Talk to me about the condition of student houses

[blueskypink]

DS moved some of his stuff into a student house yesterday ready for 2nd year. As I was in the area I went to have a look....

He was clearly excited and pleased and I had to try really hard to keep a smile, or at least a neutral expression on my face. It's not overly dirty, although skirting boards and corners looked grubby. But it's so shabby! Desperately in need of a lick of paint (letting agents' attitude apparently is 'feel free'). Carpets are threadbare and look in need of a good clean. Furniture is ancient - I had to steel myself to sit on a sofa which has holes in it and stuffing coming out. His 'bed' is an ancient divan base (no legs) and a knackered mattress dumped on top. His desk and wardrobe look like a few bits of plywood tacked together.

The lease (all signed up) is for 12 months so I don't know when they expected to do any cleaning or maintenance.

I'm wondering if I should ring the letting agency and ask if they will replace the beds and hint at the need for some general maintenance work. But I'm worried about causing any problems. I know ds and his housemates are in discussion with the agency over a new oven and one or two other things, and I don't want to embarrass ds by being the one with an interfering mum. But on the other hand we're paying his rent (nearly £400 pcm) and it infuriates me to think they can get away with this!

Does this sound typical of student houses?

As the parent of a student just finished second year, and renting a new place as part of placement year, my advise is photograph everything and send in emails about all items that are broken, stained, dirty etc. Even if they don't get answered, you have the evidence that you sent them.

He did this, the only things they didn't photograph was the base of mattresses, as never turned over, and guess what, the agents are wanting to retain half of deposit for new mattresses on basis of stained bottom.

Interestingly the inventory included photos of mattress tops, showing stains, but not bottoms, so I would think the agents would be hard pressed to argue that the bottoms were unstained and pristine a year ago, either to the deposit scheme resolution people or a court of law!!

Mind you, they are also trying to claim for oven clean, despite my DS sending in a photo of the filthiest oven on this planet a year ago and a pristine oven when they moved out. The words "trying it on" come to mind. Maybe they think some students wont fight them, but DS and his housemates certainly will. The lead tenant is a slightly older girl, and not the sort to be messed with at all. Also has enough money to take it all the way to court, as do we.

DS will be taking more photos of his new place this week, including both sides of mattress. He is one of 4 in a 5 bed house, the mattress in the spare room was disgusting when we moved him in 3 weeks ago, so again, I have told him to photograph that, and go through inventory in detail with other 3 ( all placement students like him!!), checking what damage or stains are noted and making agent aware of anything missed eg mattresses, along with photos.

Sophiesdog. You wont need to go to court. If tenants decide to fight and are reasonably organised they will find they hold most if the cards. Just check with the people who hold the deposit (they should have been given a deposit certificate) and follow processes and deadlines.

Tell the agent you plan to dispute his deductions. The onus is on him to evidence and prove everything. For example receipts for the mattress. If he cant show that the mattress was clean, and that he has allowed for depreciation, he probably wont be allowed it. More importantly he will need to spend a day of so putting it all together. My guess is that he is trying it on, and will cave in once he sees that thd tenants mean business.

Good luck.