Landlord issues - advice please!

AdrianC

He can give you s21 notice for any reason or no reason. But it isn't valid if the GSC isn't up to date... (Or a variety of other reasons that he may also have forgotten about... Like not providing the prescribed info within the required timeframe. Oops...)

Cleanliness inside the property is entirely your problem - right up until the check-out inspection. At that point, any cleaning costs can be charged against your deposit. The carpets sound like they're at the end of their reasonable service life, so even if they're still smouldering at the check-out, you won't pay a penny.

mrsgellyg

Thank you all for your replies. I’ve booked in a locksmith,who is coming on Monday (I’m at home all weekend,all doors are bolted from the inside so no-one can get in).  There is no damage to the property itself,just minor scuffs/marks on the walls and carpets which I feel amount to wear and tear - am I right in thinking the longer I have lived here,the less that can be deducted from the deposit? 

Cakeguts

Basically you need a better landlord.  You would also benefit from a landlord who has a good managing agent as they will not turn up at all times without giving notice.

elsien

He can't claim for betterment. So the amount he could claim for a 14 year old carpet is miniscule.
You shouldn't need a locksmith to change the links, it's very simple to do yourself. Just make sure you keep the old ones because you will need to put them back in when you leave.

sammyjammy

mrsgellyg said:

Thank you all for your replies. I’ve booked in a locksmith,who is coming on Monday (I’m at home all weekend,all doors are bolted from the inside so no-one can get in).  There is no damage to the property itself,just minor scuffs/marks on the walls and carpets which I feel amount to wear and tear - am I right in thinking the longer I have lived here,the less that can be deducted from the deposit? 

Yes you are correct, they can't blame for betterment so the older something is the less money they can claim against it if its damaged and they can't claim at all for general wear and tear, you really don't need a locksmith to change the locks, you just want to change the barrel, make sure you keep it so you can return the doors to the original locks if and when you vacate.

Crashy_Time

mrsgellyg said:

Thank you all for your replies. I’ve booked in a locksmith,who is coming on Monday (I’m at home all weekend,all doors are bolted from the inside so no-one can get in).  There is no damage to the property itself,just minor scuffs/marks on the walls and carpets which I feel amount to wear and tear - am I right in thinking the longer I have lived here,the less that can be deducted from the deposit? 

If you average the average deposit out over years, treating it as just extra rent it becomes pretty meaningless whether you get it back or not IMO, a £500 deposit over 5 years staying in the property is what, an extra 8 quid a month or so rent? Assuming you get no deposit back that is. However the longer you are there I would have thought the "wear and tear" bill would rise?

Crashy_Time

Found this one interesting, hope it isn`t your landlord?
https://www.propertytribes.com/facebook-landlord-finished-by-section-24-t-127645095.html

Durban

Did the landlord even do a detailed inventory signed by yourself?

If not, then there is probably very little that he can deduct from the deposit

N1AK

mrsgellyg said:

- am I right in thinking the longer I have lived here,the less that can be deducted from the deposit? 

The longer you have been in a property the harder it would be for the owner to evidence that things like marks on carpets weren't reasonable wear and tear. Burn a big hole through the carpet which was in fabulous condition and being their 1, 2, or 5 years still isn't going to be considered reasonable wear and tear.

Lokolo

N1AK said:

mrsgellyg said:

- am I right in thinking the longer I have lived here,the less that can be deducted from the deposit? 

The longer you have been in a property the harder it would be for the owner to evidence that things like marks on carpets weren't reasonable wear and tear. Burn a big hole through the carpet which was in fabulous condition and being their 1, 2, or 5 years still isn't going to be considered reasonable wear and tear.

Not only that but the LL can only claim on the life expectancy as well. So if the carpets have a lifespan of 15 years, and its been 20 years, even if there are burn marks, the landlord would have a claim for £0.