Giving notice on my tenancy with a social housing landlord - can they do this?

[StormyLovesOdd]

Just had the pre assessment check done as we've given notice that we're leaving and buying a home.

The house has been well looked after, all nicely decorated etc.

Our landlords have told us before we leave our tenancy we have to change the nice light fittings in the kitchen to fluorescent strip lights, there are 2 lights so this is going to cost about £60.

We also have to change all the crome light switches/plugs to white plastic ones - this will cost about £50.

Take up and dispose of the perfectly nice carpet and strip the perfectly fine and neutral wallpaper off the walls.

They are also going to charge us for missing skirtingboards behind our fitted wardrobes. These skirtingboards were not there when we moved in (20 years ago) as there has always been fitted wardrobes there.

Can they do this? I think all of this work and the recharge will end up quite expensive and we frankly can't afford it.

If leave will likely charge you a fortune for the work.
Its a shame when someone moving in would've likely appreciated the nicer fittings & having some flooring as often an extra expense people can't afford. Fair enough if its poor condition, but they could flea bomb place as standard in case any bugs.
Someone I know viewed a council property with fairly new carpets so had asked to keep but council skipped them anyway.

It is so bloody stupid when councils do this

Can't you argue these things have a normal lifespan so they should expect to replace them after 20 years?

Our council housing association make tenants strip the carpets, curtains, curtain rails, but are usually ok with wall decor and things like extra shelves or wall cupboards.

It's ridiculous. So many people moving in can't easily afford new carpets, etc.

I don't understand the reasoning? If it was some kind of health and safety thing, why then is it ok for private tenancies to use the same carpet (and often beds, sofas, etc)?

It’s ridiculous.

Ask them to provide photographic evidence of the status of the home on entry. Other than possibly having strip lighting listed on an inventory I can't image it states plastic switches etc.

It is in many ways a daft system but it is pretty normal.

I am amazed that this happens. Write to your MP, this way of thinking needs to be looked at.

I have had this conversation with my HA in the past.

The reason they want it done is because if a new tenant moves in & there are fancy light switches, doors, carpets etc... then they are required to replace with same/similar (as in not the cheap bog standard stuff they put in normally) if they get damaged or need replacing for any other reason with the new tenants who would move in & find them there.
If you don't strip them out, they will.

That's why you move into basically a shell of a house with the cheapest things possible in it.

You're crazy for giving up the tenancy. You should have rented out the other home. Residual income and an investment for your future.

The idea of social housing is not for people to live in it who also own another property they are renting out for profit.

I think they are being a bit precious over the fittings but all HA are different. If you left it as it is would you be charged? HA properties don't tend to have a deposit on that you would need returning.
Enjoy you new home you have done well to buy somewhere after so long in rented.

It shouldn’t cost £50 to change your switches over, they’re pretty easy to do yourself and you can get a pack of 5 for a tenner out of b&q.

Light switches should be easy to do yourself, watch a youtube video. But yes, this is utterly ridiculous
I agree you should write to your MP. What a waste! If you do have to do it I hope you can keep all your fixtures. You may be able to sell them on your local fb, or maybe another tenant wants to swap?

Re: the skirting boards, were there fitted wardrobes there when you moved in? Are you leaving fitted wardrobes in place?

Basically you should leave the house as you got it, pretty much. So if you've changed light fittings and switches you should expect to put it back to something similar to what you got.

If there was a fitted wardrobe, you should leave one in place. But if you got the house with a gap in the skirting boards and nothing there, then that's not your responsibility to sort.

I was told to remove things when I left my ha tenancy that were part of the house when I got it. I refused and explained why. They didn't do anything about it.

Removing carpet is standard but not wallpaper

You're crazy for giving up the tenancy. You should have rented out the other home. Residual income and an investment for your future.

Eh? Live in a social housing property whilst renting out a second home? Seriously? That is wrong on so many levels

Its standard, although stupid I'm afraid. If we were to leave our house we'd have to put everything back to the basic crap they put in and strip everything

And I'm pretty sure the council don't allow you to have a 2nd bought home, that's taking the piss and completely not the point of social housing

When I moved out of mine a few years ago the HA forced us to remove a solid oak floor from the lounge. It was in perfect condition and underneath it were awful grey council tiles! I know which one I would have preferred if I was the new tenant!

@luckystarmaking

You're crazy for giving up the tenancy. You should have rented out the other home. Residual income and an investment for your future.

Eh? How about being socially responsible and leaving a social housing property for someone who needs it?

You're crazy for giving up the tenancy. You should have rented out the other home. Residual income and an investment for your future

Are you taking the piss?

Good on you op, wish you well for your future!

This will likely be a condition of your tenancy, it is mine.

The requirement to leave the property in the condition it was given to you, works both ways as it covers those who may leave a tenancy in a worse state than they took it in.

Is the HA a green company because tossing perfectly good carpet and electrical stuff in the bin seems like something no company or HA should be doing
What’s waste. Iitterally.

Check your tenancy agreement OP - if it was written 20 years ago, you may not have these clauses in it (and therefore they can't enforce them).