Any landlords? Damage to property
Discussion
Apologies if this is wrong forum but I know there are a couple of landlords that frequent these parts.
One of my tenants has just send me this message;
“Hi xxxx, I'm sorry to haven't report there is a problem with the patio doors in the kitchen. They have always been a poor fit, ever since I moved in there has always been a gap big enough for daylight at the top where the doors meet. See first pic.
Then yesterday when it was windy, I opened the door and it blew back on itself. Although it was difficult to close last night when it happened, I didn't notice the damage in the dark. This morning I cam see that the plastic has split where the metal bracket fixes to it.”
House is in a decent state of repair, I’m not sure the doors were a poor fit and it’s first time I’ve heard of daylight showing at the top. I normally repair everything without question but to me this sounds like damage that the tenant has caused, albeit accidentally with the wind, rather than general wear and tear. Am I responsible for fixing this or is she? I’m not trying to get out of my obligations as I try to keep my tenants happy, but equally I’m not a charity.
Any thoughts?
One of my tenants has just send me this message;
“Hi xxxx, I'm sorry to haven't report there is a problem with the patio doors in the kitchen. They have always been a poor fit, ever since I moved in there has always been a gap big enough for daylight at the top where the doors meet. See first pic.
Then yesterday when it was windy, I opened the door and it blew back on itself. Although it was difficult to close last night when it happened, I didn't notice the damage in the dark. This morning I cam see that the plastic has split where the metal bracket fixes to it.”
House is in a decent state of repair, I’m not sure the doors were a poor fit and it’s first time I’ve heard of daylight showing at the top. I normally repair everything without question but to me this sounds like damage that the tenant has caused, albeit accidentally with the wind, rather than general wear and tear. Am I responsible for fixing this or is she? I’m not trying to get out of my obligations as I try to keep my tenants happy, but equally I’m not a charity.
Any thoughts?
Landlord here
It's damaged caused by the tenant so in my opinion the tenants responsibility. The whole it never fitted is an attempt to prop their argument up for you to fix it at your expense. As with all things though its give and take depending on how much you charge compared to the going rate and how good tenants they are will likely depend on what you do.
It's damaged caused by the tenant so in my opinion the tenants responsibility. The whole it never fitted is an attempt to prop their argument up for you to fix it at your expense. As with all things though its give and take depending on how much you charge compared to the going rate and how good tenants they are will likely depend on what you do.
Ex BTL landlord here.
I agree it's likely to be tenant damage although they'll obviously disagree, if you insist on them repairing it will likely never get done or bodged
My approach would be to tell them you'll get an estimate and suggest splitting it 50/50, if they're tenants who want to stay and you want to keep then they'll probably agree, if not then you'll have to pay it, that's just the way it is although I'd be increasing the rent or serving notice in due course.
You could try and recover the repair cost from the rent deposit but I'd expect them to dispute it.
If I couldn't trust a tenant then I wouldn't have them in my property, which is probably why I'm an ex residential landlord.
I agree it's likely to be tenant damage although they'll obviously disagree, if you insist on them repairing it will likely never get done or bodged
My approach would be to tell them you'll get an estimate and suggest splitting it 50/50, if they're tenants who want to stay and you want to keep then they'll probably agree, if not then you'll have to pay it, that's just the way it is although I'd be increasing the rent or serving notice in due course.
You could try and recover the repair cost from the rent deposit but I'd expect them to dispute it.
If I couldn't trust a tenant then I wouldn't have them in my property, which is probably why I'm an ex residential landlord.
sam.rog said:
Why was he opening the doors when it was blowing a gale. Would there be damage if he didn’t open them.
Imo this is his stupidity causing the damage.
Up to you but I’d be expecting some compensation from him.
Presumably to go outside. Why else would you open doors?Imo this is his stupidity causing the damage.
Up to you but I’d be expecting some compensation from him.
Honestly some of you landlords think tenants should sit on a chair in one room and not move. Not all tenants are thieving scum. We don't know what the OP's tenants are like, he hasn't said.
Thanks for the comments.
Tenant is a decent tenant but I’ve not increased rent for 3.5 years and she’s currently getting it at least £150, if not £200 below market value. We’ve agreed a rent increase of £75 to commence in April (this was agreed before the damage).
I’ve always repaired everything immediately without question. This is first time I’ve questioned anything in 3.5 years. Paid £2k for a new boiler last month which was done within a couple of days of her reporting a problem etc etc.
