Damage to kitchen unit. Wear and tear?

PecrySugden

So we are a week away from handing in the keys on our rented flat. Last night I simply opened and closed the oven during cooking and the laminate wrap on the plinth under the oven split in two corners. On closer inspection the laminate is all bubbled and torn where it meets the oven. 
Is this wear and tear? It's not like I've taken a knife to the units and torn off the laminate. 

GDB2222

A photo?                                

lesalanos

Is it possible to superglue it back flat so it cannot be seen?

It will likely be wear and tear ... age also comes into it 

youth_leader

I've been looking at painting my laminate covered MDF kitchen, and people have said use a hairdryer to remove the plastic.  Could you use a hair dryer on a gentle heat and smooth it back together again? 

diystarter7

Hi OP

Pic helps

We left our last house after 12/14 years we istalled a brand ew kitchen before we moved in and thre was not a scratch on anything nor anyhting bubbled

However, a pic will help because from what you said it is difficult to determine what has happened but I've seen anything like that in our or family kitchens and we all keep our kitchens for many many years

Good luck

PecrySugden

Here is a close up photo. 

theartfullodger

If you've been there 30 years then wear 'n tear.  If however say only 2 months then more open to questioning.

In your shoes I'd place my trust in the deposit protection scheme & dispute any attempt to charge you too much. see...

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/how_to_get_your_deposit_back/dispute_unfair_deductions

Landlord is not entitled to cost of new fittings - the period since new matters compared to likely life. (Well, he can buy new but only charge fair share.. which anyway may be way too much).

And sometimes things just fail - manufacturing defect, bad fitting, previous tenants etc etc etc 

user1977

Perhaps a fitting not designed for the heat? Can't see why it would be a tenant liability.

PecrySugden

theartfullodger said:

If you've been there 30 years then wear 'n tear.  If however say only 2 months then more open to questioning.

In your shoes I'd place my trust in the deposit protection scheme & dispute any attempt to charge you too much. see...

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/how_to_get_your_deposit_back/dispute_unfair_deductions

Landlord is not entitled to cost of new fittings - the period since new matters compared to likely life. (Well, he can buy new but only charge fair share.. which anyway may be way too much).

And sometimes things just fail - manufacturing defect, bad fitting, previous tenants etc etc etc 

Thanks. I have been there two years. The kitchen must be at least 10 years old and has a guarantee of 5. As I say, all I did was open and then close the oven door and there are signs of peeling in other parts. 

MalMonroe

Hi, from your photo, that does look like wear and tear to me.  If the oven's old and/or wasn't very expensive, that'll do it. 

A similar thing has happened to the kitchen cupboards in our flat - council property - a new kitchen was fitted when we moved in around 16 years ago - looked great at the time but sadly because cheap materials were used it's just not lasted as long as we would have wished. Plastic coverings have started to peel from the cupboard doors (pretend wood). We're probably lucky that they lasted this long, though, tacky as they are. 

youth_leader

Check if the bottom rubber on the oven door has stretched. 

I moved into this bungalow and damaged the bottom of a cupboard door like that on my first morning with the toaster - it's the direct heat, it will be hard and sharp, watch your fingers.  It might be worth trying the hairdryer to soften it and smooth it out.