The Letting Centre

Hi

I'm new to the board, so if this is in the wrong place then I'm sorry.

Firstly we moved into a property in September 2002, which had no inventary as it was let only from the estate agents and any repairs had to be reported to the landlord.

On moving in we made a note of the state of the property as our own inventary.

Broken fridge door
Washing machine door rubber smelly and mouldy
Spin line broken
Back bedroom wall damaged under window due to damp
Lounge carpet burn't by iron in archway
Front bedroom carpet burn't by iron near radiator.
Front bedroom ropes cut on sash windows - don't open

Landlord advised property let as seen when we forwarded this list to him.

We moved out 14th January 2007, although rent paid until 31st January.  Strong winds pulled down part of back wall upstairs above the bathroom window.   BIG hole in outside wall.  (We had been offered a council property hence the move)

During our stay we have had a week WITHOUT heating and hot water in January with a child under 5.

Windows fully boarded up in both rooms upstairs, making no rear exit from bedroom and bathroom.  Again for a week as windows had been made wrong size.  Only finding out when old ones removed.

Kitchen ceiling failing down above door, chunks of plaster falling.

Landlord is tying to charge us following:-

Washer                          £205  He said not working/ was not new when we moved in.
Carpets                          £605  He claims dirty
Decoration                      £465
SHower                           £100  estimated
Doors                              £100 estimated (for stripping as we vanished due to splintering)
Tenancy until new tenants £150

Total  £950  Offered us £50 from our £375 deposit.

What I need to know is how much of this can be put down to wear and tear??   His fridge freezer brokedown and we had to replace it ourselves with our own.  We cleaned carpets every 6 months have receipts to prove.

Can anyone advise??  I have been told by various people that property was unsafe due to the wall damage alone and I should be claiming back 2 weeks rent.

I'd be grateful for advise.

Sounds totally unreasonable.   The owner must allow fair ware and tear after 6 and half years.

The broken appliances are his responsibility, decoration would be required after that sort of time, you have proof of cleaning carpets. - how old are the carpets? door stripping - arguable but doesnt sound unreasonable what you did.

I would write and ask for the full deposit back within 14 days or else start a county court summons.

good luck

i run a inventory company and i agree with the last comments... he hasnt a leg to stand on...good luck....we all know why the TDS was introduced now dont we,,,,,, for pratts like him....lol