Can my landlord charge me for pre-existing damage that just got worse? (UK)
Hi everyone,
I’m dealing with a deposit dispute. My landlord is trying to keep about half of my deposit (£1150) but most of the issues were already there when I moved in and just got worse over time. There was mould in the bath sealant, the wooden bath panel was already swollen and moisture-damaged (also mentioned in the previous tenants’ check-in report 3 years ago), and the toilet lid was already cracked (mentioned in check in report). A plug is cracked as well (I have a photo from two weeks after moving in showing that plug already damaged although it’s not mentioned in the check-in report).
The mattress was also already stained and in poor condition, although I did accidentally leave a small burn mark with a hair straightener. He’s also trying to charge for professional cleaning, especially the kitchen appliances, but the check-in photos show they were already dirty. The only thing I could accept is some mould in the washing machine seal. There’s also a window divider now missing, the check-in report shows it was there, but I have a photo from my move-in day where it’s already gone, so I think it disappeared before I moved in. In the reports, they note « requires maintenance » next to these issues.
The deposit is in an insured scheme (held by the landlord but protected with TDS), and I’ve had radio silence from the letting agent for a week after asking for evidence and invoices. They also haven’t provided any quotes, just a flat amount with no breakdown. For now, the only things I’ve agreed to are a light bulb that needs replacing and some adhesive residue on the wall (but no repainting as the wall was already damaged)