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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to want payment for fitted items left in my rental?

181 replies

Maurit · Yesterday 17:54

I just left a rental and left behind three items I had fitted: an extra loo, fitted wardrobes and 4 curtain rails. I asked the landlord to message the new tenants that I was happy to leave these provided they pay a small fee for each - much less than they cost to me. They don’t want to do that and the landlord is suggesting I just leave the items as less hassle than taking them out. AIBU in thinking that the new tenants are just joy riding on this, knowing that they’ll get access to the items for no fee? .

OP posts:
Upsetbetty · Yesterday 17:56

rule number 1 - don’t add permanent or fitted fixtures/items to a house that is not yours. Sorry.

Doctordoolittle · Yesterday 17:57

Can you remove them? If so I would just take them with you (and you will need to make good any damage left behind). It’s unusual to be able to fit things like this in a a rental house at all let alone then charge the next tenant for them.

Thesearenotthedroidsyouarelookingfor · Yesterday 17:57

Why would they pay? The main person benefitting in the long run will be the landlord. Bit silly to have paid for those sorts of things in a rented home TBH

Batties · Yesterday 17:57

Maurit · Yesterday 17:54

I just left a rental and left behind three items I had fitted: an extra loo, fitted wardrobes and 4 curtain rails. I asked the landlord to message the new tenants that I was happy to leave these provided they pay a small fee for each - much less than they cost to me. They don’t want to do that and the landlord is suggesting I just leave the items as less hassle than taking them out. AIBU in thinking that the new tenants are just joy riding on this, knowing that they’ll get access to the items for no fee? .

What would the cost of ripping out a toilet and fitted wardrobes be?

TheJoyousHiker · Yesterday 17:57

Maybe they can't afford to pay for them? If you take them out, you will need to make good any damage to the paintwork, holes from screws, etc.

outerspacepotato · Yesterday 17:58

Go get your things. As a new tenant, no way would I be paying for stuff you left behind.

Ponoka7 · Yesterday 17:59

If you take them out you'll have to fix any plastering/painting and flooring that's now uneven etc, is it worth the hassle? No they shouldn't have to pay, but if they've viewed, the landlord needs to let them know that the items aren't included.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · Yesterday 17:59

Okay. Just going to say this. Fitting an additional loo…?

Mt563 · Yesterday 17:59

Unfortunately that's not how rentals work. Don't make expensive permanent changes to a house that's not yours if you're not prepared to swallow the cost.

Whaaaatszuuup · Yesterday 18:00

The landlord could make you pay to put things back how they were.

Octavia64 · Yesterday 18:00

Or….

they don’t want them/can’f afford it,

when we bought our last house the sellers offered that we could buy the curtains for ten grand.

we said no.

Smartiepants79 · Yesterday 18:00

Well you could take the curtain poles with you but the toilet and wardrobes will be almost impossible to remove without damaging the property. New tenants can’t be made to pay for things that don’t belong to them. If anyone is paying it’s the landlord. What was the agreement with them when you put it in.?

anon2022anon · Yesterday 18:02

It's got nothing to do with new tenants what you've done to the place.
You can try to ask the landlord if they will pay for improvements to the property, however they're more within their rights to charge you what it would cost to put back to the opening inventory.

MommaMia26 · Yesterday 18:03

If you install items into a rental property then I don’t think you can expect money back from either the landlord or next tenant (unless the landlord has explicitly asked/agreed for them to be installed and stated that they’ll pay for the replacement/upgrade).

Your options are to either remove the items you installed when you move out and return the property to the same state it was when you moved in (which might involve filling holes/repainting/replacing tiles etc if the fittings you used have caused damage). Or accept that you had the benefit whilst you lived there and that was worth the money you paid.

Whaleandsnail6 · Yesterday 18:03

If you paid for them to be fitted, are you not responsible for removing them and fixing any damage to put right whats been removed if the landlord decides they don't want them in the property anymore?
They might say that if the new tenants say they don't want to pay, and the landlord doesn't want to pay

If thats the case, I'd just keep quiet. Its a spent cost anyway as you've already had the items put in place

tealandteal · Yesterday 18:05

You have two options, pay to put everything back to how it was, or leave them for free. Did you have permission to do these things?

Beautifulscribbles · Yesterday 18:05

This is nothing to do with the new tenants. It's down to the agreement between you and the landlord. Did the landlord agree to pay you for the additions to their property? Because if you wanted paying, only they can reasonably be expected to do that if pre agreed. Otherwise it's on you to leave the property as you found it - ie remove the items and make good. Your best bet is to tell the landlord that you'll be doing that unless they would like to pay. Ask them to let the new tenants know. Then the new tenants (who I expect thought these items were included..) might be unhappy, so the landlord may cough up.

Portmore · Yesterday 18:06

No they definitely shouldn't pay. You need to remove the items & return it to the condition it was when you starting renting.

Or if the landlord agrees you could leave the items behind.

The landlord could take the cost of removing the items & returning to original condition out of your deposit.

Neither the landlord or new tenant should be paying you for these.

Notmybestusername · Yesterday 18:07

Whaleandsnail6 · Yesterday 18:03

If you paid for them to be fitted, are you not responsible for removing them and fixing any damage to put right whats been removed if the landlord decides they don't want them in the property anymore?
They might say that if the new tenants say they don't want to pay, and the landlord doesn't want to pay

If thats the case, I'd just keep quiet. Its a spent cost anyway as you've already had the items put in place

Yep, sunk cost. (Or money down the loo?)

Lay low op or the landlord could ask you to return it to its previous condition if the mood so took them

SpottyPyjama · Yesterday 18:07

You couldn’t be arsed to put the property back to how you found it and you want other people to pay for that? Really?

Iloveeverycat · Yesterday 18:07

Are you happy to remove them and make good when removed. You put in a loo!

Jk987 · Yesterday 18:08

I wouldn’t be purchasing the 2nd hand toilet as part of my rental 😂

BeEagerRubyBird · Yesterday 18:08

Maybe they hate your fitted wardrobes? The seller of my current home wanted to me to pay for some fitted units, they were not my style at all, I would have kept them as a favour so he didn't have the hassle of removing them and I could swap them out later, but absolutely no way was I paying for items not to my taste. In the end he took about half of it and left the rest.

Morepositivemum · Yesterday 18:09

Sorry op but I’d see them as belonging to the house- we’ve left wardrobes, a washing machine and a dryer when we moved from different rentals. And new tenants probably won’t have the money to be paying for something they assumed was part of the house!!

Dancingdahlia · Yesterday 18:10

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · Yesterday 17:59

Okay. Just going to say this. Fitting an additional loo…?

I rented for many years and have also been a landlord… have never heard of any tenant installing an extra loo! Madness.