Cottage owner claims we damaged property when we didnt

dcthomy

Hi we recently returned from a week away in a cottage booked through Homeaway .We were never fully happy  with the property for a number of reasons  some of which the owner was aware of and partially fixed whilst we were there.

However after returning we received a message from the owner saying that we had damaged their sofa . and we would not get all of our deposit back  . we received a picture from the owner yesterday.

We know this damage was not done by us as and has been done since we left the property either by accident or im suspicious that it was done deliberately .

We have no evidence to prove this but likewise the owner has no evidence to say it was done by us .

I would just like to know where we stand on this issue , the deposit doesn't concern me, it is the principle at stake as i am strongly suspicious of what has happened.
any advice greatly appreciated as the only information i can find is for property owners against tennants

QuackQuackOops

Well, if its only the principle, then just forget about it.
If he takes you to court, you are likely to pay at least half based on he said, she said.

tacpot12

QuackQuackOops said:

Well, if its only the principle, then just forget about it.
If he takes you to court, you are likely to pay at least half based on he said, she said.

This is good advice. It would be worth keeping all the communications you had with the owners, if only to show the judge that there was no bad will between you and the owner when you left the property, so why would you have damaged the sofa? 

If the communications show that you were still very upset with the owners when you left, the judge might be swayed to think you might have damaged the sofa as a "parting gift". Use the evidence if it helps you, let them provide it to the court if they want to use think it helps them. Keep it all in case they don't share the court all the details. The judge will be suspicious if they omit anything.

martindow

If it comes to a hearing this can be transferred to your local court.  This should be enough to stop someone a good distance away from opening a speculative case.