Getting deposit back

beatthebookienet

I lived in a 1 bedroom flat for 4.5 years and have finally moved out. The rent was cheap at £303-333 per month and the overall condition was poor with cracks, leaks and stains on the walls and ceilings. The letting agency service was also poor turning a blind eye to all these issues whilst I lived there. The shower from the flat above also leaked causing stains on the carpet and ceiling.

I spent 4h cleaning it but the letting agency said the main issues are that there's a circle on the kitchen lino and limescale on the sink. I scrubbed for ages with different chemicals and couldn't get these marks off.

The circle on the kitchen floor was from temporarily storing a car tyre there however the lino was already old and marked as 2/4 (fair condition) when I moved in. 4.5 years later there has been even more wear and tear on the floor. There is also a rip and staining under the old fridge which the landlord provided. Is it fair for them to try and take money off my deposit given how long I have been in the flat, the issues caused by leaks and with the condition already being poor before I moved in? How would I challenge this with the deposit holding company?

pramsay13

I think you'll struggle to argue that a tyre mark is wear and tear as you shouldn't really be storing a tyre on the kitchen floor. 
You simply claim the deposit back from the scheme where it is held and the landlord will suggest deductions. If you don't agree you argue your case and someone will decide what is fair. 

swingaloo

May not be the answer to your question but I have to ask, How long was it there and how on earth did you not fall over it?

theartfullodger

Just dispute any deductions through the deposit protection scheme.   Those scheme brought in after decades of landlords ripping off tenants.

As you were there 4.5 years and say the flooring was old when you moved in I, as a landlord, would expect to have to replace with a new bit of lino anyway, at my expense.... All the other issues you mention are irrelevant to any deposit dispute - should have been sorted by you with landlord: (Your contract was with landlord, yes I appreciate agency handles everything..)

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

newsgroupmonkey_

Whilst I agree with the above - the tyre should never have been there - this is betterment.
It sounds like the lino was old.

My deposits say a carpet should last 5 years and they're apparently "consistent"
https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/content-hub/fair-wear-and-tear-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-applied/

So I doubt a landlord that started with a 2/4 lino is going to get a new one after 4.5 years

BarelySentientAI

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Whilst I agree with the above - the tyre should never have been there - this is betterment.
It sounds like the lino was old.

My deposits say a carpet should last 5 years and they're apparently "consistent"
https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/content-hub/fair-wear-and-tear-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-applied/

So I doubt a landlord that started with a 2/4 lino is going to get a new one after 4.5 years

They might be able to claim the value of a 1.5/4 lino at best.  Which is practically nothing.

newsgroupmonkey_

BarelySentientAI said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Whilst I agree with the above - the tyre should never have been there - this is betterment.
It sounds like the lino was old.

My deposits say a carpet should last 5 years and they're apparently "consistent"
https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/content-hub/fair-wear-and-tear-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-applied/

So I doubt a landlord that started with a 2/4 lino is going to get a new one after 4.5 years

They might be able to claim the value of a 1.5/4 lino at best.  Which is practically nothing.

The OP has been there for 4.5 years and the lino was clearly over 6 months old when they moved in though.
I don't believe they can claim anything.

RHemmings

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

BarelySentientAI said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Whilst I agree with the above - the tyre should never have been there - this is betterment.
It sounds like the lino was old.

My deposits say a carpet should last 5 years and they're apparently "consistent"
https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/content-hub/fair-wear-and-tear-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-applied/

So I doubt a landlord that started with a 2/4 lino is going to get a new one after 4.5 years

They might be able to claim the value of a 1.5/4 lino at best.  Which is practically nothing.

The OP has been there for 4.5 years and the lino was clearly over 6 months old when they moved in though.
I don't believe they can claim anything.

That's my take on it. 

BTW: I think that saying a carpet should last five years sounds like quite a short time span to me. And therefore generous to the tenant. In an owned home, I would hope that a carpet would last a decade.

newsgroupmonkey_

RHemmings said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

BarelySentientAI said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Whilst I agree with the above - the tyre should never have been there - this is betterment.
It sounds like the lino was old.

My deposits say a carpet should last 5 years and they're apparently "consistent"
https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/content-hub/fair-wear-and-tear-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-applied/

So I doubt a landlord that started with a 2/4 lino is going to get a new one after 4.5 years

They might be able to claim the value of a 1.5/4 lino at best.  Which is practically nothing.

The OP has been there for 4.5 years and the lino was clearly over 6 months old when they moved in though.
I don't believe they can claim anything.

That's my take on it. 

BTW: I think that saying a carpet should last five years sounds like quite a short time span to me. And therefore generous to the tenant. In an owned home, I would hope that a carpet would last a decade.

I guess the problem is, a cheap carpet will last 5 years. A decent one could last 20+.
I was in a rental from 2013-2020 and all of the carpets were very old when I moved in. When I left, I'd expect at least another 10 years out of them. But they were goo quality.

On the flip side, when we moved into our current house in 2022, we had the carpet replaced in the front room.
When the guy came to fit it, he mentioned that he himself had replaced it in 2017. It was rancid. Worn out and stinky from the wet dogs that frequented it.

The other thing is whether it's heavy foot traffic or not. A bedroom carpet will last far longer than a hallway one.

Jemma01

For the limescale, have you tried HG from tesco? It worked miracles for me. Get a strong tissue paper (or cloth) put it on/around the area and poor HG limescale remover on it (cloth will keep the liquid concentratd on the problem area), and let it sit for 10mins, scrubbing will be far easier if any scrubbing is needed.

I think you'll be able to dispute the stains with the deposit scheme, yes it is there, but a deduction over that will probably be dismissed for such dirty place. Looks old and due a replacement.

BobT36

Jemma01 said:

For the limescale, have you tried HG from tesco? It worked miracles for me. Get a strong tissue paper (or cloth) put it on/around the area and poor HG limescale remover on it (cloth will keep the liquid concentratd on the problem area), and let it sit for 10mins, scrubbing will be far easier if any scrubbing is needed.

I think you'll be able to dispute the stains with the deposit scheme, yes it is there, but a deduction over that will probably be dismissed for such dirty place. Looks old and due a replacement.

These also work well, to help the descaler work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Limey-Descaling-Gadget-Scale-Removal/dp/B007D2A4UO

I can also vouch for HG brand Limescale Remover and Mould Cleaner. Strong stuff (wear gloves!)