Unhappy with rental kitchen, vinyl wrapping?

[Namechangeforpom]

ive just got the keys to our new rental, I’m not very happy with the condition of the kitchen and it’s veryyyy dated.
has anyone vinyl wrapped/ used self adhesive on kitchen worktops and cupboards and was there any damage when it was removed eventually?

have you chosen to rent this property, or is it social housing that you were offered and accepted ?

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon
i chose to rent it! However we didn’t see the condition the kitchen was in when we viewed it because the other tenants had LOTS of ‘stuff’ 😅😂😂

There’s a good chance vinyl will pull off the existing finish when you return it. Even the stuff that says it’s safe is likely to cause an issue on any slight imperfections.
It may be too old for this, I found a code on a hinge in mine and found it was a 1990’s b & q kitchen. I’ve been able to change cupboard doors to new ones as they are still interchangeable.

I would just explain to the agent that the damage wasn't evident at viewing for the reason you stated and ask that it be changed. Every chance that the previous tenant already suffered a deposit reduction for that damage. You might just need to encourage the Landlord to use that money toward a replacement. I think it's reasonable to ask for it to be sorted.

@FatherFrosty this kitchen looks very 1980s/1990s so I’ll give that a go! To be honest it needs ripping out and refurbishing 😂 the cupboards barely open and are wobbly, it’s not in a good way…

@DrySherry we think they definitely would have taken some of their deposit for the damage (who wouldn’t) maybe I have high standards… but I think it’s really bad if the landlords taken money and not done the fix with it, but I can’t be sure they have. I have emailed the agency!

My kitchen was very tatty when I moved into my flat. I couldn’t afford to replace it, so wrapped my cupboards and replaced the handles. A couple of years on and it’s still absolutely fine.

As a landlord I wouldn't be happy with you wrapping the kitchen without agreement from me. Worth a discussion with them to see if they have any plans to upgrade the kitchen and/or given permission for the wrap so it doesnt cause issues at future inspections.

You need to ask your landlord for permission, in our lease it stipulated consultation on ‘major changes to decoration’ ( didn’t stop the bastard tenant painting the bedroom grey, though).

@Iheartmysmart looks amazing!

@Eggbert12345 we have asked permission. I’ve just expressed that I’m not happy with the condition (we have 7 days to request any changes). I can’t see why they’d say no because it looks awful 😂 as a landlord i wouldn’t have rented it out in its current state- there are other issues we couldn’t see when we viewed it too. Such a nightmare 😅

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen we’ve written a long email with our requests! I think it’s important to be open and honest with the landlord so that’s what I intend to do! But they clearly have extremely low standards. There’s mould etc and marks all over the walls which they said had been freshly painted (lie)

As an ex landlord I would definitely say ask first.

make sure that you take a lot of date stamped photos, particularly of the mould etc on the “freshly painted” walls.
if you want to wrap, ask written permission first. Written is the key!

You can do a lot to improve a kitchen. I repainted the carcasses on our old one. Dh did some stabilising with screws so they were firm. We purchased new doors and hung them on the old carcasses and then replaced the worktop.

@Cyclistmumgrandma @Daisymay2 we have asked the landlord x

@WonderingWanda was that for a rental property?

Also! This is the condition of the cooker… would it be reasonable to ask for a new one?!

No it wasn't but I have found landlords to be open to upgrades in the past.

@WonderingWanda yes I’m hoping so considering they clearly aren’t willing to put any money in 😅

Just don't make it too nice or they'll be putting the rent up!

If the cooker is clean and it looks like it is from the photo and it works then I don't think you ask for a new cooker. Why don't you just ask EA if you can be released from your contract as you aren't happy with the rental and I expect the LL will be happy to release you. For most rentals there are 13 tenants wanting to rent it.

Most rentals I ever came across don't come with freestanding cookers included (only have appliances if they are built ins).

I know with our rental the cooker was our responsibility.

@caringcarer this is the issue, it was extremely difficult to find a rental! We are grateful to have found it in a good location, and I do actually love the house!! but these issues (to me) are frustrating because they are very easy to fix as a landlord. And I believe if you, as a landlord, maintain the property to a high standard, the tenants are more likely to look after it too!

@housethatbuiltme the cooker is the the landlord’s responsibility because they provided it with the house. However we’ve already been told it won’t be replaced- worth a try 😂

Most landlords IME don't give a toss about the condition of cookers and kitchen cabinets, and while quick to grab deposit money are reluctant to then expend it on the thing they've taken it for. As long as there are so many prospective tenants for each rental it will no doubt continue like this. Grabbing bastards on the whole.