Landlord & bed

[pedropony76]

Some may recognise this situation as I posted about it only a few weeks ago. I’m mainly posting for traffic and I’d like some more advice on what to do here. Of course I’m happy to be told whether I’m BU or not!

Moved into a furnished property with my 3 month old DD last year. The bed has always been SUPER noisy and squeaky. I tried to get on with it as the Landlord stated that he didn’t want to remove the bed and asked if I could give it a try first and see how I got on.

Fast forward to now, I’ve had another baby and all three of us are in the same bedroom. Now I know some beds have the occasional squeaks but this bed is so squeaky and creaky that I literally wake up both kids by just sitting on the bed alone. That’s how noisy the bed is. Because of this, I’ve had to sleep on the sofa and have my 9 week old sleep in his moses basket in the front room with me.

I’ve sent an email to the estate agents a few weeks ago and asked if the LL could get rid of this bed so I can bring my old bed which is at my mum’s house. I was told that the LL wasn’t in a financial position to dispose of the bed or replace it. However he was happy to come to the flat to make the necessary adjustments to stop the noise. I said that I didn’t think the noise can be fixed (the bed is really old and it’s just on it’s last legs hence the creaking of it) but I’m happy for the LL to come round and try to fix it. I also sent an audio of the bed when I lay in it and get back up so he knows what state it’s in. The estate agents said they’d get back to me with the LL’s availability.

I heard nothing back to emailed today chasing it up. Would you believe they got back to me and said ‘unfortunately the LL is unable to come down to London as it’s a huge journey’ (he’s the one that offered this solution in the first place!!!!). ‘He’s still under the impression that the bed can be fixed, if you wish to swap it over whilst you’re in the property then go ahead if the current bed can be stored until you move out and then reinstated.’

So there’s a bed that needs to be fixed. The LL won’t come and fix it nor will he pay for someone to fix the bed. He won’t let me bring my own bed unless I keep the bed there when I leave (the bed also has to be a like for like price for what he paid). AIBU in thinking what the actual fuck!

I sent him an email saying I’d appreciate if he could stick to his word and try to come round and fix the bed and if not, I’ll have to call Citizens Advice as I honestly can’t live like this. I pay my rent on time, I’m a good tenant and genuinely love the flat and the area I live in. Even if the LL can’t make it down to London, he’s acknowledged the bed needs fixing but won’t do anything about it. He could have been decent and said ‘do you know what, seeing as I can’t get it fixed right now. Bring your own bed and I’ll replace the bed once you leave.’ He could get a £150 bed from FB marketplace if that was the case!!

Sorry I’m just frustrated but would like to hear people’s thoughts and any advice you have

I think I temper you saying the council placed you in this flat? Can you go to them and ask about a replacement bed?
our local council has furniture for tenants or can put you in touch with charities that provide furniture for tenants on low incomes so could be free if not a low price. They might help with the disposal of the old own as well. That way you are replacing it and as you haven’t paid or paid minimal can leave when you move out.

I understand if you have just had a baby and have a young child that finances might be that you don’t want to have to buy a new bed or can’t buy a new bed so look for alternatives that are of little cost to you.

We have a washing machine provided by the landlord. It stinks awfully but does clean the clothes. Just really mildewed from the last tenants
Our plan is (if we can get a new one through the front door) buy a better machine and then if we ever move out (fingers crossed we are here for good) take our nice none mildewed washing machine with us and replace with something from gumtree/Friday ads.
We don't have a signed inventory though, which gives us slightly more leeway.

Do you know what @CourtneeLuv I think I’m going to do just that.

So guys, you think I should dispose of his bed. Buy my own which I can take me when I leave the flat. And find one on FB marketplace or even just buy a cheap 150 bed to leave behind?

Are you guys sure that isn’t being too cheeky as the Landlord has specifically asked for the bed that is bought to be a like for like price to the one he paid for? He even asked the estate agents for me to send a link so he can see the price of the bed that is at my mum’s to make sure it’s as expensive as what he paid! So not only does he want a bed, he wants me to replace his bed with an expensive one too. Is it cheeky if I just get a free one from FB or a cheap double bed instead of a super expensive king size bed?

We don't have a signed inventory though, which gives us slightly more leeway.

I don’t have one either! I also didn’t pay a deposit as I was placed here by the council’s homelessness scheme so it’s not as if he can bill me for getting a cheaper bed right?

Nope, just stop worrying about it all right now. When you come to leave, you might be in a better situation, he might not care about the bed. Just get rid of the ridiculous bed, get your own bed in there and get back in your bedroom so you can sleep peacefully with your kids.

