Tenant Damage

[Numptysod]

Tenant moved in, when moving, sofa came through french doors at back,
Tenant brother and dad, have knocked one of french doors out
Leaving massive Hole.

Whole new french doors required?

Who is responsible?

Friend who landlord feels it up to tenant to pay, as they caused damages!

is she BU?

the tenant of course, they made the damage, they should repair

I am not the tenant!

Definitely a reverse

Landlord is not entitled to a better door but is entitled to a new one if old one is smashed to bits.

Not necessarily. If the only one was brand new then sure. If not, they pay a proportion of a new equivalent door. The proportion depends on the age and expected lifespan of the door.

E.g. carpets may have an expected lifespan of 10 years. If a tenant spills paint on a 5 year old carpet so it needs to be replaced they pay half of the cost of a new carpet of the same quality.

To clear it up I would advise the landlord to go to the residential forum on Landlordzone. Their version if the MN vipers will be only too willing and able to outline all possibilities.

I can think if a couple of ways to ensure the tenant bore a healthy % of the cost, but suspect the best advice would be to only expect the insurance excess.

Insurance won't pay for this

Landlord insurance might, depends on the policy.

But there is always the option of not putting it through the deposit scheme and going to 'small claims court'. Landlordzone will probably have a few other well informed ideas which may be more appropriate or useful.