Tenant broken bed - how much to charge

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone - hopefully you can help me this morning

I recently let a room to my friend - the room had just been decorated (new carpets, painted and blinds) and all furniture was new.

She didn't pay a deposit, but agreed that she would pay for any issues when she left. Currently she is having to pay to replace the carpet, as she burnt it and fix the blinds as she has broken them (from improper use not wear and tear!)

However the issue is that she has broken the divan bed frame and is refusing to pay for this. It is a 4 draw divan, and the frame has snapped above one of the drawers. She claims that it is reasonable for a bed to last 2 years, I was planning on selling this when she moved out - and she has instead offered me £100 for the bed & mattress.

Considering it was £370 new (Silent night mattress & 4 draw divan, grey) but it is now 2 years what would be a reasonable cost to charge her for this damage. Is she expected to replace the bed completely or is there a percentage reduction based on the years that is been in use? I suspect it could even be fixed and have suggested that she could try this or have the bed/mattress for £150


Thanks

Pixie5740

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hi everyone - hopefully you can help me this morning

I recently let a room to my friend - the room had just been decorated (new carpets, painted and blinds) and all furniture was new.

She didn't pay a deposit, but agreed that she would pay for any issues when she left. Currently she is having to pay to replace the carpet, as she burnt it and fix the blinds as she has broken them (from improper use not wear and tear!)

However the issue is that she has broken the divan bed frame and is refusing to pay for this. It is a 4 draw divan, and the frame has snapped above one of the drawers. She claims that it is reasonable for a bed to last 2 years, I was planning on selling this when she moved out - and she has instead offered me £100 for the bed & mattress.

Considering it was £370 new (Silent night mattress & 4 draw divan, grey) but it is now 2 years what would be a reasonable cost to charge her for this damage. Is she expected to replace the bed completely or is there a percentage reduction based on the years that is been in use? I suspect it could even be fixed and have suggested that she could try this or have the bed/mattress for £150


Thanks

A bed lasts 2 years?! What the hell is she doing to beds?! On second thoughts I don't want to know.

Legally you are not entitled to betterment i.e. you do not get new for old. You've had 2 years use out of the items so you don't get money back for those years.

TDS have a Product Lifespan Guide for landlords. That should give you a starter for ten.

Davesnave

Deleted_User wrote: »

She didn't pay a deposit, but agreed that she would pay for any issues when she left.

Sorry, it doesn't work like that. She either wasn't a tenant, just a lodger, or it seems you broke rules if you think were a landlord with a tenant.


Be grateful for her current offer, because she probably owes you nothing at all.

elsien

She hasn't broken the mattress, so you can't charge replacement for that. So what was the cost of the bedframe - 2 years use? If you only paid £370 for the lot they were never going to last for years anyway.

Either way, is it worth losing a friendship over?

pinkteapot

Having cleared out old beds and mattresses recently... They're worth peanuts second-hand, even if only a couple of years old.

You can still sell the mattress (unless she wants to take it with her?), so I'd bite her hand off at the offer of £100!

knightstyle

Bed should last 10 years, broken after 2 years, 80% of use of bed denied so she should pay 80% of the new cost.

Red-Squirrel_2

Who buys second hand mattresses? Do charities even take them?

Accept whatever she offers OP, its probably far more than you're actually entitled to, and don't lose the friendship over it if its worth anything to you in the first place. It sounds like the problem is probably with the quality of the bed rather than anything your friend has done to it.

[Deleted User]

Thank you for all of your replies so far - its been great to get a range of opinions on what to do!

The bed has broken as she hasn't used it properly, as she was leaving the drawers out of the frame it was not being supported by anything so it snapped. I asked for £150 as the divan was £250 - i know it wasn't expensive, so have based on approx 5 years lifespan, losing 20% a year, and she gets to keep it!

If the frame was still OK, I was originally planning to store for a few years so I could gift it to my brother for his spare room when he buys his house - thats why I also suggested the fixing option.

I also appreciate you saying about the friendship - it is not been the best recently but it is def something to consider

Murphybear

knightstyle wrote: »

Bed should last 10 years, broken after 2 years, 80% of use of bed denied so she should pay 80% of the new cost.

I wouldn't expect a bed that only cost £370 to last 10 years. The bed I am in at the moment (oh the joys of being retired:D) cost nearly £2000 9 years ago, it's still as comfortable as it was then.

Rambosmum

Cheap bed doesn't mean it'll break quickly. I think 10 years is about right - ours was £180 and despite 2 house moves and nightly use has lasted 8 years so far and no signs of giving up yet. My last one was £45 and lasted 6 years before being retired and used as a guest bed for the last 8 years, still in use.

Your 'friend' sounds like she doesn't respect your stuff.

LMS94

Deleted_User wrote: »

She claims that it is reasonable for a bed to last 2 years, I was planning on selling this when she moved out - and she has instead offered me £100 for the bed & mattress.

Deleted_User wrote: »

If the frame was still OK, I was originally planning to store for a few years so I could gift it to my brother for his spare room when he buys his house - thats why I also suggested the fixing option.

Considering you cannot make your mind up, I'd take them up on the £100 offer.