Compensating landlord at end of tenancy

Grumpy_chap

Mae16 said:

Thanks. I'm assuming that the deposit will be swallowed up before we get to the floor. A couple of doors need repairing too (they will need sanding,filling and repainting, so a couple of days work for a handyman). And I'm aware that even if I've cleaned and had a professional clean there are always imperfections somewhere that are picked up on and billed for. Plus, I'm reseeding the lawn, but it's not going to recover completely in time, so that will be an issue. Based on everyone's advice, I won't offer extra money until I'm asked for it. 

I am not convinced that the deposit will be fully consumed just by considering the doors.
You have been in the property for 10 years, so the LL should expect some refurbishment is now required.  The deposit scheme should consider similarly.

Internal doors are generally under £100 a pop and a handy man to hang two doors should be a couple of hours.  You are being far too generous as to how much the cost of fixing the doors will be.

Again, sand and varnish the parquet flooring might well be expected after ten years.  It is irrelevant whether your dog had a hissy fit and scratched an area of the floor or you wore stilettos at some point or dropped a cake knife.  This type of damage is reasonable wear and tear.

I suppose set against that, the amount of the deposit might be low if it was one month's rent when you first moved in ten years ago.

Regardless, I still think you should take the stance that the full deposit is due back to you and let the deposit protection scheme decide if the LL claims otherwise. 

Have you had indication that the LL intends to claim anything from your deposit?

IMO (as a LL), the LL is being unreasonable in claiming any deduction from the deposit after ten years of monthly rent income with no void period.  That sounds like a dream.

chrisw

After 10 trouble free years, on the face of it, I would consider it as wear and tear and part of the new tenancy refurbishment.

 If you feel there is damage over and above wear and tear, you could always be proactive and speak to the landlord. Walk through the house with them and agree what is wear an tear and what is damage.

Soot2006

OP, you sound utterly exhausted!!!!

Direct instruction from this forum is to move out so you can focus exclusively on your new home, have the rental professionally cleaned, let the DPS follow-up. And take a deep breath. You WILL sort out your new home and things WILL settle down. Don't worry about this thing, because you can't control it. Much sympathy from me and have a good weekend!

RAS

chrisw said:

After 10 trouble free years, on the face of it, I would consider it as wear and tear and part of the new tenancy refurbishment.

 If you feel there is damage over and above wear and tear, you could always be proactive and speak to the landlord. Walk through the house with them and agree what is wear an tear and what is damage.

Given how hard Mae16 seems to find it to assert their rights in this situation, I'd be disinclined to agree anything with the LL. 

The only thing I'd suggest is something along the lines of "Obviously we know you are entitled to claim for damage, pro rata, but not for betterment or wear and tear".

And for what it's worth, I'd expect parquet flooring to need resurfacing every ten years, in a household with relatively light usage. The deposit scheme would probably take the same view, and note that 2 scratches comprise a miniscule part of the area.