Landlord's divan base - who should dispose of it?

[Elizabella]

I rent a partially furnished property which included a crappy old divan base which is goodness knows how old! My landlord has let other tenants remove furniture and it has either been disposed of by the landlord or let in the garden (studio flats with communal garden). They have allowed me to move a chair out to the hallway and took away a broken down old chest of drawers. I was recently given a lovely Laura Ashley metal bedstead and so I asked the landlord if they could leave the mattress and take away the divan base to store as they have a large garage.

My landlord wrote back telling me to dispose of it as it would not be reusable and to contact the council. I looked at the council website and they charge £20 to collect up to 5 bulky items. I relayed this to the landlord and said are you happy if I book this then deduct the £20 from the rent because then you can get rid of the broken down furniture in the garden too? No response.

I sent another text saying are you sure you don't want to take the divan to store in the garage. No response.

My questions are whose responsibility is the furniture? It was on an inventory when I moved in but now I have a text saying get rid so this shouldn't affect my deposit right? Also, legally I don't want to give the landlord any comeback so am I covered by the text? If she doesn't want to collect and hasn't given any other instructions other than get rid then I should do so right? It is an ancient, stained, uncomfortable thing that I will photograph before I do anything (yes, I do feel that I have to take those steps to cover myself based on prior experience with the landlord). The only alternative is to leave it in the back garden where the other bits of old furniture go to die.

Advice much appreciated x

[Sunnyshores]

In law, you have to keep the items as per in the inventory. So as long as the inventory is amended, or you have undisputable landlord permission, to dispose of the item then you can dispose. As for who should pay, personally Id refund you the £20, but as its in your interests to get rid of it, Id just get it done.

[NoSquirrels]

If you have written permission via text to dispose of the divan, do so.

In your position I’d just pay the £20, get rid of all the crap you can, and forget about charging it back to them.

[SavoyCabbage]

I think you should pay as it's you who wants to get rid of it.

Are you going to get the inventory amended to show there isn't a divan base there now?

[PotteringAlong]

You want rid, you pay

[BruceAndNosh]

For £20 I pay the council to take it plus 4 other items. I'm sure other residents don't like the communal garden being used as a dump

[Zommu]

I would try also listing it on the local Facebook groups, marketplace and places like Freecycle. If you have been using it till now then clearly it can be used by someone else.
If that doesn't work, I would pay the 20£ to the council and get it picked and the other furniture you have dumped in the communal garden. I would be happy that the landlord is allowing it to be disposed off actually. Since he could just say that since it's part of the inventory, it needs to be there. And you wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
I wouldn't make a fuss about the 20£, since he can always change his mind.

[Saz12]

A lot of divan bases are actually just wooden frame with fabric over, and casters.
If yours feels very light, then its likely to be that type, so you could just rip it apart and dispose of the bits in normal rubbish bin.

[Houseplantmad]

Just pay the £20 and keep a record of your conversation.

[Time40]

A lot of divan bases are actually just wooden frame with fabric over, and casters.
If yours feels very light, then its likely to be that type, so you could just rip it apart and dispose of the bits in normal rubbish bin

Umm ... yeah. After spending hours sawing the bits up so they will fit in, and then putting the bits in one at a time so it leaves some room for the actual household rubbish. So this would take .... oh, a few months should do it. Easy!

[BMW6]

Good Lord, just pay the £20!

[Viviennemary]

I think in this case you should pay. As you wanted to replace it with your own one.

[ToastyCrumpet]

Just to say, that is very cheap for council bulky waste removal.