He's being a cheeky fucker. The bed there is not new, it's endured wear & tear, and isn't even fit for purpose. He gets like for like as it is now, not when he paid for it 20 years ago.

I’d be tempted for it to ‘break’…

”oh no LL, the bed is now broken and I’ve been saying it’s on its last legs for ages…”

Landlords like this make me so cross.

Thank you. I don’t know why I’m stressing out about it so much, I just don’t want to cause any problems. I’ll listen to the advice on here and get myself a new bed so I can be back with my babies. Thank you:)

Exactly this! The bed right now is worth fuck all

That’s not even a bad idea at this point!

He’s such a joke he’ll tell me I need to replace it because he isn’t in the ‘financial position’ to do so. So ridiculous

You are allowed to get rid of stuff as long as you replace it with a usable replacement

Do not throw out his bed. That is theft.
The comparison to the washing machine doesn't work as the bed still functions, it's just noisy.
However, I bent over backwards for my tenants - they wanted half the furniture removed which I did ( I live 70 miles away and hired a van and a guy to help move the furniture and I have to pay to store it). They wanted the wallpaper removed or painted and I did. I don't understand all these things other landlords get away with.
Tell the agents he has seven days to repair the bed or remove it or you are going to escalate it. I don't think the law is on your side but there's probably something about the furniture being 'fit for purpose'. Nag the agents - they will nag the a landlord to get you off their backs.

Break one of the joints, call and say that it's collapsed while you and kids were sleeping. Take photos. Chuck it out and replace. There's absolutely no way the deposit scheme would allow him to take money out of your deposit to replace a broken bed once you provide all the emails, sound recording and photo.
He's being an arse so you've got to play him at his own game.

The current bed is not worth anything as who would buy a bed that's too noisy to sleep in? How old do you think it is? Unless it's an antique or made of solid hardwood or something, I would just get rid and worry about it later. They can only charge you the amount the bed is actually worth now - not the cost of buying the same bed new. So keep careful evidence of the state it's in. If you don't have a deposit then I don't see how they'd get the money back from you anyway.

@easyday maybe read the full thread and you’ll see he’s confirmed that I can dispose of the bed as long as I replace it. So it’ll have to stay in the property even once I leave

It’s good to know about the bed being worth the current state that it’s in now and it’s not based on when it was bought. It sounds as if the bed is 10-15 years old. You genuinely couldn’t sell that frame for more than £100 (IF THAT)

See if you can find a similar frame in the usual furniture shops. Ask the landlord how old the bed is - given his responses so far he will likely respond. Take LOTS of photos / videos of the bed it's age, noise etc AND THEN CHUCK IT OUT.

OR alternatively email the landlord asking if his insurance covers you/your kids if you get injured using this bed as you have reported it not fit for purpose to him several times now.
Tell him that you are very concerned for your and your kids safety and therefore if he has not had it repaired within 7 days either doing it himself or by a tradesperson through the agent you will be ordering a new bed and he or the agent will need to arrange disposal of the old bed within 7 days of the new one arriving.

Tbh if you have no inventory to say it was there then he doesn't have a leg to stand on if it is not there after the tenancy anyway.

Have you tried WD40? We used to have a hinge that was so creaky that it would wake everyone up.

One squirt and hey presto.

Sounds like he’s hoping for a new bed at your expense.

There are landlords out there who, at the end of a long tenancy, will go round the house pointing out every little thing (minor carpet stains and scuffs) and present you with a long list so they can keep your deposit to redecorate at your expense (been there). Typical bloody landlord!!!

Break it OP. Just one joint. He shouldn't be a landlord if he can't afford to keep the property and furnishings in decent condition.

Someone mentioned WD40 on the previous thread and I completely forgot to try it!! I have a can in the cupboard so will definitely whip it out and try it tomorrow even tho I won’t hold my breath.

Also, exactly that. There’s no signed inventory so that’s his own fault. He definitely is trying to get a free bed out of me and I don’t understand why you’d be a landlord if you’re not able to cover the costs of things for a rainy day. The fact that he’s saying he’s not in a financial position to drive down to London is really taking the biscuit.

A lot of good suggestions here that I’ll be doing. Thank you all

I'm a landlady and I say break the bed and say 'the bed collapsed when I got in it; no need to replace it, I'll use my own bed which I'll take with me when I leave'. Seriously, you don't need that shit. I think you can get the council to come by and collect large household waste items.

I've also been a tenant and I did replace both beds in our house as they were crap and one did collapse.

Can someone give me tips on how to break the bed which won’t look so obvious please?😂

Can’t you just jump up and down on it ? X

Why should she have to leave her bed there when she leaves? And what do you mean in your last paragraph that she can get a 'free one' a free bed? From where?