Damaged kitchen worktop - any landlords on here?

[Gson]

Hi!

We have recently taken over the lease of a property (around 3 weeks ago).

When the landlady ‘welcomed’ us, one of the first things she pointed was how to care for the kitchen work tops. They are polished stone and black so every scratch shows. She told us not to use anything abrasive on them. (Note here that the worktop was already quite scratched from the previous tenants and she made a dig about it..).

Fast forward three weeks later and we have HUGE long scratches on the worktop. At first I couldn’t work out why and then realised it was a tiny bit of dried food on the bottom of the wooden chopping board making scratches I was also filling the dishwasher the other day and dragged a plate across the worktop and it’s left a long scratch (lesson learnt - I won’t do that again!).

We told the landlady right away what happened and she said ‘don’t worry about it, you have to live’ but I know that she’s quite picky and I really don’t want her to end up deducting money from our deposit when we leave.

I asked her if there is anything we can do to fix the scratches, or buy any products to protect the worktop and she showed me a polish, which I have gone onto purchase and use (it was £20).

We spun the chopping board around tonight whilst cooking and it’s made a huge ‘U’ shaped mark from a flake of salt that got stuck under...at this point, I’m stressed out and frightened to use the kitchen. I know this is the landlady’s house but as a worktop in a rented property, I can’t see this being practical!

Any suggestions or landlords on here know what steps I could take next? we are here for 24 months and I am frightened to even use the kitchen. We aren’t heavy handed and are very careful (I don’t want to look at scratches either).

Thank!

@HoppingPavlova

Maybe putting some cheap towels down as the new work surface and everything goes on that, new one each day? I used to keep old bath and beach towels for this purpose, not because if anything wrong with kitchen tops, just was easier for me to whip off each day and get new one rather than clean benches. DH trained me out of it as it used to make his brain explode but I’d do it again tomorrow if living by myself.

This is so strange. Your kitchen worktops covered in old bath sheets rather than just wiping the surfaces? That creates so much laundry and would just look really weird.

I have to say, although the towel idea is great for stopping the scratches...I don’t have the capacity to be washing so many towels daily (small apartment, no tumble etc).

I’m going to email the landlady shortly and explain that we have noticed further scratches and marks from normal use (give the salt example) so we have ordered some large glass protectors and does she recommend anything else? Hopefully this is all good evidence should we need it.

I would just buy some laminate sheets/large cutting blocks. Simply cover it up. Put everything on them. It’s clearly not fit for purpose. As for salt scratching it?? Words fail me. It must be a finish on the surface and not the solid stone that’s marking. Is this a new kitchen?

I was imagining something like this. Not sure if it's what you ordered, but you just cut it to size, put it on and it will protect the countertops. It's a bit naff but I put it on the living room table as we have a nice wooden table and my kids never use coasters.

www.amazon.co.uk/Anladia-Plastic-Wipeable-Waterproof-Protector/dp/B077FPH4R2/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Table+Cover+Roll&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1613388754&sr=8-7

Jeez... The OP should not have to be buying and washing towels to cover the worktop so they can use it. It's their home that they should be able to use in a normal way, not having to go to extreme lengths just so they can use their kitchen. It is not fit for purpose and should be dealt with rather than spending a fortune so they don't damage what is clearly an inappropriate material for a rental property.

Is your agreement with the landlord a formal one (I ask because you talk able emailing her, so I assume no letting agents involved?) is your deposit held in a proper scheme?

Document everything, photos and emails, as evidence to how easily it scratched and that it wasn’t through mistreatment or lack of care.

Would also recommend the big chopping boards from IKEA. The ones with the lip so they’re a bit more ‘permanent’ on the worktop.

Yes - the LA put together the agreement, deposit is in a DPS so all ‘official’.

I’ve got the glass covers for now (50x60cm) with the rubber feet to keep them in place. I’m letting LL know we have purchased these and will continue as normal unless she has any other suggestions. But we’ve now already shelled out £50 on protecting these worktops and we’ve only been here a few weeks - as much as I want to protect them and keep them looking nice, I don’t want to be throwing money at them!

