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Original poster

Would you own up to damage caused in cottage you rented?

19 replies

SecondhandRose · 16/10/2006 09:48

I do self catering, our guests left early yesterday without saying goodbye (the first people ever to just disappear). When I went in to the cottage I found a coaster on the desk and around and under the coaster a spilt drink (Coke I think due to the empty cans) had burned all the way through the polish into the wood. It looks awful and the more I tried to clean it up the worse it looked as more and more polish was stripped.

The area is about 6" square and I presume the whole of the desk will have to be re-polished.

The question is if approached would you offer to pay up for it or if a bill was sent to you with a photograph would you pay for it? What would you do if it was you and I got in contact about it?

I am cross more than anything that they just ran off. If they'd come and said they were really sorry and didn't realise blah, blah I wouldn't have minded.

OP posts:

misdee · 16/10/2006 09:49

i'd bill them.

BettyBatShapedSpaghetti · 16/10/2006 09:52

You've got nothing to lose by billing them but not sure if they'd pay as, after all, they did just disappear leaving it and not saying goodbye/thank-you etc. They may deny all knowledge.

When we rented a gite if France years ago I accidentally broke a huge coffee cup but managed to find an identical replacement. If I hadn't have found another one I would have definately confessed and offered to pay for breakage.

GRUMPYGHOUL · 16/10/2006 09:53

If you have terms & conditions and they state you will charge for damage I would but my experience of the great public at large at the moment is they are unlikely to pay.

DS broke some crockery in a caravan once and I told the owners when they left as their Ts & Cs said "all breakages must be paid for" they were lovely and said "dont bother" Obviously not as expensive as this though. We had such a lovely holiday and the people were so nice I would have hated to leave without owning up, it would have meant we could never go back.

hulababy · 16/10/2006 09:56

I would bill them. Presumably you have something in your terms regarding damage to property.

ks · 16/10/2006 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

GhoulsToo · 16/10/2006 09:58

Don't you have a damage deposit?
We used to charge £50 returnable damage deposit. We only had to use it once.

Original poster

SecondhandRose · 16/10/2006 10:02

No, never asked for a damage deposit. We've never had any problem before apart from glasses/teapots/cups being broken but you expect that. No, there was no attempt to clear it up and I think if it was cleared up then it wouldn't have burned into the wood.

OP posts:

GhoulsToo · 16/10/2006 10:11

I think you should start asking!

As I said we only had to use it once. We asked for a cheque and returned to sender once we had made sure there were not breakages for damage. Bit late for this occasion but you can see why it's a good idea!

GhoulsToo · 16/10/2006 10:12

people don't mind btw - also we never banked that cheque, just held it as security

NotQuiteCockney · 16/10/2006 10:14

The only hassle with asking for a cheque for deposit is, how do people from overseas etc produce a local cheque?

This always causes trouble for us, when we stay in flats etc in Canada - I have to "borrow" a cheque from a friend or family, which is a bit of a hassle.

GhoulsToo · 16/10/2006 10:16

yeah, have to admit that is a hassle - we only had one or two visitors from abroad and usually let them off!

I don't know if you could do it through Paypal?

Original poster

SecondhandRose · 16/10/2006 10:25

I have taken a photo of it and printed it off, it looks pretty bad. I have also written them a letter telling them about the damage, attached the photo and told them it will cost around £80 to put right. I haven't directly asked for the money but asked them to get in contact.

What do you think?

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NotQuiteCockney · 16/10/2006 10:34

That sounds perfectly reasonable, SecondhandRose. As others have said, they may not pay up, but it's not unreasonable of you to ask!

You can do it through Paypal, but if the payment isn't yet accepted the sender can withdraw it at any time (i.e. when they do the damage). And if it is accepted, the recipient loses a few % of it, making giving it back somewhat expensive.

Marina · 16/10/2006 10:37

I think that sounds reasonable.
We would always confess I think. Could not live with my conscience otherwise

sunnydelight · 16/10/2006 14:19

If you cause damage in a rental you pay for it, simple. It's such a shame that trusting people often backfires but I think you need a security deposit in future. We broke a caffetiere type coffee pot when we rented a shouse in France last Easter - I drove 20 miles away to the nearest large town for a replacement but couldn't get one. In the end I sent a cheque to the English owners as soon as we got back to cover the cost of a replacement with a letter apologising for any inconvenience caused. It's basic good manners if nothing else!

PandaG · 16/10/2006 14:27

I would confess - is in my nature. We managed to mark a pillowcase this year, and friend washed it with sheet (child wet the bed) the pillowcase ran and stained the sheet, we rewashed both and left a note explaining what had happened - case still slightly marked and sheet slightly discolored, but we were not charged anything.

Think asking for the renters to cough up is completely reasonable.

QueenEvil · 16/10/2006 14:27

Yes if you cause damage then you should pay for it.

Are you absolutely positive that the damage was caused by them? Unfortunately I have recent experience of being blamed by the owner of a B&B we stayed at for damage I know we didn't cause as both me and dh noticed it on the first day of our stay. More unfortunate that the owner in question was a fellow mumsnetter. We had a lovely holiday, arrved back home and I sat down to e-mail my thanks to her and her family. She had already sent an e-mail with a photo attached saying we had vandalised her wallpaper!

If you are absolutely certain, thn i would send the letter you have drafted - very reasonable imo.

scotlou · 16/10/2006 14:36

When we rent in US they always ask for a security deposit - USD 200 is standard! I pay with bankers draft or via SWIFT direct into their bank account.

Original poster

SecondhandRose · 17/10/2006 20:19

Yes, I know for sure they caused the damage, they also left all their Coke cans behind as evidence too. They should have received the letter and photo this morning but I haven't heard anything.

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