Can we class the carpets as reasonable wear and tear?

happinessfactory

But Catblue, this takes us right back to the beginning. There is no legal definition of "fair" or "reasonable" wear and tear - which is why it's so important to maintain good relations with your landlord!

Basically, if the flat and its contents belonged to you, would you care for them the same way?

If you dropped a glass of red wine on *your* carpet, you'd be there with the 1001 scrubbing away to get rid of it. You wouldn't shrug your shoulders and say "I've paid for the damage in advance".

All most landlords ask is that you take the same care of their possessions as you would of yours.

Oh and DGJSaver, yes, I *do* think it's important to maintain friendly relations with a landlord - just as I think it was important to maintain friendly relations with my tenants. This ensured minimal damage to my property and an easier and more pleasant life for all of us:A

If someone was rude, careless with the property and late with paying their rent (note I said "all three" in my earlier post, a fact you have chosen to ignore), why should they expect me to be amiable and generous in return?

PayDay

happinessfactory wrote: »

But Catblue, this takes us right back to the beginning. There is no legal definition of "fair" or "reasonable" wear and tear - which is why it's so important to maintain good relations with your landlord!

You seem to be missing the point. LLs don't get to decide what is fair wear and tear anymore. You are protecting your tenants deposits aren't you? In one of the schemes?

happinessfactory

I moved back in to my flat last year so there are no tenants to worry about.

And the previous tenant was my sister so I knew the place would be looked after.

But thanks so much for looking out for my legal position:D

happinessfactory

PayDay wrote: »

LLs don't get to decide what is fair wear and tear anymore.

And there still isn't a legal definition, protected deposits or not.

The best way to avoid disputes is still for landlords and tenants to be nice to each other;)

PayDay

happinessfactory wrote: »

And there still isn't a legal definition, protected deposits or not.

The best way to avoid disputes is still for landlords and tenants to be nice to each other;)

You can't make someone like you by threatening to withhold their deposit. Being a good LL would have worked better.

Disputes regarding the deposit, which is what we were talking about, has nothing to do with liking the LL. For the bad LL who took what they liked from the deposit, those days are gone. For the good LLs, the deposit scheme doesn't make any difference to them as they never behaved badly before.

Catblue

happinessfactory wrote: »

Basically, if the flat and its contents belonged to you, would you care for them the same way?

If you dropped a glass of red wine on *your* carpet, you'd be there with the 1001 scrubbing away to get rid of it. You wouldn't shrug your shoulders and say "I've paid for the damage in advance".

All most landlords ask is that you take the same care of their possessions as you would of yours.

Absolutely I would take care. That's the way that I was brought up.

Fortunately, deposits for rental properties are no longer retained based on whether the landlord likes the tenant or not.

I think it is probably for the best that you are no longer a landlord.

NinaSwiss

somehow i feel that catblue and payday are missing the point HPF is making.....
Maintaining a good relationship with your landlord can sometimes help when resolving simple situations. I have had landlords who have let me off after i had made some minor damage (which normally would be charged for). If i was not honest about the damages and tried to be difficult about it. He was more likely to have treated the matter differently (i.e chasing me for the costs to cover for the damages).

Obviously maintaing a good relationship... does not mean you to be down pub with them each friday.....

happinessfactory

bizzyjunky wrote: »

somehow i feel that catblue and payday are missing the point HPF is making.....
Maintaining a good relationship with your landlord can sometimes help when resolving simple situations. I have had landlords who have let me off after i had made some minor damage (which normally would be charged for). If i was not honest about the damages and tried to be difficult about it. He was more likely to have treated the matter differently (i.e chasing me for the costs to cover for the damages).

Obviously maintaing a good relationship... does not mean you to be down pub with them each friday.....

Finally someone who reads everything, not just the bits they choose to

happinessfactory

PayDay wrote: »

You can't make someone like you by threatening to withhold their deposit. Being a good LL would have worked better.

Good job I always started my tenancies with a bottle of champagne and a 'welcome to your new home' card.

I have yet to meet a landlord who "threatened" to with-hold a deposit.

There seems to be an assumption on this site that landlords are ogres who like nothing better than to get into a massive argy-bargy for the sake of a few quid, whereas even the most careless, !!!!less, obnoxious tenants are always in the right.

The boring reality - we're each providing a service to the other, and most get on fine.

happinessfactory

edited double post