What a stress - I have never had this issue before and in my old flat we had wooden work tops which were much easier to care for than this one!

Will also look into the IKEA boards as we are due a trip there when the shops open back up! Thanks for your suggestion

@Gson

Yes - the LA put together the agreement, deposit is in a DPS so all ‘official’.

I’ve got the glass covers for now (50x60cm) with the rubber feet to keep them in place. I’m letting LL know we have purchased these and will continue as normal unless she has any other suggestions. But we’ve now already shelled out £50 on protecting these worktops and we’ve only been here a few weeks - as much as I want to protect them and keep them looking nice, I don’t want to be throwing money at them!

What a stress - I have never had this issue before and in my old flat we had wooden work tops which were much easier to care for than this one!

I would actually ask her for the money for these (as a landlord I’d pay for them to protect my countertops)

Can you put a square of kitchen roll under your glass teabag container? (And between anything else that would normally sit directly on the worktop, so it’s cushioned)

I completely understand your frustration op. This work top isn’t fit for purpose. If it is stone, it’s not one that’s suitable for a kitchen worktop. I have a granite worktop and I use protectors for everything. Hot pans, chopping, etc. I have quite a few of them. None are glass as I find them slippery. £50 is a lot. I think cheaper was available. I think you might just have to take extra care and talk to the landlord whilst keeping records all the time.

I don’t mind purchasing them - I thought about the vinyl that others had suggested (which was a great idea) but to be honest I felt a bit miffed that we would spend however much and not be able to take it with us when we leave. At least with the large glass savers, we can take them and use them when we hopefully buy in a couple of years 🙏

That being said, I think I refuse to do anymore unless it’s paid for by the LL.

Just popped a bit of kitchen towel under the teabag jar - good idea

Definitely keeping a little file for all evidence. I have a bad feeling about it but hopefully she’ll be reasonable!

as per my note, if the deposit is protected (good news) it isn't a matter of her being reasonable.

BTW was there a check-in inventory with photographs and full descriptions? She would need that to prove that damage wasn't normal wear and tear. If she's bought crappy fashionable worktops that scratch at every sneeze, any claim will be laughed out.

@murbblurb great!

So there was a check in but not an official one done by a company (something about the company they usually use not working in lockdown).

The LL did take lots of pics - mainly to show the cleanliness of the place - there was nothing detailed about scratches on worktops etc.

However I do have the check out report from the old tenants - which shows the damage they made on the worktops (scratches, marks, chips).

Not sure if it’s normal to receive the check out from the previous tenants?

She’s just replied to my email saying she just rubbed salt on her worktop and it didn’t scratch it :( arghhh!

As others have said, slate marks very easily.

Our hearth is slate and when it was fitted they said any small scratches could be remove by spraying with WD40 and rubbing with a rag. This has worked well for us. Obviously, if it isn't slate then it might not work for you.

Sounds like she needs to come and see for herself. Obviously something wrong with it. Does she think you have been embedding bits of metal in the chopping board just to annoy her?

I would reply and say ah that confirms what we thought. This one is faulty then as it's not fit for purpose as it is.

If the landlady has chosen a kitchen work surface that gets scratched by dry food crumbs & salt, then its not fit for purpose & that's her problem not yours.
Keep a clear conversation trail - emails, photos etc - and say we will use the kitchen as per reasonable expectation, take a monthly visual record & assume this will be exempt from deposit...

Sounds like a pain in the neck!
It’s great you’re communicating by email about it - it’s all a ‘paper trail’ then that it’s been an ongoing thing and you’ve not done anything inappropriate to them. When it comes to moving out she won’t be able to turn around and say “you’ve absolutely trashed them so I’m replacing with your deposit”.

To me it doesn’t look like slate, more like a metal.

As landlords have to prove damage in order to claim from deposits (even the fraction of value that is allowed) I suspect she'd have a lot of trouble with that 'evidence'.

it is indeed unusual for you to have the previous check out, no idea why she did that.

I wouldn't worry. Sounds like you are working with her to do all you can.

She’s coming over to take a look this week - by then she’ll see that we have purchased the protectors etc and doing all we can buy to damage it.

Thanks all for your help with this!