I've just moved out of a rental property that I lived in for the past 3 and a half years. The whole time I lived in the property, there were grey-ish "shadows" on the ceiling in the living room. I've always thought they were due to shoddy painting, but they never really bothered me so I didn't do anything about them. I've attached a photo taken by the landlord for you to see (Just a note to add that this is by far the worst I've ever seen the marks look, usually they're barely noticeable unless you know they're there. I don't know if it's because the photo was taken at night with flash or if the contrast/brightness of the photo has been manipulated in some way).
Today I've had notification from the letting agent that the LL is going to deduct £250 from my deposit to pay for redecoration due to these marks which he's saying are soot caused by me lighting candles. However, I have bad asthma and I never light candles so I know this isn't possible. I explained this to the LA, told them that the marks have been there since I moved in and that I don't accept responsibility for them but I've had no response.
I've been a model tenant for the last 3 and a half years and I've never caused any trouble. I agreed to a mid-pandemic rent increase of 10% while I was on furlough, I had the carpets professionally cleaned twice, only last year I had one of the bedrooms professionally repainted in a neutral colour (the previous tenant had painted it dark grey) and I had the bathroom tiles regrouted because they were all mouldy and discoloured when I moved in. All of this was done at my own expense and I never complained when the LA told me the LL wouldn't pay to have any improvements done. I know that the previous tenant did an unannounced midnight move, and I've always assumed that the LL used her deposit to cover her notice period rather than to fix the place up before I moved in (hence why I wasn't surprised at shoddy ceiling painting).
To get to the point, is it reasonable for the landlord to expect me to pay so much to have one section of ceiling in one room redecorated? For context, the flat is in a small town in Scotland, £250 is 50% of my deposit and I paid £250 last year to have a whole (small) room repainted. I'm also pretty sure the LL has already gone in and repainted the area by himself rather than hiring someone. Either that or he's hired someone who looks very like him. I'm not sure if he's aware, but my new flat is next door and looks directly into the old flat so I can see inside.
I've read on here that repainting should be done every 5 years, given that I lived there for 3.5 years and that the landlord never redecorated, is it likely that if the deposit scheme rule that I have to pay for redecoration, they'll reduce the amount I'm being asked to pay to take that into consideration? Does the LL have to provide evidence that he actually paid £250 in the form of an invoice or something similar?
Some info on what I've tried to do to resolve the matter: I've asked for photos of the area from before I moved in and for access to the flat so that I can go in and see (and photograph) the marks myself, but neither the LL nor the LA have responded. I've also offered to go in and clean the area on the off chance that it's just dust (a structural engineer friend said it could be "ghosting" which is dust collecting on the joists) but that's been ignored too. All they've done is email me the photo and go to the deposit scheme to say they're only willing to pay me half of my deposit back.
Any answers, advice or LL opinions on the matter would be appreciated. Thanks.
Today I've had notification from the letting agent that the LL is going to deduct £250 from my deposit to pay for redecoration due to these marks which he's saying are soot caused by me lighting candles. However, I have bad asthma and I never light candles so I know this isn't possible. I explained this to the LA, told them that the marks have been there since I moved in and that I don't accept responsibility for them but I've had no response.
I've been a model tenant for the last 3 and a half years and I've never caused any trouble. I agreed to a mid-pandemic rent increase of 10% while I was on furlough, I had the carpets professionally cleaned twice, only last year I had one of the bedrooms professionally repainted in a neutral colour (the previous tenant had painted it dark grey) and I had the bathroom tiles regrouted because they were all mouldy and discoloured when I moved in. All of this was done at my own expense and I never complained when the LA told me the LL wouldn't pay to have any improvements done. I know that the previous tenant did an unannounced midnight move, and I've always assumed that the LL used her deposit to cover her notice period rather than to fix the place up before I moved in (hence why I wasn't surprised at shoddy ceiling painting).
To get to the point, is it reasonable for the landlord to expect me to pay so much to have one section of ceiling in one room redecorated? For context, the flat is in a small town in Scotland, £250 is 50% of my deposit and I paid £250 last year to have a whole (small) room repainted. I'm also pretty sure the LL has already gone in and repainted the area by himself rather than hiring someone. Either that or he's hired someone who looks very like him. I'm not sure if he's aware, but my new flat is next door and looks directly into the old flat so I can see inside.
I've read on here that repainting should be done every 5 years, given that I lived there for 3.5 years and that the landlord never redecorated, is it likely that if the deposit scheme rule that I have to pay for redecoration, they'll reduce the amount I'm being asked to pay to take that into consideration? Does the LL have to provide evidence that he actually paid £250 in the form of an invoice or something similar?
Some info on what I've tried to do to resolve the matter: I've asked for photos of the area from before I moved in and for access to the flat so that I can go in and see (and photograph) the marks myself, but neither the LL nor the LA have responded. I've also offered to go in and clean the area on the off chance that it's just dust (a structural engineer friend said it could be "ghosting" which is dust collecting on the joists) but that's been ignored too. All they've done is email me the photo and go to the deposit scheme to say they're only willing to pay me half of my deposit back.
Any answers, advice or LL opinions on the matter would be appreciated. Thanks.
Comment