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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think the landlord should take care of this?

23 replies

lill72 · 15/05/2018 16:15

So we rent a property - newly renovated. There is wooden flooring throughout most rooms. The floor in the living/dining and kitchen area needs oiling to maintain it - something we were not made aware of when we moved in and certainly not specified in the contract. It is something v that needs to be done professionally really. They agreed to do it periodically then came and did it once on our old lease, now they are saying they won't do it - after emailing them.about 20 times about staying I am worried about the co edition of the floor. It is very dry, raw wood that has no protection on it- therefore making it susceptible to damage and scratches. I have told them to confirm that if they won't maintain it then they cannot hold us accountable for damage. No reply so far. I don't know what to do- I think it is their responsibility. I just want to protect myself from.bring charged at the end for damage. We have not done anything to it but certainly raw wood damaged more easily. What would you do?

OP posts:

ohh · 15/05/2018 16:17

Do you lease through an agent?

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 16:20

Well we got the property through a estate agent but when we renewed the lease it was through this silly maintenance company who I now deal with for everything. They are a bit on.the dodgy side - quick to blame you for things etc.

OP posts:

ohh · 15/05/2018 16:32

Poor you! A very difficult one.

I'm more inclined to say that if you want it done you have to pay for it. As you rented it like that in the first lace. Its madness because you want o look after the property, but with my fathers rented property, the tenant wanted protection on the wood and they had to pay for it.

He did mind reimburse for half of it.

Best of luck

specialsubject · 15/05/2018 16:37

any landlord who renovates a property for rental with high maintenance crap like this deserves all they get. (same as with those stupid wooden kitchen worktops)

property maintenance is the landlord's cost and problem. I'm a landlord.

write (not kiddy comms, write) a letter detailing you weren't made aware, there's nothing in the contract and you cannot be responsible for damage. Also that this surface is high wear and tear caused by walking on it.

inventory? deposit protection? how to rent? EPC? smoke alarms?

FissionChips · 15/05/2018 16:39

Surely any damaged to untreated wood would count as normal wear and tear? Landlords fault for not maintaining.
Make sure you communicate with them in writing.

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 16:52

Thanks for your replies - I agree it is a silly thing to choose! I have emailed in writing about 20 times staying my concerns - even sending them the manufacturers recommendation to oil at least once a year depending on traffic. I have sent photos also. They flat out refuse. My last email stated that the landlord must maintain his property and that if they will not maintain the floor they must confirm that we will not be held accountable table for damage. No reply. I thought I would now gather further advice and info before writing again. Evetything is in writing and I'm not a lawyer but friends are and I write for a living so can write a decent letter.

They are making me seem.like the annoying one as they just don't reply but I am simply protecting myself. I don't really care about the loom of the floor - looks a bit dry but ok. It is more about being protected.

OP posts:

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 16:53

Thanks special subject - good advice.

OP posts:

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/05/2018 16:53

I am an inventory clerk and, if I were to do your Check Out, most marks, scuffs and light indent marks would be FWT.

I would do that because that is what the arbitration schemes say, the AIIC guidelines say:

If a property has soft wood flooring the landlord has a responsibility to leave written care instructions for the tenant and also to leave sufficient furniture buffers fitted to all furniture, this will avoid damage to the flooring. The tenant should be instructed to use furniture buffers on his/her own furniture when adding it to the property.

So unless there were gouges, stains, cracks, splintered bits, stiletto heel holes you should be OK.

But, if I were you, I'd buy some buffers for your furniture and implement a soft slipper policy!

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 16:55

Fission- well you'd hope so. I just don't want this to come back to bite us - I want to know what they think now so we are covered. They just don't reply.

OP posts:

cjferg · 15/05/2018 17:15

They will do anything to get money out of you at the end.

Keep doing what you're doing, save every email, make copies of your letters.

If your deposit is held in a safe deposit scheme (I know this is law in Scotland) then you will be able to send the mediator all the correspondence and photos, etc. and they should be on your side.

