Deposit dispute help

kirstyfc

Hello,

I am currently disputing a deposit with my previous letting agent/landlord and am looking for some advice on a few things to see if i am in the right.

The first issue was I am being charged £191 to replace light bulbs and to remove and renew shower and bath seals. Seems a bit much? Also i was at the property for two years so I am wondering if this would come under wear and tear. It was a very cold, damp and mouldy flat so I don't know if this would have an impact or if it was just down to me not drying off the seal properly (which is what i've been told by the letting agent), if the latter is the case then Im happy to pay, just not quite that amount.

The second issue is I am being charged £131 for cleaning. This is a fair enough price for a two bedroom flat however I had already paid £125 for professional cleaning. The standard wasn't amazing but I had ran out of time to employ someone else. It wasn't terrible though so it seems unfair to be charged an entire new cleaning service as if the place was left an absolute state. The letting agent told me to dispute this with the cleaner I employed but obviously I haven't received a reply.

Finally, I am being charged to replace a couch that had gradually broken down and snapped in half. It isn't a particularly sturdy looking couch and I had been at the property for two years (and it had been there for at least the previous tenancy) so I'm upset that it doesn't come under wear and tear, it wasn't as if I had jumped up and down on it and deliberately broke it. When I mentioned this to the letting agent i was told that other landlords had a similar couch and they hadn't fallen apart like that.

I appreciate any help towards any of these issues!

SmashedAvacado

You should have replaced the light bulbs
other than that, the landlord's claims seem pretty unreasonable
bath seals wear out
sofas wear out
the cleaning thing sounds weird though - if you werent happy why did you pay the cleaners.

Pixie5740

kirstyfc wrote: »

Hello,

I am currently disputing a deposit with my previous letting agent/landlord and am looking for some advice on a few things to see if i am in the right.

The first issue was I am being charged £191 to replace light bulbs and to remove and renew shower and bath seals. Seems a bit much? Also i was at the property for two years so I am wondering if this would come under wear and tear. It was a very cold, damp and mouldy flat so I don't know if this would have an impact or if it was just down to me not drying off the seal properly (which is what i've been told by the letting agent), if the latter is the case then Im happy to pay, just not quite that amount.

The second issue is I am being charged £131 for cleaning. This is a fair enough price for a two bedroom flat however I had already paid £125 for professional cleaning. The standard wasn't amazing but I had ran out of time to employ someone else. It wasn't terrible though so it seems unfair to be charged an entire new cleaning service as if the place was left an absolute state. The letting agent told me to dispute this with the cleaner I employed but obviously I haven't received a reply.

Finally, I am being charged to replace a couch that had gradually broken down and snapped in half. It isn't a particularly sturdy looking couch and I had been at the property for two years (and it had been there for at least the previous tenancy) so I'm upset that it doesn't come under wear and tear, it wasn't as if I had jumped up and down on it and deliberately broke it. When I mentioned this to the letting agent i was told that other landlords had a similar couch and they hadn't fallen apart like that.

I appreciate any help towards any of these issues!

If you and your landlord can't agree on deductions then use the deposit scheme's arbitration service, it's what they are for after all.

Read G_M's Deposits: payment, protection and return.

jonnygee2

replace a couch that had gradually broken down and snapped in half

Do couches 'gradually snap in half'? I'm not convinced.

I had already paid £125 for professional cleaning. The standard wasn't amazing

Life lesson there. Always tightly control contractors and their work.

Pixie5740

jonnygee2 wrote: »

Do couches 'gradually snap in half'? I'm not convinced.

A friend at school's sofa gradually snapped in half but then again her father and step mother had more than a passing resemblance to Jabba the Hutt. I'm not saying the OP does just that couches can gradually snap in half.

jonnygee2 wrote: »

Life lesson there. Always tightly control contractors and their work.

If the landlord successfully deducts money for cleaning then the OP could take the professional cleaners (s)he hired to small claims court.

Rosemary7391

Pixie5740 wrote: »

If the landlord successfully deducts money for cleaning then the OP could take the professional cleaners (s)he hired to small claims court.

That seems the most reasonable solution. The price is obviously fair as it is what the OP paid more or less. They're not going to charge less for recleaning since they'll have to do all the same stuff again.



Re the sealant - that seems a bit steep, but I've never hired anyone to do it, only done it myself. It does need renewing periodically, would have thought it would be the LL responsibility?

kirstyfc

Yeah I am was just looking to see if I had a case first.

kirstyfc

Yeah often when it was sat on (even by myself at 50kg) it tipped over backwards so the continual pressure caused the back to come away from the base.