Furniture not in inventory: Tenants obligations

AlexBowow

I've come to the end of a tenancy and my landlord has told me it is my responsibility to dispose of furniture that's not in the inventory. This is a bed, sofa and bookcase. These items are not mine and were in the property at the start of the tenancy. I didn't think of this when I signed the inventory.

Are they right that I need to dispose of these items? It seems a cheeky way of getting someone else to deal with furniture you don't want any more.

need_an_answer

When you moved in and were given the inventory where the items listed,I'm presuming not?

Really at that point you should have made your own adjustment to the inventory to reflect that these items were in otherwise empty rooms and returned the updated document to the LL.
They would not have been your problem then to dispose of.

Maybe when you moved in you might have taken pictures of the items and forwarded them to the agency?

The purpose of the inventory is to reflect in quite clear detail its condition and contents when you move in.

Similarly on check out you should use the check in inventory to return the property in the same condition minus fair wear and tear.


Are you sure there is nothing listed anywhere on check in regarding these items.

If not then yes they are classed as not there and need removing,potential failure to do so could result in a deduction for removal from your deposit.


Some councils will remove bulky items for free and some charge a fee,it might be worth seeing if there is anything like this linked to your local council.that could be one of the cheapest options for you,otherwise is there a local charity shop,I know british heart foundation have furniture shops,who might be willing to accept and collect it as a donation.

maybe list the items on gumtree or freecycle it may be worth a shot that someone might want them rather than you being charged for disposal.

Whatever you do don't just leave them there without clearing it with the LL they are able to charge for disposal and and they don't need to find the cheapest method,it needs to be reasonable but something like the items you describe could end up as being a £50 or more deduction on your deposit.

Naf

It is cheeky, but unless you have some evidence that they were there at the start and don't belong to you, then you'll probably have to.


Try freecycle/craigslist/facebook groups and offer it for free. Or if its decent you could even turn a small profit at LLs expense.

G_M

Ebay?


Stick them on for £10 each - buyer collects.

muz3562

If you have no way to evidence that they were in the property at the start of the tenancy then whilst the landlord might have been a bit cheeky in not making this clear from the onset there is not much you can do about it now



What condition are the items in , and what time frame do you have before moving out ? Or have you already moved out.



List them on ebay / gumtree for a nominal sum and freecycle . Someone will take them for free/very little



And contact British heart foundation and if you have one nearby then emmaus . Both these will collect any furniture in a reasonable condition .

AlexBowow

Thanks for your help. I do have photos of the whole flat before the tenancy so I'm assuming I can argue that as they were there I don't need to dispose of them

AlexBowow

I have already moved out.

Twopints

Are these the only bed & sofa in the property? If there are others, how are they distinguished from these?

steampowered

I would just reiterate that the items belong to the landlord and disposing of them is not your responsibility.

The inventory is evidence only, it is not determinative.

If your landlord disagrees, ask him to point towards the specific clause in the tenancy agreement which requires you to deal with these items.

G_M

my landlord has told me it is my responsibility to dispose of furniture that's not in the inventory.

AlexBowow wrote: »

I have already moved out.

Then I fail to see how you can do this!

diggingdude

Was the property previously listed online with pictures. is it still available and is the furniture visible in these pictures? That would prove they are not yours. I can still see the listings with all my stuff when i moved out a year ago but also the previous tenants furniture in pics from 3 years ago