Ex tenant problem
Discussion
Hi all looking for legal advice regarding an ex tenant ,my solicitor has not been very helpful in the matter .
Tenant was in 18months ago and at the time the property was owned by myself and sister,around that time sister was wanting bought out so we thought we would have to sell so notice was given.
In the end I bought sister out and kept property on I told tenant she could stay as long as she wanted.
I was always having to get electrician up as she treated the place like a Chinese laundry and kept tripping storage heaters with drying clothes on them them said house was damp and got council up who said it was condensation from her drying clothes with no ventilation.
So I'm not sad to see the back of her
The tenant had decorated the house and got solicitor involved and came to a figure of £600 that we should pay for decorating costs.
I have re billed a figure of £100 for replacing lock as she held onto keys for 2 weeks after her handover day
My solicitor said just to pay it as it more hassle than its worth.
Thanks for you help in advance
Tenant was in 18months ago and at the time the property was owned by myself and sister,around that time sister was wanting bought out so we thought we would have to sell so notice was given.
In the end I bought sister out and kept property on I told tenant she could stay as long as she wanted.
I was always having to get electrician up as she treated the place like a Chinese laundry and kept tripping storage heaters with drying clothes on them them said house was damp and got council up who said it was condensation from her drying clothes with no ventilation.
So I'm not sad to see the back of her
The tenant had decorated the house and got solicitor involved and came to a figure of £600 that we should pay for decorating costs.
I have re billed a figure of £100 for replacing lock as she held onto keys for 2 weeks after her handover day
My solicitor said just to pay it as it more hassle than its worth.
Thanks for you help in advance
I had hoped they had forgotten about it but low and behold an email from my solicitor today asking about it.
yes i believe he is being lazy.
she was told she could decorate the house,I was going to get someone in to do it but she wanted to do it herself.
she is on legal aid so its not costing her a penny with solicitor.
she was a pain in the backside when she was in the house,but if anything needed doing it was done within 48hrs as it always is.
cheers for the input
yes i believe he is being lazy.
she was told she could decorate the house,I was going to get someone in to do it but she wanted to do it herself.
she is on legal aid so its not costing her a penny with solicitor.
she was a pain in the backside when she was in the house,but if anything needed doing it was done within 48hrs as it always is.
cheers for the input
subsea99 said:
she was told she could decorate the house,I was going to get someone in to do it but she wanted to do it herself.
What exactly was agreed when she wanted to do it with regards to recompense?What was the reason the redecoration needed to be done?
Do you have any records of this in writing?
On the face of it, I'd stick with the current status quo. By that I mean, suck up the £100 for changing the locks. When you have a dodgy tenant, that's a good idea to do anyway.
The onus is on them to prove you owe them £600. By letting sleeping dogs lie, you are setting out your stall that if you were sued, it would not be risk free - you would counterclaim for your £100.
The house was due for decoration after previous tenant left and i was going to do it myself and she asked if she could do it in her own colours as i was just going to go magnolia all over.
There was nothing ever put in writing,she was even trying to get me to pay for a carpet that she put down that was never agreed to as nothing wrong with what was down.
After i bought my sister out she was told that she could stay and have as long a lease as she wanted but she declined and moved,probably for the best anyway.
cheers
There was nothing ever put in writing,she was even trying to get me to pay for a carpet that she put down that was never agreed to as nothing wrong with what was down.
After i bought my sister out she was told that she could stay and have as long a lease as she wanted but she declined and moved,probably for the best anyway.
cheers
Ah.... New deatils
If the house needed repairs and you were going to do this but the tenant elected to do the repairs themself then its only fair you reimburse the tenant.
It would be different if the property was in good condition and the tenant just fancied a new lick of paint or wooden floors over the carpet.
I have done this in the past (never again) where I have let a tenant hold on to rent in exchange for them carrying out repairs/redecoration themself.
Without anything written she would have a hard time proving her case but based on what you have written, I think the gentlemanly thing to do is reimburse her.
If the house needed repairs and you were going to do this but the tenant elected to do the repairs themself then its only fair you reimburse the tenant.
It would be different if the property was in good condition and the tenant just fancied a new lick of paint or wooden floors over the carpet.
I have done this in the past (never again) where I have let a tenant hold on to rent in exchange for them carrying out repairs/redecoration themself.
Without anything written she would have a hard time proving her case but based on what you have written, I think the gentlemanly thing to do is reimburse her.
Vaud said:
Ask for proof of costs incurred? £600 is a lot of paint, etc
Exactly this.I'd write back saying that I'd cover the costs for all materials that there were receipts for.
She wanted to have the benefit of doing it herself so she could choose different colours, so she can hardly expect X per horror her time.
Indeed, if she's replaced the carpet off her own back then that's her own problem too.
£100 for a lock!?
Also, if this woman was such a pain I'd write off the cost of the lock and avoid more legal fees to finally get rid of this woman and move on.
Edit: Just realised you haven't paid the £600 yet. Ask for receipts. No receipts no money.
Also, if this woman was such a pain I'd write off the cost of the lock and avoid more legal fees to finally get rid of this woman and move on.
Edit: Just realised you haven't paid the £600 yet. Ask for receipts. No receipts no money.
Edited by AndrewEH1 on Friday 27th February 12:18
Why would she want to pick colors if she was leaving, sounds like she is bumping the price up.
You will also need a receipt to offset these expences against income on your tax return.
I'd want to see receipts/breakdown of costs. If she is charging you for labour then make sure to tell HMRC/benefits agencys about her earnings or tell her that you will - she may reduce the bill
You will also need a receipt to offset these expences against income on your tax return.
I'd want to see receipts/breakdown of costs. If she is charging you for labour then make sure to tell HMRC/benefits agencys about her earnings or tell her that you will - she may reduce the bill
Re lock : i used to be in the trade and a good lock insnt cheap ...buy cheap buy twice plus fitting,any locksmith would charge that once you have to call them out.
The painting was just to freshen it up it was by no means run down,my tenant i have now is very happy.
Im still waiting on receipts as i wont pay anything without them.
The painting was just to freshen it up it was by no means run down,my tenant i have now is very happy.
Im still waiting on receipts as i wont pay anything without them.
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