Rented flat - coating peeling off kitchen cupboards

hl1

Hi! Just wondering if anyone has experience with the coating of kitchen cupboard doors peeling off? Never seen it before and not sure what's causing it - they have a plastic? pvc? layer on top of the main material and it's started to peel off and crack along the edges.

We'll be leaving the flat in the next few months (it's being sold), and have been here a bit over 1.5 years. Our first instinct was to report it to the agency (as we would if something had stopped working or fallen apart etc) but we're worried it'll be labelled as misuse or damage on our part when all we've done is used cupboards as normal. Possibly being a bit paranoid, but we haven't had the best communication with the agency before and want to get our deposit back!

It might be something we can replace ourselves but it would need replacing on 3 full cupboard doors and I don't even know what it's made of! Thanks in advance for any advice

dimbo61

Report it to the letting agents in the morning.
Are the kitchen units old ?
Did they do a video or photo inventory when you moved in

hl1

Thanks! We'll report it to them once they're open. It's only really started cracking in the last few days over xmas etc so we were looking online but couldn't find much advice.

I'm not sure how old they are, the flat generally is quite modern and the kitchen seems fairly new but not sure when it was done. They did a photo and written inventory when we moved in.

G_M

not likely to make much difference if the LL finds out now, or when you leave. At least if now, you have time to do something if necessasry.


Depends on cause. It's either damage by you - your responsibility, or wear and tear - LL's responsibility.


Post a picture?

Thrugelmir

We've encountered that issue recently. Design fault. Howdens no longer supply doors manufactured that way.

martindow

Is it over the hob or where the kettle is placed or is it happening to all of the doors. Pictures would be helpful for people to give opinions.

phill99

It's called delamination.

I fit Howdens kitchens and a few years ago we had three where the doors delaminated. Howdens replaced them.


It would be very difficult to class it as damage by you.

Davesnave

It's just crappy vinyl wrapped doors, made on the cheap. The ones near heat sources and places in strong sunshine go first. It's not restricted to Howdens either.


As a known thing, de-lamination shouldn't lose you your deposit andreporting it now won't make things worse at check out inventory time. Repair isn't possible, but new doors is. A landlord job.

Retired_Mortgage_Adviser

Speaking as a portfolio landlord myself, it's very common and usually down to quality.

Depending on their ethics, your LA/LL might well try to claim damages off your deposit but are unlikely to be awarded any money if the claim goes to adjudication.

luvchocolate

I had this problem in a flat I was renting, first tenant so all refurbished. after 5 years the coating cracked, I reported to letting agent they came and looked and said it was not a problem, it got worse and 1 door the coating came off completely in one piece,
I reported again again to letting agent who never passed on to landlord.
I was lucky my landlord actually gave me his mobile no as letting was new to him, I contacted him and he came and was disgusted the letting agent had not told him about this, we were lucky as Wicks agreed to replace all the doors.

lisyloo

I would report ASAP in case the landlord has a time sensitive warranty.
Keep photos and copies of emails etc.
If there is a dispute it best to be able to show you acted correctly and promptly, but there is a 3rd party system for deposits now.