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...

Toilet seats are tenants responsibility, like light bulbs.

I wouldn't have replaced it the first time, let alone the 4 consecutive times.

After the first one i would have made them pay for the new seat plus fitting.

Our loo seat has just broken and hadn't even considered expecting the landlord to replace. I agree with the others, replace this last time and future breakages are their responsibility

It's a common breakage in holiday cottages.... After 2 normal seats were broken in the first 2 weeks of letting we were recommended to get hotel quality ones! That seems to have solved the problem.

I rent, my loo seat broke I replaced it, it might have been wear and tear but it might have been me 🤷🏼‍♀️ I didn’t think to tell my landlord

Why are you paying for new toilet seats that they're breaking?

Ikea have a good solid wooden one. Do it one last time as gesture of goodwill and then it’s their job to pay and replace, and to make good when they leave. How can anyone think breaking a loo seat every other month is normal?!

I replaced the toilet seats in our rented house when we moved in, wouldn't dream of expecting the landlord to do it, especially if we broke it

I've replaced the toilet seat in my current and previous rented home. It wouldn't even occur to me to ask my landlord to do it.

Get one of those vandal-proof stainless steel seats they have in prison, that’ll stop them from sitting on the seat any longer than absolutely necessary

Even if they are implementing a 'courtesy flush' system, 5 toilet seats between two people in 5 months is ridiculous. Whatever they are doing on that toilet, they are doing it wrong. You can get books about toilet training aimed at toddlers can't you? Supply them with one of those and let them replace the loo seat themselves next time.

I'm an inventory clerk, I write check out reports will suggested liability every day... toilet seats have a fairly good lifespan, even the plastic ones.

Your tenants are repeatedly breaking your property, tell them, in writing, that having replaced the loo seat x times as a courtesy you are no longer willing to do so. Future breakages will be down to them to replace.

They are taking the piss (literally) and you are allowing them to.

I've never heard the like OP.
Tell them that you will no longer be replacing toilet seats and recommend that poo spray that you put down the loo before you start.

I agree, replace it one more time with a really sturdy seat, and tell them (in writing) that you have replaced the sest three times now, they are in good working order, and any more breakages must be repaired by the tenant, this is not wear and tear, this is misuse.

It wouldn't occur to me to ask a landlord to replace a toilet seat. Tell them you've realised that you aren't liable and they'll have to replace it themselves.

Thanks all - a unanimous AIBU and I've clearly been far too nice... I will get a super solid one installed tomorrow and say this is the last one.

I've always replaced loo seats myself.

Just out of interest,when you say when the market picks up do you mean more buyers,or higher prices.

Our landlord is very nice, but we'd certainly get a charge if we did something like that. LL has replaced the seat, once in four years though!

I feel your pain. I had to fork out £75 the first day my tenants moved in. The instructions for the cooker were on top of the job, with a note in about 50 size font on the very top saying you had to set the clock for the oven to work. They had an emergency bloke out because the oven wouldn't work. He set the clock.

Hob not job.

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.

^ This. I might have replaced once^ but that would have been it. You're being a bit soft, OP 😂

I'm just shocked that they would tell you about this courtesy flush (which I like most have never heard of!) as the reason for the broken loo seat and continue to do it and ask you to replace it. The audacity and lack oh shame haha.

Yes agree with everyone else, last strike.

We have the same problem in our house , we belive its done to one very heavy handed ( arsed) son , We have treid expensive seats and chaeper ones it makes no difference ( to those who say it must be your fault )
I am in the get them to replace it camp

I agree with others - replace it one more time (I'd be tempted to fling a plastic cheapo one on there out of spite, but that's just me) and clearly tell them that all other replacements are their responsibility .......and point out that if their brownies are that stinky, maybe a new diet and a bottle of that VIPoo stuff