rental repairs beyond fair wear and tear....how to procede ???

9oaks

hello, 
looking for some advice and guidance.
we are in scotland and our tenants have a short assured tenancy since 2015.
we have done a property inspection to look to do repairs and general maintenance.
the tenants are not particularly good at cleaning and so things build up like windows being black and gungey due to lack of ventilation, and the cills and inside surround being mouldy, which they have just painted over.
we have spent today and will be there the rest of the week cleaning, sanding and repainting the windows and cills.
the radiators all need replaced as they have been drying washing over them (despite being told not too and to ventilate, outside drying is available)the paint is all flaking off and they are rusted.
the shower is just dirty with mouldy silicone which i have bleach cleaned, but there is a loose tile and the shower head holder is broken, leaving an exposed area in the grout. they did not inform us of this and they replaced the shower hose to make it functional but nothing else. my concern with this is there could be damp behind the shower tiles now as we dont know how long its been like this.
my point is we feel the radiator damage is above normal wear and tear and would like to know how to procede with getting the tenants to pay for the cost of replacing them. 
also where we stand with the shower situation.

greatful for any advice and guidance.

[Deleted User]

9oaks said:

hello, 
looking for some advice and guidance.
we are in scotland and our tenants have a short assured tenancy since 2015.
we have done a property inspection to look to do repairs and general maintenance.
the tenants are not particularly good at cleaning and so things build up like windows being black and gungey due to lack of ventilation, and the cills and inside surround being mouldy, which they have just painted over.
we have spent today and will be there the rest of the week cleaning, sanding and repainting the windows and cills.
the radiators all need replaced as they have been drying washing over them (despite being told not too and to ventilate, outside drying is available)the paint is all flaking off and they are rusted.
the shower is just dirty with mouldy silicone which i have bleach cleaned, but there is a loose tile and the shower head holder is broken, leaving an exposed area in the grout. they did not inform us of this and they replaced the shower hose to make it functional but nothing else. my concern with this is there could be damp behind the shower tiles now as we dont know how long its been like this.
my point is we feel the radiator damage is above normal wear and tear and would like to know how to procede with getting the tenants to pay for the cost of replacing them. 
also where we stand with the shower situation.

greatful for any advice and guidance.

Did you take a deposit and is/was it protected? 

What evidence do you have to show the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy and at the end of the tenancy? 

You aren’t entitled to betterment so no new for old. 

Splatfoot

Who doesn't dry their clothes on radiators?🙃 Outside is not always practical. I can't see how drying clothes on decent radiators would ruin them in a few years?

[Deleted User]

Splatfoot said:

Who doesn't dry their clothes on radiators?🙃 Outside is not always practical. I can't see how drying clothes on decent radiators would ruin them in a few years?

I don’t. When I have to dry clothes indoors I put them on a clothes horse, not over the radiator. Allowing air to circulate around the wet/damp clothing helps them to dry. All drying your clothes over a radiator achieves is an increased gas bill and encourages mould. 

Angela_D_3

That’s wear and tear I’m afraid.  Nothing out of the ordinary 

AdrianC

Present your evidence to the deposit protection scheme's arbitrators, and let them decide on what's fair.

Let's take the radiators. What's the cost of replacing them? What is their expected life? How old are they?

Splatfoot

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Splatfoot said:

Who doesn't dry their clothes on radiators?🙃 Outside is not always practical. I can't see how drying clothes on decent radiators would ruin them in a few years?

I don’t. When I have to dry clothes indoors I put them on a clothes horse, not over the radiator. Allowing air to circulate around the wet/damp clothing helps them to dry. All drying your clothes over a radiator achieves is an increased gas bill and encourages mould. 

Not ruined radiators though...? I don't now because I have a tumble drier but have done loads of times in the past! 

AdrianC

For the radiators to be "ruined", they would have to be fairly badly rusted - beyond being able to clean them back and repaint them. That doesn't happen quickly.

A new radiator is not expensive.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/kudox-premium-type-22-double-panel-double-convector-radiator-600-x-1200mm-white/91485

[Deleted User]

Splatfoot said:

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Splatfoot said:

Who doesn't dry their clothes on radiators?🙃 Outside is not always practical. I can't see how drying clothes on decent radiators would ruin them in a few years?

I don’t. When I have to dry clothes indoors I put them on a clothes horse, not over the radiator. Allowing air to circulate around the wet/damp clothing helps them to dry. All drying your clothes over a radiator achieves is an increased gas bill and encourages mould. 

Not ruined radiators though...? I don't now because I have a tumble drier but have done loads of times in the past! 

I wouldn't know because I've never been daft enough to do it in the first place.

couriervanman

Splatfoot said:

Who doesn't dry their clothes on radiators?🙃 Outside is not always practical. I can't see how drying clothes on decent radiators would ruin them in a few years?

clothes horse and dehumidifier in spare bedroom 

oldbikebloke

you asking a question you should already know the answer to as a LL
1. claim via deposit scheme
if outcome is not what you want 
2. take court action for damages

you cannot do 2 until you have done,  as the court won't accept the case