So although she’s a good tenant I’m also a good landlord. I’m pretty certain the door wasn’t poorly fitted before now. She would have let me know if it was. I don’t mind paying for what I should pay for but equally I’m not a charity. She’s adamant she’s not paying so I’ve offered to go half. Will see what she comes back with.
Tenant is a decent tenant but I’ve not increased rent for 3.5 years and she’s currently getting it at least £150, if not £200 below market value. We’ve agreed a rent increase of £75 to commence in April (this was agreed before the damage).
I’ve always repaired everything immediately without question. This is first time I’ve questioned anything in 3.5 years. Paid £2k for a new boiler last month which was done within a couple of days of her reporting a problem etc etc.
So although she’s a good tenant I’m also a good landlord. I’m pretty certain the door wasn’t poorly fitted before now. She would have let me know if it was. I don’t mind paying for what I should pay for but equally I’m not a charity. She’s adamant she’s not paying so I’ve offered to go half. Will see what she comes back with.
Tyre Smoke said:
Presumably to go outside. Why else would you open doors?
Honestly some of you landlords think tenants should sit on a chair in one room and not move. Not all tenants are thieving scum. We don't know what the OP's tenants are like, he hasn't said.
Not really. Mistakes happen. But to expect your landlord to just foot the bill for your stupidity is just wrong. Honestly some of you landlords think tenants should sit on a chair in one room and not move. Not all tenants are thieving scum. We don't know what the OP's tenants are like, he hasn't said.
BTW I’m not a landlord. I was a tenant for 5 years. I’d be offering to pay for my own damage.
Tyre Smoke said:
sam.rog said:
Why was he opening the doors when it was blowing a gale. Would there be damage if he didn’t open them.
Imo this is his stupidity causing the damage.
Up to you but I’d be expecting some compensation from him.
Presumably to go outside. Why else would you open doors?Imo this is his stupidity causing the damage.
Up to you but I’d be expecting some compensation from him.
Honestly some of you landlords think tenants should sit on a chair in one room and not move. Not all tenants are thieving scum. We don't know what the OP's tenants are like, he hasn't said.
sam.rog said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Presumably to go outside. Why else would you open doors?
Honestly some of you landlords think tenants should sit on a chair in one room and not move. Not all tenants are thieving scum. We don't know what the OP's tenants are like, he hasn't said.
Not really. Mistakes happen. But to expect your landlord to just foot the bill for your stupidity is just wrong. Honestly some of you landlords think tenants should sit on a chair in one room and not move. Not all tenants are thieving scum. We don't know what the OP's tenants are like, he hasn't said.
BTW I’m not a landlord. I was a tenant for 5 years. I’d be offering to pay for my own damage.
Wow.
Glosphil said:
Doesn't the OP have insurance against accidental damage?
This is a good point. My BTL is a money pit. Ex-tenants left the house in a state and failed to report the numerous issues that have cost me thousands in repairs (pending insurance claim outcome) and which continue to rack up.
They had an AST and they were under an obligation under the tenancy agreement to report maintenance issues etc. They just didn't bother but hey, they've got a nice council house now.
OP, if you've got a tenancy agreement with the tenant then I'd be checking for similar clauses. Doesn't make sense that an issue that has apparently always been there has never been reported, and if the tenant has failed to report it despite there being an express obligation to do so then there's a breach of the tenancy agreement right there.
If the tenant has contents insurance (wishful thinking I know) then get the details in case you want to claim against her policy.
Otherwise depending on how you tread with insurance, you could always undertake the repairs as emergency repairs and claim for your insurers to reimburse you.
sam.rog said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Opening a door is stupidity?
Wow.
Opening an external door on a windy day and not expecting it to be blown open/shut is pretty stupid in my eyes. Wow.
Maybe I should lower my expectations of others.
loughran said:
You list your location as Gods Own Country, is your rental property also in Yorkshire ?
The winds were incredibly powerful here yesterday. It seems reasonable that the damage to the door was caused by strong gusts.
Anything to get the tenants to subsidise the maintenance costs, is how i'm reading it.The winds were incredibly powerful here yesterday. It seems reasonable that the damage to the door was caused by strong gusts.
Tyre Smoke said:
sam.rog said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Opening a door is stupidity?
Wow.
Opening an external door on a windy day and not expecting it to be blown open/shut is pretty stupid in my eyes. Wow.
Maybe I should lower my expectations of others.
A mate of mine opened his car door in windy conditions about a decade ago and it whipped it out his has and bent the whole door frame. Insurance didn’t want to know said it was his fault.
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