End of tenancy

[cindertoffees]

Unsure what to do here, can anyone advise please?
End of tenancy is tomorrow, and there are still bits of old furniture at the property that I am/was planning on going to the tip via a local man and van service.
Obviously they're not working at the moment and tips are closed.
Do I inform landlord that he can have keys as planned but will need to dispose himself or keep keys and wait for lockdown to be lifted so I can get rid myself?
Letting agent no help whatsoever, they've said if I'm not out I'll be liable for extra rent, I've just been made redundant so this wouldn't be good at all.
Not sure what to do?

Is your deposit protected with one of the schemes? If it isn't, your landlord could have to pay up to 3 times the deposit back to you. If it is in a scheme, it isn't up to the landlord or letting agent what they deduct, the deposit scheme will adjudicate what is fair if you raise a complaint.

After 10 years, unless the property has been redecorated by the landlord regularly, it would be expected that the property needs repainting so they can't charge you for that. The same with carpets and shed, if they are 10 years old, they are unlikely to be able charge you anything as wear and tear is expected or it will be a fraction of the cost depending on the life expectancy of the item eg if the carpet was 5 years old, you have trashed it and they deem that a carpet should last 10 years, they could charge you 50% of the cost.

If you leave them, the maximum the landlord can charge is the actual cost of removing them, so the same it would cost you.

Under the current circumstances, particularly as they letting agents are difficult and the landlord is selling, I would get the 3 quotes for removal and leave the items there. The deposit scheme would only let them deduct a fair amount for removal, the quotes will be proof of a fair price. Don't agree to any deductions until you have checked your rights.

If you return the keys, they can't charge you rent just because you left a chair behind, only the cost of removing it.

I wouldn't offer up your deposit, whilst the agents may be unscrupulous, the landlord might not be. By offering the deposit instead of waiting to see what is said, you have no chance of getting it back.

Can you talk to your landlord directly? I hope they would understand in these circumstances. I let a house but not via a agent. After ten years I think unless they had purposely damaged the fabric of the house or left it filthy then I would be returning the full deposit.

I guess it depends if someone else is immediately moving in and how much furniture there is left.

I had tenants purposefully leave 3 months of bin bags of rubbish in the back garden as they was upset I evicted them after two months of not paying the rent. So unless your purposefully being a arsehole I would be understandably.

However its bonus cash to a letting agent. But they cant go against the landlord

Put them on the pavement. Take what's left after a day or so with you. Anything put on pavement where I live is gone in an hour as lots of renters & low income families. I've put out kettle, iron, side table & rugs. I've also picked up & resprayed some cute kids wooden storage crates.

Thanks @Slith, will take a read of that. Always happy to learn something new.

@Slith, well I never! I stand corrected.

Technically you can be charged by the day for not returning the keys, and charged for removal of stuff. Talk to your landlord and see what he says, do your best to have a plan to remove the items, Try to give back the keys on the day or the agent may charge you unless the landlord has asked them not to. I am a landlord and much prefer tenants to talk to me directly and regularly make allowances for difficult situations

Once you return the keys you have vacated the property

Contact your landlord. Don't tell them what they should be happy to deal with or not, it's up to them to decide what they seem ok and what not.

Explain your situation, that you had made arrangements to remove the items, but that they are not available any longer. Ask them what would be the best remedy in this situation, ie. move them all in one room, leave them in the garden, come back when lockdown is over or let them dispose of the things.

You will not be expected to be charged for painting or carpet after 10 years. Things missing, yes, possibly. The shed, depends on how old it was, why it got distroyed. Did you inform the agency when it fell apart?