AIBU to think this is a bit much from my tenants?

[KittyCrackers]

I'm an accidental landlord with a flat I just can't sell, so we've put some absolutely lovely tenants in for a couple of years until the market picks up. They've been brilliant - perfect tenants!

Apart from...

They keep breaking the toilet seats. They've been there 10 months and we've had to put five new seats in already. Apparently one of the couple likes to do a "courtesy flush" while sitting on the loo and this twisting motion is snapping the seats at the screws and down the middle. We've asked them not to do this but I've just had another call that it's broken again - how many broken seats is too many? Do we start charging them for the callouts / seats (we're currently covering this as well as the new seats every time)

I don't want to make them mad as they really are lovely but it's getting a bit much now... or do we just suck it up as an expense of letting the property?

Thanks...

Buy a better seat?

Ridiculous. I would replace it one last time and tell them if it breaks again they are to replace it.

I would charge or tell them to do it themselves

You’ve told them not to twist on the seat but they clearly aren’t listening

They're breaking it. Charge them.

Then breaking something isnt your responsibility is it? It's not normal wear and tear

Yip we rent and if it was us I’d totally expect to be replacing them myself. I’d probably just replace them like for like without even informing you tbh, wtf even is a courtesy flush

5 seats in 10 months?! They are taking the piss. I would replace this one and then tell them if they break it again it is their responsibility. That is not normal wear and tear it is misuse.

As a tenant I would absolutely consider it my responsibility to repair or replace something I’d broken!

Tell them where to buy the replacement seats from and how much they cost, then let them get on with it.

Have never heard of a courtesy flush !
Definitely tell them they have to make good the damage from now on. It's hardly normal wear and tear.

I’m not sure how feasible it is in the UK (we are overseas) but our landlord has a policy that seems fair to me - anything under 100 quid is our responsibility and anything over is his. So a broken toilet seat would be on us to fix, whereas something like a plumbing or electrical issue is definitely his.

Previous accidental landlord here, and long time ex-renter. If they break it, they replace it. You are not responsible for their breakages. Have you replaced anything else for them during their tenancy? If in doubt double check your contract with them and speak to your agents.

THANK YOU for agreeing with me! DH thinks we should suck it up but I think it's taking the mickey... we have very nice loo seats on there and we should not have to replace every two months. Ridiculous!

(btw a courtesy flush is apparently when you flush mid poo, while still sitting, in order to reduce aromas. I know, I had never heard of it either until my tenants explained!)

I suspect you are replacing them with a cheap plastic seat each time. Maybe get a better one?

Although I don't courtesy flush (WTF??) I have lived in rented accommodation before today and had a broken seat. I replaced it like for like and informed my LL

I'd replace it once more on the condition that they replace future seats

What even IS a 'courtesy flush'!?!? Is it when you flush while you're sat down, before you're done? Cos I have mental images right now and they're making me feel a bit icky

Our toilet seat breaks all the time because of how close it is to the wall you tend to twist on it when you sit. Tell them they’ll need to start replacing it themselves.

I guess it depends what quality loo seat you are providing them with.
Ive just had lots of work done and bought myself a £20 loo seat, it was crap and lasted about a week before the screws fell out and that was without a courtesy flush (wtf is that). I replaced it with a £50 slow closing one which has really sturdy hinges. Replace it one more time with a decent quality seat and tell them if it breaks anymore they will have to replace it themselves. Even if they are of large bottom refreshment, five seats is a bit much!

They are taking the piss. (No pun intended)
Minor breakages due to wear and tear are their responsibility anyway, surely?
Otherwise tenants would be calling their landlords every time a lightbulb smashed or they dropped a plate.

Get a wooden toilet seat and tell them if they break that one that it’s their problem from then on.

Courtesy flush 🤢. No thanks to bog water splashing up your arse!!

I would have no objections to an occasional loo seat replacement (e.g. once per year) but every 8 weeks or so is ridiculous.

We have been supplying really nice moulded bamboo soft close ones - perhaps that's the problem, maybe we need more sturdy wooden ones rather than the thinner bamboo. Any recommendations for a good solid one?

I'd tell them it's time to start replacing it themselves.

Less awkward surely than trying to tell them how to use a loo? ie: ''not twisting'' ect.

We used to courtesy flush in our old house. Flush the poo, then wipe and flush the paper separately. One of the (posh new) loos was badly designed and solids plus paper together would occasionally refuse to disappear together. Blocked loo is no fun.

Buy them one more seat and some VIPoo and tell them this is the last look seat you provide.

Replace it with a wooden one, surely they can’t break that! Doesn’t matter what it looks like, if they wanted it kept nice they shouldn’t keep breaking them! Although I think they should be replacing what they’ve broken anyway.
Maybe keep all the receipts then take it off their security deposits when they leave for cost of damages

They’re quite cheeky aren’t they? They certainly don’t get embarrassed easily if they’re happy to share their Shitting Etiquette to their poor landlord.

And here’s me panicking that I’ve had to email our letting agent because the oil delivery company has warned us that the oil tank is in really bad condition and should be replaced.

Surely it’s common sense if you break something fairly minor during your tenancy you replace it?

I rent and have always replaced loo seats myself! They are royally taking the piss I would tell them that you'll replace this last one and then it's up to them. Courtesy flush wtf they are nuts!