UK Landlord Forum / Life

My tenants have not been using the extractor fan and cleaning up after themselves after a shower. This has caused the bath panel to crinkle and the seal to break along with turning the grouting black. The bathroom was brand new. More worryingly it caused a leak in the downstairs flat as months of condensation built up. After a very firm email to them they have shaped up and the leak is no more but the damage remains. The bathroom now looks about 5 years old.

Since they have broken the terms of the contract and are liable for the damage what happens now? They should obviously pay but do I have to wait until the end of their tenancy to get it from their deposit (18 months away) or can I make them pay now?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Please be wary of advice from a blog
Always do your own research

Check with the scheme adminstrator...
The DPS does not allow a partial drawdown.  The only way to do this is make a claim to have the deposit returned to the tenant but claim for your damages.  Then you would have to get a new deposit from the tenant and secure that (and serve the PI).

How likely is the tenant to give you another deposit?  I'd say nil but you know your tenants.

It would be easier to get them to pay for the damage or put it right themselves (on threat of deduction from the deposit) but that might make the tenant landlord relationship somewhat strained for the next 18months.

I assume you have pictures of the damage and a check in inventory...?
Make sure you claim in 18 months time. 
No point fixing it while they are in the house anyway as sooner or later they will revert back to type and ruin a newly cleaned and repaired bathroom anyway.

Best of luck