Check-out report does not match inventory

davidlabomb

AlexMac said:

While you wait and see, Davidelbombo, ponder on the possibility that....
Not all LLs are t'eivin bes'tds ; it might be an overzealous agent or inventory clerk? 
I had some wonderful Eastern European tenants who, when the final inventory was done on my rented 5-room flat, not only left the place immaculate, but moved all the furniture back into the rooms in which it had been located at the beginning of the tenancy, to make the check out clerk's job easier.

But he obviously felt it was his mission in life to find something to carp about.  Comments in his report included; 
- three bottles of wine left in fridge; to be disposed of at tenants' expense (they were a present to me as they felt I'd been a good LL for god's sake!)
- tenants have repainted woodwork in bathroom from white to Magnolia; to be re-decorated at tenants' expense ... (I'd used that dodgy batch of Dulux which yellowed after a change in firmula for god's sake...)

Plus a few scuffs and scratches which were so tiny you'd need a magnifying glass...  Far less than the usual "Fair Wear and Tear" you'd expect after a few years occupancy.  
I told the agent to bung 'em the whole deposit... pronto.

In fact over 20-odd years as a LL I've never witheld deposits; and sometimes I've been gifted stuff by tenants who couldn't take it wit 'em; a very classy microwave... an upmarket mountain bike from a South African guy who was going back home (he even told me where he'd left the key after chaining it up downstairs) ...   Not so sure about the generous gift of "1,000 year old eggs" mid-way through a tenancy by a lovely Chinese couple however (they're sort of pickled- not really archaelogical!)

Maybe your LL will be a generous soul as well?

Haha! You sound like a great landlord. 
Unfortunately my experiences getting deposits back are quite the opposite (my favourite one was getting asked to pay for hair straightener burns... I'm slaphead bald). And dealing with this chap over the last few years suggest to me that his soul isn't the generous sort. And I'm being generous there in presuming that he has a soul at all!
I left the place spotless, even paid to have carpets steam cleaned. Maybe I should have bought him some old eggs?

AdrianC

AlexMac said:

But he obviously felt it was his mission in life to find something to carp about.  Comments in his report included; 
- three bottles of wine left in fridge; to be disposed of at tenants' expense (they were a present to me as they felt I'd been a good LL for god's sake!)

I can think of a far worse problem that could have arisen there...

greatcrested

Good grief! What is so difficult that it requires 3 pages of posts!?

1) If there are deductions proposed, you decide if you think they are fair (as I said earlier).

2) if you decide they are fair, you tell the landlord and inform the deposit scheme to return your deposit less those agreed deductions

3) if you decide they are not fair, you tell the LL, explaining why, and negotiate with the LL.

4) if you reach a new agreement, go to 2) above!

5) if you fail to agree, you raise a dispute and present all the documentary evidence you clearly hold. The LL will present his evidence (whatever that is).

6) the arbitrator (or judge) will review all the evidence and reach a conclusion.

[Deleted User]

davidlabomb said:

Hello - I am a residential tenant, renting from a private landlord through an estate agent. I recently ended the tenancy and moved out. The estate agent sent me the check-out report, but every entry under 'previous state' (i.e. describing the condition of items when I moved in) doesn't match the original inventory AT ALL.

For instance - In the check-out report, under fridge, it says 'Previous state - "The fridge is clean throughout, the door functions well and the seal shows no sign of mold or wear. No damage to drawers or shelves."

But in the original inventory, under fridge, it just says: "Fridge. White."

Almost comical! I have no clue where the estate agent / landlord is getting their 'previous state' comments from, and can only assume they are made up.

​​​​​​​What are my options here? Should I complain to an industry body, or go to the deposit ombudsman? Is there any way this could be an honest mistake? Is this fraud?

Many thanks  

Your options begin with the documentation that you possess. A copy of the original inventory without item condition comments sounds favourable to you. Do you have this?

AlexMac

greatcrested said:

Good grief! What is so difficult that it requires 3 pages of posts!?...

You're missing the point Newt;

these fora are not to "Educate and Inform" (as the great Lord Reith of the BBC said) but also to "Entertain" (as the great Lord Reith of the BBC also said).  Both for those who seek the truth and those who proffer answers.

And especially for us "tired and huddled, bored, isolating masses, yearning to breath free  (as the American Poet Emma Lazarus nearly said).

Hence the profferring of totally time- wasting and frequently self-indulgent advice and information (e.g. my 14th March post, above).  It helps to pass the time! 

Give us a break.  We're only doing our bit to "Stay Home, Get Bored, Save the NHS" (as our great leader Cummings- sorry, I mean Boris - nearly said)

greatcrested

AlexMac said:

greatcrested said:

Good grief! What is so difficult that it requires 3 pages of posts!?...

You're missing the point Newt;

these fora are not to "Educate and Inform" (as the great Lord Reith of the BBC said) but also to "Entertain" (as the great Lord Reith of the BBC also said).  Both for those who seek the truth and those who proffer answers.

And especially for us "tired and huddled, bored, isolating masses, yearning to breath free  (as the American Poet Emma Lazarus nearly said).

Hence the profferring of totally time- wasting and frequently self-indulgent advice and information (e.g. my 14th March post, above).  It helps to pass the time! 

Give us a break.  We're only doing our bit to "Stay Home, Get Bored, Save the NHS" (as our great leader Cummings- sorry, I mean Boris - nearly said)

Hmmm... think I'll pop out into the garden on a worm hunt. Time to amuse myself watching 2 newts eating the same worm from opposite ends a la spaghetti lovers.....