Renting & Damage To Front UPVC Door.

G_M

mystic_bertie wrote: »

There is damage to the double glazed front door. It was not me but i think it was the police when they were a bit heavy handed, they have denied doing the damage. So how would an adjudicator see this damage, would they get the door replaced out of my deposit?

My insurance wont cover it as its not contents, the letting agent said the landlord wont do it through his insurance, i offered to pay the excess. Its a very old cheap as chips basic front door. But im concerned that im going to lose a huge chuck of my deposit. Cheers guys.

There are several issues.

You say it was not you who did the damage. If it were you, or one of your guests who got out of hand, then liability falls to you to either get it fixed, or face being charged by the landlord. If your deposit is sufficient to cover that charge, the the LLcould use that. If the cost exceeded the deposit, you could be charged the additional amount,via the courts if necesssary.

If you can show that the police were responsible, or an intruder forcing their way in, then liability falls to them, not you. Since the LL would be unlikely to claim off an intruder, he would have to bear the cost himself, or claim on his insurence - his choice. If the police accepted responsibility, he might claim off them.

Frankly it seems unlikely to have been the police, based purely on what I can see. I've no idea why the police were there, or why they might have been 'heavy-handed', but if they (or indeed an intruder) had wanted to gain access while the door was locked, I'm doubtful that they would have caused damage like that. More likely they'd either use a crowbar at the edge of the door by the lock, or would have rammed the door, again by the lock. Not high up in a central location but on the side away from the lock.....

If it were to go to arbitration, and assuming the adjudicator took my line of reasoning (I may well be wrong of course!), I'd expect them to seek a fuller explanation from you as to the cause, and if it were not forthcoming, to hold you responsible.

But that's not certain.

No one really wants to claim on insurance for small amounts (sub-£1K). Apart from the excess (which might be as high as £500), the claim has to be declared for the next 5 years, affecting premiums for at least that long.

HampshireH

Generally (through work) I have found the police will only accept liability if they don't have just cause

I.e. they got the wrong house/person .

If they have had to batter a door to get in its usually on a warrant (just cause) or for welfare concerns (just cause)

This damage is minimal compared to what the police do to doors.

davidmcn

Hasbeen wrote: »

So it Ok for the landlord to claim and watch the insurance go up on renewal?:(

Where did I say that? We don't know that the damage was even caused by an insured risk (probably not if it was done by the police trying to force entry).

G_M

davidmcn wrote: »

Where did I say that? We don't know that the damage was even caused by an insured risk (probably not if it was done by the police trying to force entry).

My insurance covers damage done by the emergency services forcing entry.


Just saying.

davidmcn

G_M wrote: »

My insurance covers damage done by the emergency services forcing entry.

In all circumstances? Or does it depend why the police were keen to have the door opened swiftly?

(my insurance covers it if it relates to a medical emergency or to prevent damage to the property)

letsbetfair

That looks like someone who was knocking on the door and got angry! Would be a weird place to hit the door if trying to force entry, assuming it's a fairly conventional door.

Is this damage you're liable for?

glennevis

Way back in 2011 I repaired a front door with very similar damage using PVC Gap Filler. Cost less than £25 for 2 small packs which was enough for a hole that size. Worked perfectly, you still can't see where the repair is even now. Much cheaper than getting a new door. It is designed for repairing vertical surfaces. As I recall it set quite quickly so I had to smooth it with a palette knife fairly quickly.

I've just googled it and it's still on the market:


http://www.repairingproducts.co.uk/product/cosmofen-rm-pvc-gap-filler/


It's got to be worth having a go yourself.

G_M

davidmcn wrote: »

In all circumstances? Or does it depend why the police were keen to have the door opened swiftly?

(my insurance covers it if it relates to a medical emergency or to prevent damage to the property)

Bit vague:

What is covered?

We will pay for the cost of repairing damage to Your Buildings and/or the garden caused when the fire, police or the ambulance services have to force an entry because of an emergency

What's 'an emergency'?

Jonathan_Kelvin

Your posts suggest a lifestyle that could, at best, be described as dysfunctional, and this is far from the first problem of this nature that you have had.

Once you sort out this issue, do you not think it worthwhile sitting down and working out how to stop bouncing from one problem to another?

societys_child

Hasbeen wrote: »

It does not look like a panel? Door opened by big red key?

Op you are going to lose your deposit.

It looks like a panel to me . . .
Very simple to replace, no need for a new door and frame and just needs the door knocker and letterbox switching over.
Be good as new :beer: