What is classed as *fair wear and tear* on rental property?

pink.1970

The reason I'm asking this is that we have been in this property for nearly 7 years now, and are considering looking for elsewhere to live, (this place is damp and mouldy) we have black mould all over the house and LL knows but wont do anything except threaten us with eviction when we complained to Enviro Health.

But what can be classed in this case as wear and tear?

We have put in new tiled bathroom (walls and floor).
New carpet in front room after ceiling collapse, (which LL did eventually fix).
Painted throughout. (this will have to be returned to white in some rooms I think).

Fenced in garden and returfed the meadow (lawn) that we inherited.

Spent a bit of money of last few years, as LL really not interested in doing anything, oh sorry did install double glazing 3 years ago after bedroom window literally fell out!!

So with all that in mind what could they fault us on in the event of us leaving?

DGJsaver

Hopefully there is no signed inventory

then he`s kanckered and it wont matter anyway

pink.1970

Yes I forgot to say there is no inventory and they did comment about how good a job my OH and I had done.

morg_monster

haha sounds like they should be paying you!!
seriously though, if there's no inventory they can't keep any of your deposit.

oh and definitely report them to environmental health after you have given your notice on the place...

Gorgeous_George

I'm sure you will be fine and the LL should have offered you a good rate for your works. You should have had permission to do the works. If not, I'd take the fencing with me

GG

merlinthehappypig

We have no inventory either and the LA hasn't a clue.

The person who dealt with us when we took on the rental left about 6 months ago and her replacement came around for our 'annual review' this week.

She asked if she could have a look round while she was with us.

She asked when we put the woodburning stoves in - I pointed out that they were there when we moved in. She looked at a small scratch on the cooker - I pointed out that it was ours. She said 'are you sure?'.

Because of some stains near the door she advised us to put some underlay under 'our' carpet or 'it would be ruined because there is no damp proof course in the floor' - it's their carpet.

I could go on, but it shows that they wouldn't have a hope in hell of proving anything because of the lack of inventory. I could gut the place if I was that sort of person and they wouldn't be able to prove anything. They have no records at all.

It's completely mad.

pink.1970

Our LL hasnt done a review of the property for years, outside review maybe a year ago but no internal viewings.