Damaged kitchen worktop - landlord wants to replace?

tangerine27

I live in a house share (joint tenancy, 4 tenants) and by all means we have been good tenants to the landlord/letting agent in this time. We have an issue however where the edge of the granite kitchen worktop has had a chunk about 2cm across taken out of it. No tenants are claiming they caused this, of course (potential eyeroll?) so we figured the best thing for everyone involved was to tell the letting agent and see what they had to say. In the meantime, we got some quotes to fix it, ranging from £150-£225.
The letting agent has replied, saying they spoke to the landlord who claims it will be £2500 to replace, and with labour included £4000. This seems absolutely astronomical - particularly during a pandemic when one of us (me!!) lost their job.
They said they are going to look into the cost of repairs. We are obviously aware what this repair will cost, however in doing the research 2 of the companies told us it will not be an invisible repair, but will not be noticeable if you do not know the damage is there.
Does anyone know if we have a leg to stand on? I appreciate the landlord doesn't want damage to her house, but I don't see the need in a replacement at that cost when a repair would do just fine. Our tenancy ends in August too. I really cannot afford £1000 for something I know for a fact I didn't do! (I appreciate everyone in the house will say this too, but I don't see how this happened by magic).
Any thoughts?

AdrianC

Is it fair wear and tear? No. So you (plural), as tenants, are liable.
You (plural) are on a single tenancy, so how you (plural) apportion liability amongst the individuals sharing the tenancy is not the landlord's problem.

Nor is whether you (plural or individually) can afford to rectify the damage you (plural) caused...

Of course, you (plural) aren't liable until such time as the tenancy comes to an end. Then the property will be judged on the state you leave it in... If there's a dispute over the cost of repair, then the deposit arbitrators will judge what an appropriate cost is.

Repairing a chip in a granite worksurface is not a simple matter. We had to do it at our old place. The worktop itself is a single monolithic block of stone - perhaps joined at a corner - so of course the chip can't somehow be made fully as-was. The repairs are a filler of colour-matched resin. They're good, but not perfect. The quality of the match will depend on the skill of the person doing it, and on the stone itself.

Greymug

2 options:
- counter top is repaired and the tenants pay for it
- counter top is replaced and the landlord pays for it

I assume it's up to the landlord to decide which option they want to go for

tangerine27

AdrianC said:

Is it fair wear and tear? No. So you (plural), as tenants, are liable.
You (plural) are on a single tenancy, so how you (plural) apportion liability amongst the individuals sharing the tenancy is not the landlord's problem.

Nor is whether you (plural or individually) can afford to rectify the damage you (plural) caused...

Of course, you (plural) aren't liable until such time as the tenancy comes to an end. Then the property will be judged on the state you leave it in... If there's a dispute over the cost of repair, then the deposit arbitrators will judge what an appropriate cost is.

Repairing a chip in a granite worksurface is not a simple matter. We had to do it at our old place. The worktop itself is a single monolithic block of stone - perhaps joined at a corner - so of course the chip can't somehow be made fully as-was. The repairs are a filler of colour-matched resin. They're good, but not perfect. The quality of the match will depend on the skill of the person doing it, and on the stone itself.

I think you may have confused what I'm asking - I know we (plural) are liable. I'm just saying, can they reasonably charge us for a replacement, when a repair would do fine?

tangerine27

Greymug said:

2 options:
- counter top is repaired and the tenants pay for it
- counter top is replaced and the landlord pays for it

I assume it's up to the landlord to decide which option they want to go for

That's what I mean though - a repair will be barely noticeable, so could they charge us for a replacement, legally? 
Edit: sorry, just reread what you wrote - thanks, that's helpful

Chandler85

It must be a huge piece of granite to cost £2500, never mind £4000 with labour.

You can 3 x 2m runs with sink cutouts and fitting for £2500-3000 in Manchester, labour etc included.

Mutton_Geoff

If the repair is so cheap in comparison, why not just get it done and hand the property back at the end in the same condition you took it on (less fair wear and tear). Develop amnesia when the agent brings up the worktop issue.

tangerine27

Chandler85 said:

It must be a huge piece of granite to cost £2500, never mind £4000 with labour.

You can 3 x 2m runs with sink cutouts and fitting for £2500-3000 in Manchester, labour etc included.

It's a tiny kitchen - but it's also London. So I've no idea to be honest! Having googled it does seem very high, though.

tangerine27

Mutton_Geoff said:

If the repair is so cheap in comparison, why not just get it done and hand the property back at the end in the same condition you took it on (less fair wear and tear). Develop amnesia when the agent brings up the worktop issue.

We could, but worried that the landlord/LA will see the damage (because the repair won't be perfect) and still attempt the "replacement" issue claiming we didn't let them or something along those lines!

AdrianC

tangerine27 said:

I think you may have confused what I'm asking - I know we (plural) are liable. I'm just saying, can they reasonably charge us for a replacement, when a repair would do fine?

Let me repeat the bit that answered that...

AdrianC said:

Of course, you (plural) aren't liable until such time as the tenancy comes to an end. Then the property will be judged on the state you leave it in... If there's a dispute over the cost of repair, then the deposit arbitrators will judge what an appropriate cost is.

When you move out, it's up to the deposit arbitrators to decide what's appropriate.
Until you move out, it's absolutely none of the landlord's business...

Subtext: Get it repaired yourselves. Then the landlord will never know... so long as nobody tells them. Oops.

We used Manimpex in Watford - https://www.manimpex.co.uk/

Mahsroh

I appreciate this isn't much in the way of help so apologies in advance but your biggest mistake was telling the agent.

Had you spent £200 or so between you and got it repaired, nobody would ever have even noticed. As you said, two of companies who quoted said "it will not be an invisible repair, but will not be noticeable if you do not know the damage is there", so had you just repaired it you'd never hear about it again. 

Unfortunately now the LL knows about it, she (with some justification) wants it put right entirely. I can understand that. She'll know it's there and will be able to see it. Had you said nothing and repaired it she'd be living in blissful ignorance.