UK Landlord Forum / Life

Tenant has left! Apparently according to the check out report damage done to decor is more than 'wear & tear'. Can I get a decorator in to rectify then charge tenant? Would I then be better to get a new check in report when next set of tenants move in? Thanks

You can get a Decorator in and then attempt to recharge the ex-Tenant... but it's always better if you do that via agreement, you can't really expect to get anywhere by unilaterally trying to impose deductions, unless the ex-Tenant is very green and / or meek. If the Deposit was protected properly, then the ex-Tenant can open a dispute if you're not reasonable. Hopefully the ex-Tenant agrees and everyone is happy. The problem with "reasonable wear-and-tear" is that it is effectively a subjective measure... and depends upon time too. If the tenancy was 6 months and the walls are in obvious need of repainting that's a totally different situation to if the tenancy ran for 6 years (same wall, same state... but time plays a part).

Yes, a new Check-In is done at the start of a tenancy. You can't re-use documents from before (because weeks, months might have passed).

Thanks for your reply. Tenant would not agree. Quite frankly flat is in a state. Okay I think I can get nsvk full cleaning costs & that's all. Tenant has broken his contract anyway by leaving country without sorting cleaning, as per his contract.!