Is the inventory still valid after change of 1 tenant?

Tenant Discussion
1

Hello,

My flatmate and I recently left our flat. We asked about our deposit and were told by the agency that there would be £600 deductions.

We checked the reasons and are able to dispute most of them. The damages they’re attributing to us were actually there when we moved in and to add to it we had asked about repairing some of these things but it was never done. I’m confident that we left the place in better shape than when we arrived.

Of course the check in photos are not as zoomed in as the check out ones and the check out report is so much more detailed.

I’m now wondering if this inventory is still valid

  • the original inventory was done ion 2021
  • we made some notes, ask for repairs(not done) and accepted by email (I realise now we never signed the actual document)
  • The other original tenant moved out and was replaced but no new inventory was done. We had a new contract every year including one with the new tenant.

Also it’s been 4 weeks since we responded with our counter claim and the agency hasn’t responded.

Are any of the above points solid enough to kill their claim?

I’ll add that this is all in good faith and that we haven’t done any damage to the property. I even repainted a wall to give it back in the same condition we found it in.

Thanks for your help

2

If a tenant has been removed and a new tenants added onto a new tenancy, id suggest the old inventory is invalid, unless there was written agreement to the contrary.

1 Like
3

Thanks Karl appreciate your answer. No there was nothing in there about the past inventory being valid.
I guess I’ll add this as a dispute point.

4

Landlord/agent has little chance of success. You will have the opportunity to put your side of the issue to the deposit scheme if they take it this far which I doubt. They may try to compromise on a lower amount, but I would just decline this given what youve said.

5

Thanks David. Having not heard from the landlord or agency, we started the process with DPS for a dispute last week.

Weirdly enough, we’ve now heard from the landlord via the agency (over one month delay…) and she still says that the charges are fair.

Given the above and your comments, we will proceed with the dispute. I’ll keep this group updated.

Best
F