Landlord loss of earnings?

Elouhou

We moved out of a property over 2 months ago, deposit was returned. Last month the landlady contacted dua to say the new tenants that moved in 4 weeks later had found fleas and moved out. Our pets had been fine but as a gesture of goodwill and because we felt that liability couldn't be proved either way we have the landlady back £320, the cost of a professional flea treatment in the property.
A month later the landlady has come back to say the new tenants wouldn't live there for a month and therefore are refusing to pay rent for that time. She states she has been given legal advise that the months rent costs should be passed on to us. Is this the case? Can they do this? Any advice greatly appreciated.

theartfullodger

EXACTLY how was this gesture documented? E.g. "gesture of goodwill" is good, but anything mentioning compo very bad

Elouhou

Neither in reality, we received a text asking us to pay that amount for the treatment and did so considering it a gesture of goodwill from our side. We'd had a good relationship with them in the year we had been in the property and didn't want to get into an argument over liability. There was no real documentation (our bad).

Socajam

Elouhou wrote: »

Neither in reality, we received a text asking us to pay that amount for the treatment and did so considering it a gesture of goodwill from our side. We'd had a good relationship with them in the year we had been in the property and didn't want to get into an argument over liability. There was no real documentation (our bad).

I would not pay it.
You have already given her 320 as a measure of goodwill for the treatment, what does she want blood.
Also ask yourself where does this end. If the new tenant move in and the stove/oven is not working, would that be your fault? I think not?

AdrianC

Don't think I'd have gone as far as the gesture of goodwill in the first place, but I do hope that you documented it as such, rather than merely "considered".

It's her problem, though - she should have ensured the property was up to scratch before returning the deposit, and definitely before letting to new tenants.

If she wants anything from you, small claim is that way --->

sevenhills

Elouhou wrote: »

We moved out of a property over 2 months ago, deposit was returned. Last month the landlady contacted dua to say the new tenants that moved in 4 weeks later had found fleas and moved out.

My dog has had fleas and been treated for them, but I have never seen any in the house.
How could anyone know where a pet has caught fleas, imposible.

[Deleted User]

I would just ignore and see what LL does. Were your dogs treated regularly for fleas? I know I do mine.

However, even if there were fleas (and she could prove it), its not your problem she's lost rent, she could have found another tenant, lots of hassle for her but that sort of thing is what happens when you are a LL. Sometimes you get void periods.

Mutton_Geoff

Elouhou wrote: »

We moved out of a property over 2 months ago, deposit was returned. Last month the landlady contacted dua to say the new tenants that moved in 4 weeks later had found fleas and moved out. Our pets had been fine but as a gesture of goodwill and because we felt that liability couldn't be proved either way we have the landlady back £320, the cost of a professional flea treatment in the property.
A month later the landlady has come back to say the new tenants wouldn't live there for a month and therefore are refusing to pay rent for that time. She states she has been given legal advise that the months rent costs should be passed on to us. Is this the case? Can they do this? Any advice greatly appreciated.

I hope you see that even the kindest gesture can backfire on you. When the checkout process was complete and your deposit returned, that was the moment a line was drawn under your previous tenancy and any liability associated with it.


Anything that happened after is your ex landlords responsibility.

Money_maker

Wow, can anyone clarify that professional flea treatment is really that expensive?


Scrub that, google says its about a third of the cost that OP paid. I certainly wouldn't part with a penny more.

theartfullodger

Elouhou wrote: »

Neither in reality, we received a text asking us to pay that amount for the treatment and did so considering it a gesture of goodwill from our side. ............

With nothing in writing from you then it probably depends on the wording of the TXT sent to you: E.g. pay this as compo... very bad



Anyway, I'd simply not reply to anything further from your ex-landlord until & unless it comes via the court..

NO REPLIES from now on!!





Good luck!

AdrianC

Money_maker wrote: »

Wow, can anyone clarify that professional flea treatment is really that expensive?

I'm not massively surprised by that, tbh.

Full day for one person plus kit/consumables.