Rental damage query

[Rentalqueries]

DH and I moved abroad temporarily to care for a palliative relative, but could also work there, so rented our UK flat partially furnished a few years ago. Its not AirBNB nor a holiday rental but due to location tended to be shorter term lets. The current tenants left recently.

I'm back in the UK and checked the property in person against the inventory. A chair is broken, the new microwave isn't working with a cracked turnstile, a shelving unit is missing and they've left things to be cleared such as duvets and stained pillows. The real estate initially advised us to leave/buy furniture such as the microwave which was new before these tenants moved in. Our main contact has left the company and previously, a broken/stolen item would be replaced by the tenant.

The new real estate agent contact is advising we should just get rid of the microwave, shelves etc. That is fine, but they are saying we now shouldn't try claiming for the broken or missing items. I'm happy to not put items in the flat, but shouldn't broken/stolen/missing items not be replaced when they were on the original inventory?

Presumably you don’t know which of your renters were responsible. Small electricals are not likely to be that robust and need regular replacement. They are not so expensive as to be worth chasing after and you do not need to replace. Wear and tear is part and parcel of renting out.

Thanks for your reply. We've had a concise inventory between each tenant groups so do have a clear view of what was/wasn't there between each tenancy. As mentioned, the microwave was brand new before this group moved in. I appreciate general wear and tear and I'm not contesting new stains on walls, floors, loose handles and other things which I'd say are wear/tear.

My issue is the agent now saying just get rid of XYZ for the next tenant such as microwave, don't replace that dining chair or shelf. That is fine, I will do that, despite the agent advised having those items in the first place! Surely the tenant should still replace the item which they've broken and was new or near near when they took on the tenancy though and was in the inventory?

Has the tenancy deposit already been returned to them? If not, tell the agent to take the value out of the deposit.

If it has been returned, I would at the very least ask the agent to refund the cost of the microwave by charging a lower management fee for one month.

Getting money out of a tenants deposit is very difficult unless you can absolutely prove it was broken deliberately. The people who run the deposit schemes tend to side with the tenant and call it wear and tear. As for items left in the flat which you would have to pay to dispose of you would need to conclusively prove who had left it there. You would be best to claim for these expenses as a tax deductable and move on.

Has the tenancy deposit already been returned to them?- No, not as yet. The agent is saying not to claim for anything.

I'm not trying to be an arse. They left the place reasonably clean otherwise, but I'm left getting rid of 4 large, bin bags worth of pillows and duvets plus the cost of the all broken/missing things, which the real estate are NOW saying not to have in place.

It's the cost of LL'ing and why amateurs are not suited to LL'ing in general. No fault of yours. It's the typical expected emotional reaction to what should actually just be a properly costed financial transaction.

What's the agents reasoning for not claiming the damage?Just tell him you want to.

You never leave things in a rental which are " extra" eg a microwave as you have to replace them if they get damaged or die. This is standard stuff. A fee should be charged for removal of the rubbish - there should be a standard rate. As regards the microwave you can't prove they broke it or if it just died. As regards a missing unit I would charge for that. You're paying the agent to do a job so tell him to do these things.