Rental : Wear and tear?
Discussion
After a second opinion to see if I'm being unreasonable.
Tenants moved out at the end of a 2 year tenancy. They have damaged a few things - some of which will be permanent (e.g. a deep long scratch on the end panel of a kitchen unit, two large round burn marks on kitchen worktops). The agency I used has put a low (£40) charge on them for that - which they've already argued should be reduced to £10.
But - there is one specific thing that is annoying me :
They also completely broke the toilet seat - it was completely broken on both sides where it mounts to the bowl so was not attached to the toilet at all. I believe that they should be paying for this.
They are claiming "wear and tear". I think that's rubbish - for one thing, if it was "wear and tear" they would have raised it with the agency at the time, and expected me to replace it (they were very quick to raise issues with the agency!).
I think I've been entirely reasonable with the charges. In total, they are being charged about £150 which includes the damage to the units / worktop, toilet seat, smashing an electrical socket and breaking a light switch - I have only charged them for the socket and light switch parts, because I can change them myself - but I would be entirely in my rights to use an electrician and make them pay, which would be a lot more than a toilet seat!
I know it's a minimal amount of money, but I think they're getting off pretty well considering the number of things they damaged and the very low amount they're being charged.
So - am I being unreasonable? Toilet seats do crack - and if that had happened, I would consider it wear and tear - but destroying the mountings seems a bit different to me.
Tenants moved out at the end of a 2 year tenancy. They have damaged a few things - some of which will be permanent (e.g. a deep long scratch on the end panel of a kitchen unit, two large round burn marks on kitchen worktops). The agency I used has put a low (£40) charge on them for that - which they've already argued should be reduced to £10.
But - there is one specific thing that is annoying me :
They also completely broke the toilet seat - it was completely broken on both sides where it mounts to the bowl so was not attached to the toilet at all. I believe that they should be paying for this.
They are claiming "wear and tear". I think that's rubbish - for one thing, if it was "wear and tear" they would have raised it with the agency at the time, and expected me to replace it (they were very quick to raise issues with the agency!).
I think I've been entirely reasonable with the charges. In total, they are being charged about £150 which includes the damage to the units / worktop, toilet seat, smashing an electrical socket and breaking a light switch - I have only charged them for the socket and light switch parts, because I can change them myself - but I would be entirely in my rights to use an electrician and make them pay, which would be a lot more than a toilet seat!
I know it's a minimal amount of money, but I think they're getting off pretty well considering the number of things they damaged and the very low amount they're being charged.
So - am I being unreasonable? Toilet seats do crack - and if that had happened, I would consider it wear and tear - but destroying the mountings seems a bit different to me.
Toilet seat is a nothing but the worktop would absolutely do my head in if it was reasonably new.
I’d not be happy with £100 never mind £10 for that as it’s sink out, tiles off and god knows what else to replace it.
Just get a sensible quote for the worktop - I’d guess it’d be a couple of hundred quid at the very least - and give it to the agent together with photos. That’s what you’re paying them for.
I’d not be happy with £100 never mind £10 for that as it’s sink out, tiles off and god knows what else to replace it.
Just get a sensible quote for the worktop - I’d guess it’d be a couple of hundred quid at the very least - and give it to the agent together with photos. That’s what you’re paying them for.
Last time I renovated the kitchen in my rental I ripped out the solid wood worksurface and put in a cheap laminate one.
I loved the wood top (from when I lived there) and would look after it as expected and oiled it, etc.. but when it became a rental not a single tenant treated it with any respect, and in the end it was junked after a few years due to black mould from the wood being constantly being wet and not coping with being only oiled once a year (between tenants) and so its been replaced with the cheapest stuff I can find.
Even now my current tenants are trying the "wear and tear" excuse, but as everything was brand new for when they moved in, there should be nothing that is worn out.
I loved the wood top (from when I lived there) and would look after it as expected and oiled it, etc.. but when it became a rental not a single tenant treated it with any respect, and in the end it was junked after a few years due to black mould from the wood being constantly being wet and not coping with being only oiled once a year (between tenants) and so its been replaced with the cheapest stuff I can find.
Even now my current tenants are trying the "wear and tear" excuse, but as everything was brand new for when they moved in, there should be nothing that is worn out.
Scratch could be accidental damage.
Burn marks not reasonable: caused by tenant negligence. Everyone knows you use a mat/trivet/something. Agent is taking the piss with £40, tenant even more so.
Toilet seat: probably client damage but you likely won’t make it stick.
Don’t try to agree it directly with the tenant, push it though the deposit scheme along with pre- and post- inspection reports and photos.
Burn marks not reasonable: caused by tenant negligence. Everyone knows you use a mat/trivet/something. Agent is taking the piss with £40, tenant even more so.
Toilet seat: probably client damage but you likely won’t make it stick.
Don’t try to agree it directly with the tenant, push it though the deposit scheme along with pre- and post- inspection reports and photos.
Du1point8 said:
Last time I renovated the kitchen in my rental I ripped out the solid wood worksurface and put in a cheap laminate one.
I loved the wood top (from when I lived there) and would look after it as expected and oiled it, etc.. but when it became a rental not a single tenant treated it with any respect, and in the end it was junked after a few years due to black mould from the wood being constantly being wet and not coping with being only oiled once a year (between tenants) and so its been replaced with the cheapest stuff I can find.
Even now my current tenants are trying the "wear and tear" excuse, but as everything was brand new for when they moved in, there should be nothing that is worn out.
Yup, this is why I stopped renting to long term tenants and switched to AirBnB. tenant burns a work top and the TDS decides a work top has a 5 year life span??? so was end of life and tenant did not need to pay anything towards replacing it. My office has a laminate work top fitted in 1987 that is still looking ok.I loved the wood top (from when I lived there) and would look after it as expected and oiled it, etc.. but when it became a rental not a single tenant treated it with any respect, and in the end it was junked after a few years due to black mould from the wood being constantly being wet and not coping with being only oiled once a year (between tenants) and so its been replaced with the cheapest stuff I can find.
Even now my current tenants are trying the "wear and tear" excuse, but as everything was brand new for when they moved in, there should be nothing that is worn out.
Get a different letting agent. I'd be suspicious that they've charged them a decent whack on the circular burns and not told you about that..
Because it really doesn't make sense 'charge £40, reduce to £10'.
It a whole new work surface, rip out and refit. That ain't £40. Someone's making money here. Or am I cynical/or reading this wrong?
Because it really doesn't make sense 'charge £40, reduce to £10'.
It a whole new work surface, rip out and refit. That ain't £40. Someone's making money here. Or am I cynical/or reading this wrong?
megaphone said:
Just fix it and get on with your life, not worth the aggro, the joys of being a landlord. Sounds like you have got off quite lightly.
Bog seats break, they are cheap and quick to fix, just do it and move on.
This. I'm a landlord and I would just fix it and move on. It's the cost of doing business and things could be so much worse than a broken toilet seat.Bog seats break, they are cheap and quick to fix, just do it and move on.
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