To think this property owner had a cheek?

[EngineeringExcellence]

We're just back from a lovely weekend break with extended family.

We rented a house costing £1300 for the 3 nights (10 of us) It was lovely and we had all mod cons etc.

At night i have a bedroom window open, the curtain blew in the breeze (not the great storm!) and knocked a trinket box off the windowsil. It was a heart shaped mirrored box marked made China.

Anyway owner has just called asking for cash to replace it.

AIBU to think there was/should be enough profit there to cover minor damages, which are to be expected, things left in windowsills are always at risk, it was a bit of cheap tatt and it's highly unlikely that she would bother replacing it?

[MelanieCheeks]

My first question when facing any situation like this is - what would it be like if everyone did that?

[Icelollycraving]

Perhaps she is pissed off if you didn't tell her?

[YouTheCat]

Tbh if I had broken something I would have mentioned it before leaving and offered money, even if it was cheap tat.

[toastandmarmiterocks]

To be fair you broke something so should at least offer to pay for damages.

[WhoNickedMyName]

YABU.

Agree with Melanie.

You were responsible for the breakage. Pay up.

[Mckayz]

You broke something. Of course you need to pay to replace it. You have the cheek in this story.

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

I don't think it's cheeky at all, you damaged it you should replace it. Buy one similar and post it to her if you don't want to give her cash.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

We have had the occasional breakage when staying in a holiday cottage (and the time when ds1 ate a cork table mat) - we have always owned up, and always been told not to worry about it.

Did you tell her about the breakage? If you did, then I agree, she is being rather petty.

[Leopoldina]

yes you are being unreasonable. Suggest you read the terms of your hire which will almost certainly say that you are responsible for breakages. Doesn't make a difference whether it's the dishwasher or the trinket box.

[YouStayClassySanDiego]

I would have mentioned it.

Cheap tat or not, it's broken.

[Dobbiesmum]

YABU, you should have owned up and offered something at the time. Btw, you sound incredibly snobby talking about somebody else's belongings like that.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Theres usually paperwork or notices about breakages...I.e they must be paid for or covered by deposit etc etc.

Think it was pretty rude of you not to tell them and offer to pay for it tbh.

[trixymalixy]

YABU, you broke it, you should pay for it.

[EngineeringExcellence]

Did what Melanine? Caused max £5 damage when paying rent of £1300? Don't think it would make the world a dreadful place

I did tell her/left a note explaining what happened

[AllOutOfIdeas]

If you thought it was an accident waiting to happen, why didn't you move it when opening the window?

Did you mention the breakage when handing back the keys?

[MirandaGoshawk]

Since you owned up, I think she was BU.

If it was precious to her she shouldn't have had it in a holiday let. Breaking it comes under the heading of "these things happen" & she should've absorbed the cost/ignored it.

[BlueStones]

£1300?! Were you renting Kensington Palace?

I dunno, I suppose technically she has the right to ask for a replacement, but for that extortionate amount of cash I would think any decent property owner would chalk it up as one of those inevitable accidents. It's not like you damaged the furnishings.

[Dobbiesmum]

You should have left a fiver if that's all you thought it was worth, ornaments in rental holiday accommodation are there to make a place seem more homely, not to be broken and sneered at. Sorry but your tone is really annoying. Who are you to call another persons belonging tat?

[cardibach]

I broke one of those moulded glass trinket trays in a very similar way in a rented cottage once. I owned up, offered to replace it and fully expected to do so. The owners kindly let me off. I felt they were being lovely. I wouldn't expect them to absorb breakages even in an expensive place (although that does sound pricey for 10 - the one opposite me is about that and sleeps 20...).

[FreckledLeopard]

YANBU. I let out a holiday cottage. If someone breaks something (a glass, a plate the entire plumbing system) then I accept it as part and parcel of letting the place. Unless it's malicious damage, I can't imagine asking someone to pay for repairs.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Mmm, the OP didn't break it though did she? It was broken as the cottage owner had placed it in a position where the curtains could knock it off. The OP is saying she didn't knock it off, the curtains did it.

To me that makes a difference and think YANBU.

[CoffeeTea103]

Yabu, off course you need to replace it

[50shadesofmeh]

You broke the item so you should pay for it.

[Guiltismymaster]

I personally would not have taken your money if you'd offered.
Maybe she was annoyed that you didn't offer to replace it as a common courtesy.

As it is,

• It's not for you to say whether their belongings are 'tatt' or not.
• Regardless of how much you think it cost, you should offer to pay

[YesterdayI]

You should have offered to pay and she should have declined

It is a bit penny pinching to ask for the money to replace the broken box but, I suppose, it's within her rights.

I suspect she is going to ask for more than a fiver.