks
    Ye that is pretty cheeky - charge for labour, do it yourself.... Are you expecting sympathy now?
  • LEJC
    LEJC Posts: 9,618 Forumite
    edited 11 October 2017 at 3:57PM
    Tenant of a property I own has just left, leaving black smears on the walls where he tried to rub off some mould.

    The lettings agent are sending one of their painting contacts round to give a quote for painting with anti-mould paint. This will then be taken off the tenant's deposit which was 1 month's rent.

    I want to save money on the labour by doing this myself.

    I'm itching to get started but would I need full written quotations and/or receipts for the work before you can legally demand to keep some or all of the tenant's deposit?

    Feel like I'm in limbo at the moment, just want the quote from the agent so I can say 'take that money from the tenant's deposit, but forget your guy because I'm going to paint it myself'.

    Anyone know the best way to proceed?

    Thanks

    so what you are saying is you want to charge the tenant the higher rate and pocket the difference?

    bad practice Mr LL to ride on the back of a professional quote to take money from a deposit....

    tell the LA that you dont need a quote because you will be doing the work...quote sensibly for your time and materials...and pass that and only that charge to the tenant via a deposit deduction.
    frugal October...£41.82 of £40 food shopping spend for the 2 of us!

    2017 toiletries challenge 179 out 145 in ...£18.64 spend
  • fairy_lights
    fairy_lights Posts: 9,220 Forumite
    Why was there enough black mould on the walls for it to stain?
    Either the tenant wasn't ventilating the property properly, in which case mould proof paint isn't really necessary, or it was because of issues not caused by the tenant in which case you can hardly expect him to take the blame.
  • Why was there enough black mould on the walls for it to stain?
    Either the tenant wasn't ventilating the property properly, in which case mould proof paint isn't really necessary, or it was because of issues not caused by the tenant in which case you can hardly expect him to take the blame.

    Yeah, if it was my house I'd definitely want to know why it was mouldy before I just slapped paint over it!
  • Just wipe the walls with a bleach solution...this will remove the discolouration. Why try to fleece your tenant by being dishonest? Did you take a dislike to him/her?
  • amfan
    amfan Posts: 108 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    HG mould spray is the best I've found for black mould. I lived in a place with awful heating and ventilation and this was the only thing that removed all trace. But I'll admit I did also dry washing indoors too, so I do take the blame for creating the mould. As others have said you need to investigate why it was happening before lumping the blame on your tennant.
  • LEJC
    LEJC Posts: 9,618 Forumite
    my oh my his gets better....

    the LL now wants to charge a professional rate from the deposit and is asking for suggestions on another thread of how to irradiate the problem.

    speechless.....

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5725847
    frugal October...£41.82 of £40 food shopping spend for the 2 of us!

    2017 toiletries challenge 179 out 145 in ...£18.64 spend
  • marliepanda
    marliepanda Posts: 7,186 Forumite
    LEJC wrote: »
    my oh my his gets better....

    the LL now wants to charge a professional rate from the deposit and is asking for suggestions on another thread of how to irradiate the problem.

    speechless.....

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5725847

    *eradicate. I mean unless he wants to go nuclear on the issue :D
  • LEJC
    LEJC Posts: 9,618 Forumite
    spell check can be a b*****!
    frugal October...£41.82 of £40 food shopping spend for the 2 of us!

    2017 toiletries challenge 179 out 145 in ...£18.64 spend
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