We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Tenant responsibilities

New to the board but would appreciate some help. I privately rented a flat for 12 years and have just moved out. I wasnt expecting to get my deposit back as I knew it needed cleaned up and reckoned the landlord would claim this would use up the full deposit(£400) but he has now just called and said that it will cost £4000 to get the property back to how it was when I first moved in but he will accept less than this( £2500) as I was a tenant and paid my rent for so long. This was an unfurnished flat and although I didnt leave it spotless it was reasonably clean and tidy. He seems to expect me to pay to have the whole place carpeted, decorated etc and who knows what else. I am in Glasgow and would appreciate any advice on this or anyone I can speak to who can give me some advice. Thanks
«1345

Comments

  • Finchy2018
    Finchy2018 Posts: 508 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Debt-free and Proud!
    Nope. If you have been in for that long no arbitration service would seem any redecordation anything to fall under stuff that is over and above fair wear and tear. Properties need maintenance that's the LLs problem. If you took down walls and he had proof that's different.

    He needs to specify what and why he is claiming.

    Any inventories done?
  • anselld
    anselld Posts: 8,682 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Check the deposit is protected and claim via the scheme.
    As above decoration and carpets will be fair wear and tear after that duration so unless there is some other damage you haven't mentioned they should only deduct what is fair for cleaning.
  • Did you move in after April 2007?
  • Nope. If you have been in for that long no arbitration service would seem any redecordation anything to fall under stuff that is over and above fair wear and tear. Properties need maintenance that's the LLs problem. If you took down walls and he had proof that's different.

    He needs to specify what and why he is claiming

    This is correct. Were there regular inspections done every 6 months? Any issues should have been raised by the landlord then surely if they're worth £4000..
  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Janders99 wrote: »
    New to the board but would appreciate some help. I privately rented a flat for 12 years and have just moved out. I wasnt expecting to get my deposit back as I knew it needed cleaned up and reckoned the landlord would claim this would use up the full deposit(£400) but he has now just called and said that it will cost £4000 to get the property back to how it was when I first moved in but he will accept less than this( £2500) as I was a tenant and paid my rent for so long. This was an unfurnished flat and although I didnt leave it spotless it was reasonably clean and tidy. He seems to expect me to pay to have the whole place carpeted, decorated etc and who knows what else. I am in Glasgow and would appreciate any advice on this or anyone I can speak to who can give me some advice. Thanks


    after 12 years, there's no value in anything there. The LL doesn't understand that the property is to be returned - 'less wear and tear'.
  • steampowered
    steampowered Posts: 6,176 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Read your tenancy agreement, and quote it back to the landlord.

    It will almost certainly allow for "reasonable wear and tear". The property does NOT need to be handed back in the same condition it was in at the beginning of the tenancy, it is not the tenant's job to subsidise the landlord's maintenance costs.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 3,297 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Did you move in after April 2007?

    Why is that date relevant to a tenant in Scotland?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 3,297 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    OP, please read Shelter Scotland's guide.

    https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_topics/paying_for_a_home/deposits/tenancy_deposit_schemes

    Your landlord is either a chancer or an eejit if he thinks that after 12 years the property has to be in exactly the same condition as it was at the start of your tenancy.
  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    That is all going to be wear and tear after 12 years which is covered in the rent you paid. It isn't your fault that the landlord didn't realise that he had to put some rent by in order to cover the wear and tear at the end of the 12 years. He is not entitled to charge you again for this.
  • pjcox2005
    pjcox2005 Posts: 1,018 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Just out of interest, wouldn't the OP have a case to request their deposit of £400 back as well given all costs are likely to be wear and tear.


    Potentially a small cleaning cost but even this goes away if the property has to be decorated anyway?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.