You have my sympathies. Dealt with enough bastard agents/landlords to last me a lifetime and they always try and take you for a mug.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/05/2018 17:19

Surely any damaged to untreated wood would count as normal wear and tear? Landlords fault for not maintaining. Not quite. It would be more like holes in walls from door handles:

If there ARE door stops then ALL wall damage done by the door handle wold be the tenant's responsibility.

If there are NO doorstops then the blame is shared - LL for not having fitted stops and the T for not having changed their door opening habits after the first impact.

So, as OP has told the agent in no uncertain terms she is aware of an issue, it would be 'fair' for her to be assigned some of the responsibility for any further 'damage'.

It's that fine line they call "acting in a tenant like manner" which compares a tenants actions to an owners and decides if the tenant did something markedly different.

But, as special said, any LL leaving softwood floors in a rental needs their head examined! Not a good move!

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 17:19

Thanks curious - sorry what does FWT mean - something wear and tear? The floor is getting scratched a little and I'm worried the floor will start splintering or bits coming off it if not oiled. We don't wear shoes much in the house and have some rugs over much if it but other places it is just looking very dry and very open to damage. Thanks for the info. The Maintenence team did provide a list of cleaning products we needed after I asked them.after moving in - but they are all really for a professional.

OP posts:

CuriousaboutSamphire · 15/05/2018 17:21

Sorry, Fair Wear and Tear

How long have you lived there? That will make a difference...

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 17:21

Thanks cj- yes it is in a deposit scheme. I will fight them to the end. They've tried it on before with me and others in the building.

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Jonbb · 15/05/2018 17:22

I think there are people on this thread who think you take on a property and do absolutely nothing. I would not have a problem oiling the floor once a year. It is normal maintenance, like cleaning the floor and wiping down paintwork for fingermarks. Why would you not want to live in a nice home with lovely wood flooring?

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 17:22

Curious - we have lived here since 2015 and lease is at least until 2019

OP posts:

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 17:24

Jon i do love a loveky property and take care of it but I think the oiling is a bit beyond me. Think it requires a proper job. Around furniture etc. I dunno happy to do things but think this is taking the piss a bit really...

OP posts:

cjferg · 15/05/2018 18:23

Jonbb Should have been in the lease if it was expected of the tenant. At least discussed prior to moving in.

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 19:19

Cfberg- I would have thought this too. They are not now saying I need to do it myself but it is definitely making the wood more susceptible to damage.

OP posts:

Jonbb · 15/05/2018 19:46

I agree it should have been in the lease but it wasn't so why not do it yourself. We had a lounge floor needed oiling and it took about an hour and a half over three days. 5 minutes to move the furniture from one third and 25 minutes to run a rag with oil over, then the next day moving the furniture back and doing the next third. It isn't onerous and I would have thought a tenant would want their home to look nice and well cared for. It's like cleaning your carpets every year and spot cleaning when you spill something. It's just a bit of maintenance. That's all. No biggie . . .

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 20:56

Jon hmmm agree I want a nice looking house but to be honest I have a 3 and 7 year old do not sure how I am supposed to be oiling floors with them around!! I can barely keep the floor you free without having to oil the floors!!! I dunno - if it were .My place is probably pay someone to do it. But I wouldn't get high maintenance flooring in the first place. The care factor is there to have a nice house but it doesn't look bad to be honest and has rugs on some of it . It is more about protection.

OP posts:

Original poster

lill72 · 15/05/2018 20:57

Keep the floor you free that was supposed to be!

OP posts:

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 15/05/2018 21:02

I used to oil the floor in my rental property - it was standard maintenance. I don't think it was mentioned in my lease but they did leave oil when I asked them to provide some... its not something I'd have considered a job for a professional to be honest!

If it's getting worn; I'd be worried that they'll consider it more than fair wear and tear and you'll sacrifice at least part of your deposit. You could argue it; but usually photos win.

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