Rental - Wear & Tear

Gemm83

I know this is a very subjective topic/question, but hoping there are some LL's and previous renters on here for opinions!

Just handed in notice on a property with have been renting for 4 years.

Apart from a 25 year old carpet which was in the property from when it was built. Everything is in same condition as when we moved in. Bathroom looks like it's just been fitted to be honest and considering the garden looked like a field after Glastonbury we've relaid the uneven patio and planted nice shrubs etc.

The only problem we have after having 2 toddlers in the property, is hand marks. Grubby hand prints. Think running hands up walls, light switches etc and scuffs on walls from furniture moving in. I've purchased one of those magic erasers and it's done a really good job on the light switches, but I would need a really big eraser and about 2 weeks to clear off all the hand prints!! I will do my best to clear up as much as possible as our sole aim is to get all our deposit back, but I'm really scared he's going to take it all to redecorate (it's all magnolia from top to bottom).

Is this something that would be considered as wear and tear over 4 years or intentional damage that we would be expected to pay to put right? 

caprikid1

Without seeing the extent of it, impossible to say. Walls can be painted quite quickly with paint pads and an industrial pot of magnolia ?

Sugar soap ?

lookstraightahead

I went round with paint and got rid of the marks.

as a new tenant, what would you think if you were renting it? If you think it's satisfactory that's fine, but if you would look and say 'mucky handprints' then that's what the landlord will think.

if you were selling the house, would you paint over it or leave it?

I think you probs know the answer 😊

Gemm83

Thank you both. The decoration is tatty in general. You can even see the lines where dado rails used to be and where previous touch ups have been made (all listed on the check in inventory). Landlord didn't even make good the ceilings when he replaced square  downlighters with round ones.

I don't think he's planning on doing any freshen ups to the place as its been advertised as being available 2 days after we've left. 

theartfullodger

See what landlord says.  He must have known there were toddlers so is duty bound to factor toddlers wear 'n tear in. (Clearly less wear 'n tear from one little old occupant than family of 7, v young kids, 3 rottweilers).

Dispute any deductions through deposit scheme.

MaryNB

If it was freshly painted before you moved in he might be able to make a small claim. If it was last painted several years before you moved in he'd struggle to justify any deductions. He can only claim for repainting individual walls, not entire rooms. 

lookstraightahead

Gemm83 said:

Thank you both. The decoration is tatty in general. You can even see the lines where dado rails used to be and where previous touch ups have been made (all listed on the check in inventory). Landlord didn't even make good the ceilings when he replaced square  downlighters with round ones.

I don't think he's planning on doing any freshen ups to the place as its been advertised as being available 2 days after we've left. 

Just to let you know the landlord can charge but not do the jobs. I was charged £400 for a mark on curtains (missed it on the inventory we didn't do it) and they were never replaced - still there to this day 10 years later when we drive past.

if I were the landlord personally I wouldn't charge (we accidentally ripped the carpet when we moved out of one place but the landlord was going to replace it anyway and was just a nice honest person). But doesn't mean yours won't.

lookstraightahead

theartfullodger said:

See what landlord says.  He must have known there were toddlers so is duty bound to factor toddlers wear 'n tear in. (Clearly less wear 'n tear from one little old occupant than family of 7, v young kids, 3 rottweilers).

Dispute any deductions through deposit scheme.

That's interesting artful I didn't know wear and tear was different depending on tenants - make sense I suppose. 

Gemm83

MaryNB said:

If it was freshly painted before you moved in he might be able to make a small claim. If it was last painted several years before you moved in he'd struggle to justify any deductions. He can only claim for repainting individual walls, not entire rooms. 

No it wasn't freshly painted and there was a guy here at least a year before us too. 

BlueC

If they wanted to withhold some of the deposit they need to justify it and as you know your landlord can't take money from your deposit for 'reasonable wear and tear'. This is worth a read...

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/ending-your-tenancy/getting-your-tenancy-deposit-back/

What I would say is that it largely depends on the landlord (and to a small extent the agent, if let through an agent). It sounds to me like you've been good, long term and conscientious tenants so as a landlord I would appreciate this and wouldn't be petty enough to charge you for some grubby marks on the walls regardless of whether they are deemed wear and tear or not.

But some landlords are just tight and mean and seem to almost view the deposit as being rightfully theirs to contribute to their cost of switching tenants. Hopefully they appreciate that you've been good tenants and that you can't live in a property for 4 years without causing some wear and tear.

Best of luck, I hope your landlord is reasonable and returns your full deposit.

Gemm83

BlueC said:

If they wanted to withhold some of the deposit they need to justify it and as you know your landlord can't take money from your deposit for 'reasonable wear and tear'. This is worth a read...

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-privately/ending-your-tenancy/getting-your-tenancy-deposit-back/

What I would say is that it largely depends on the landlord (and to a small extent the agent, if let through an agent). It sounds to me like you've been good, long term and conscientious tenants so as a landlord I would appreciate this and wouldn't be petty enough to charge you for some grubby marks on the walls regardless of whether they are deemed wear and tear or not.

But some landlords are just tight and mean and seem to almost view the deposit as being rightfully theirs to contribute to their cost of switching tenants. Hopefully they appreciate that you've been good tenants and that you can't live in a property for 4 years without causing some wear and tear.

Best of luck, I hope your landlord is reasonable and returns your full deposit.

Thankyou for you post. 

We have had numerous inspections over the past 4 years and haven't had any issues raised whatsoever.

We have had a good relationship with the landlord and office manager of the letting agency, however we are now dealing with a new member of office staff who I believe has unobtainable expectations about what we are able to achieve before checking out.

One issue at the moment is that she is adamant the lawn must be mowed and border weeded before leaving if not they will take out of deposit for a gardener to do it. She seems to think that if we get one dry day that is sufficient to be able to do it, irrespective of the actual lawn. We've tried to explain that by doing so it would kill the grass and most likely the lawnmower, but she isnt having it!