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Rental wear and tear?

Sinbad35
Sinbad35 Posts: 3 Newbie
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi, our tenants have just moved out of our rented flat as we’re selling it. The oven and dishwasher are both not working - the tenants say they don’t know how both broke. As the dishwasher and oven are both 15 years old I wonder if we should just lump the costs to replace or whether we should charge them out of their deposits? Thanks

Comments

  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
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    Sinbad35 wrote: »
    Hi, our tenants have just moved out of our rented flat as we’re selling it. The oven and dishwasher are both not working - the tenants say they don’t know how both broke. As the dishwasher and oven are both 15 years old I wonder if we should just lump the costs to replace or whether we should charge them out of their deposits? Thanks

    I'm not entirely sure I believe the tenants. Did they report the oven or dishwasher when they stopped working or was this just discovered at the end of the tenancy? Not that it really matters since the value of 15 year old appliances is the square root of naff all and you are not entitled to betterment.
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    On what basis would you be charging the tenants?
  • nearlynomadic
    nearlynomadic Posts: 21 Forumite
    Are you aware of the concept of betterment? After 15 years, you'd struggle to claim that either had any expected lifespan left in them. You also cannot claim 'new for old'.

    http://www.propertymark.co.uk/advice-and-guides/landlords/fair-wear-and-tear.aspx

    Yes, lump the costs to replace
  • marliepanda
    marliepanda Posts: 7,186 Forumite
    Sinbad35 wrote: »
    Hi, our tenants have just moved out of our rented flat as we’re selling it. The oven and dishwasher are both not working - the tenants say they don’t know how both broke. As the dishwasher and oven are both 15 years old I wonder if we should just lump the costs to replace or whether we should charge them out of their deposits? Thanks

    How much are you proposing to charge them for your 15 year old appliances, assuming you are not a WUM.
  • Sinbad35
    Sinbad35 Posts: 3 Newbie
    Hi, thanks for the responses.
    They only informed us when they were moving out.
    I wasn’t sure how much to charge them if anything. I guess it would be the cost to repair them.
  • Sinbad35
    Sinbad35 Posts: 3 Newbie
    Also the tenants lived at the property for 2 years
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
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    If you're selling the property then just remove the appliances, if they're not easily repairable. Buyers can replace to their own preference, and are unlikely to pay you anything like the cost of new ones.
  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    I think I would replace the oven and then sell the property without the dishwasher. People buying it will want to have their own appliances and most people when they sell take them with them so not having a dishwasher shouldn't make any difference. The oven might because people expect to get an oven.
  • Teamocil
    Teamocil Posts: 122 Forumite
    You want tenants to take responsibility for the failure of appliances that could do their GCSEs next year? Love it.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    They were old. They were old when the tenants moved in.

    No charge.
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