Landlord wants 'Fee' for allowing my own couch in rental apartment

djimi

BostonB wrote: »

I'm not debating that the LL is a muppet.

But simply that the deposit isn't meant to be used like that. it should not be used at all. Its also sends out all the wrong signals about your intentions.

Perhaps the OP wasnt wise to mention it to the landlord like that, but what exactly is the problem with point out to the landlord what the deposit is there for? If the landlord tries to charge an additional cost after you move in and pay the initial deposit because they claim they are afraid that you might cause damage, would it then be wrong to point out to them that this what the initial deposit is to be used for? Its the same thing.

In an ideal world the deposit would not be needed by the landlord. But it is there as an insurance policy precisely for the kind of situation that the landlord is afraid of happening with having to dispose of furniture.

BostonB wrote: »

The current deposit system is a bonkers anyway. Its no protection for anyone. It should be paid into a 3rd party bond and registered. LL does the same. Then if there's a problem it gets flagged on the register so no one else gets caught the same by either tenant or LL. People with a good history don't get flagged, don't need to passing a months rent around. Its stays in the register the whole time, even if you change tenancies.

I agree; deposits should be handled and managed by a 3rd party. The current system we have is utter nonsense and so open to abuse its unreal. I suspect that it will change in time, but when is anyones guess.

BostonB

In the real world the LL knows from experience, they are likely to be left with no rent the last month, so there will be nothing to cover "extras". Telling the LL beforehand was like telling someone you're going to put a "kick me" sign on their back.

djimi

BostonB wrote: »

In the real world the LL knows from experience, they are likely to be left with no rent the last month, so there will be nothing to cover "extras". Telling the LL beforehand was like telling someone you're going to put a "kick me" sign on their back.

Where are you getting it that the OP told the landlord anything of the sort? Go back and read what the OP said; when told what the charge was for they informed the landlord that that is what the deposit is there to insure against (which it is). Its not like they told him in no uncertain terms that he was going to be out of pocket at the end of the lease; I dont see anywhere where the OP says they even suggested to the landlord that they wouldnt be paying the last months rent or that they would leave him with an additional expense to incur?

Thats my reading of it anyway.

If the landlord does not feel that a months worth of rent as a deposit is sufficient then it is up to them to ask for more at the start.

BostonB

I might as well just quote myself at this point...

BostonB wrote: »

You're missing the point. If a tenant basically declares they expect their deposit (1 months rent) to be used for this and that, that suggests they don't expect their deposit back. (worrying in itself) But if they don't pay their last months rent (which is very common) then the LL has to cover 1 months rent + any other expenses out of the deposit.

Basically the deposit wouldn't cover it. You'd need a larger deposit to cover it.

...and

BostonB wrote: »

If the furniture is unfit. Don't rent the place.

How will the LL move the furniture back? (add something on the deposit for this if its not moved back) Is the storage area suitable, it clean and dry so the furniture won't be damaged. (add something else to the deposit in case its damaged by storage).

If the agent agreed about the furniture, why are you talking to the LL about it?

I can save you a call to Threshold. The LL is always wrong.

BostonB

djimi wrote: »

Where are you getting it that the OP told the landlord anything of the sort? ...

...that implies that you should take people at face value, rather than reading into things. Unfortunately life's not that simple.

Like if theres a grotty couch there, its probably not going to be the greatest LL.

KevinGossRoss

Hi there everyone. I was just trying to calm down an angry man and make him see reason. He wanted a non refundable fee from us to have the couch in the apartment. I just reasoned with him that he had our deposit to use in the case that we leave the couch in his department, which we repeatedly told him wouldn't happen. The more we asked him why he thought we'd leave him with something we paid good money for the less reasonable he became.

This guy has obviously had something happen to him in the past where a bad tenant left him with dirty, broken old furniture which he then had to get rid of. Obviously he is a complete muppet but I can see why he is so aggressive.

Needless to say the apartment will be cleaner than we found it the day we move out. Ou couch will not be left behind. We're not here to screw anyone over and we sure as hell want our deposit back.

BostonB

For me its a none issue. If you are in the place for 6/12 months, who cares about the cost of moving a couch if you've been a good tenant. However many people are just not reasonable. Its their way or the highway. In which case you've got be like one of those US cops and get in their head. So they think its their idea, not yours.

jmayo

BostonB wrote: »

Its not you know. The point of the deposit is that you want it back and will treat the place right in order to get your deposit back.

Telling the LL you don't expect it back, means he can't rely on it for security now, and as you don't expect it back, why would you pay the last months rent.

While that may not be your intention, its what happens a lot.

Ehh you appear to be reading something into this that AFAIK the OP never said.
Also it is pretty noticable you don't trust tenants by the implication.

KevinGossRoss wrote: »

I know yes. I want my deposit back but what I am trying to communicate is that it is his insurance that I'll remove the couch. If I don't he is entitled to use that money to dispose of it so how could he possibly charge me to have the couch in here?

How do people not pay the last month's rent? Is it that common here? It would seem that the LL/tenant relationship in Dublin is very hostile.

People don't pay last months rent because they may have been already screwed by landlords.
Your landlord already appears a candidate for this type of behaviour and in the past he may have been burnt by tenants who won't take a chance on paying the last months rent in advance.

I would say a lot of our residential landlords are totally unprofessional.
They still consider the property theirs so that they can come and go as they like.
They often furnish the places with castoffs, yet refuse to fix or replace these when they invariably break.
Then they try and find any excuse under the sun to withhold deposits.

Saiding that there are some decent ones who get tarnished with the same brush.

BostonB wrote: »

In the real world the LL knows from experience, they are likely to be left with no rent the last month, so there will be nothing to cover "extras". Telling the LL beforehand was like telling someone you're going to put a "kick me" sign on their back.

And in the real world a lot of tenants have been screwed over by landlords who think the deposit is there to be kept and probably cover the decorating that they should do anyway every few years. :rolleyes:

So far the only one I see putting "kick me" signs on anyone's back is the landlord.
Oh and the landlord demanding extra fees is telling the tenant I am going to kick you in the ar** when you come looking for your deposit.

BostonB

jmayo wrote: »

Ehh you appear to be reading something into this that AFAIK the OP never said.
Also it is pretty noticable you don't trust tenants by the implication....

I've actually posted from both sides of the fence, and already said you can't take ANYONE at face value. Actions speak louder than words....

BostonB wrote: »

...However the LL here is showing all the signs of being trouble. I'd move out as soon as possible. You'll only have more grief with him....

BostonB wrote: »

...that implies that you should take people at face value, rather than reading into things. Unfortunately life's not that simple.

Like if theres a grotty couch there, its probably not going to be the greatest LL.

But you choose to only quote one side of it.

BostonB

jmayo wrote: »

....And in the real world a lot of tenants have been screwed over by landlords who think the deposit is there to be kept and probably cover the decorating that they should do anyway every few years. :rolleyes:

So far the only one I see putting "kick me" signs on anyone's back is the landlord.
Oh and the landlord demanding extra fees is telling the tenant I am going to kick you in the ar** when you come looking for your deposit.

Yes we've been here already, got the T-Shirt etc.

BostonB wrote: »

I'm not debating that the LL is a muppet.

But simply that the deposit isn't meant to be used like that. it should not be used at all. Its also sends out all the wrong signals about your intentions.

The current deposit system is a bonkers anyway. Its no protection for anyone. It should be paid into a 3rd party bond and registered. LL does the same. Then if there's a problem it gets flagged on the register so no one else gets caught the same by either tenant or LL. People with a good history don't get flagged, don't need to passing a months rent around. Its stays in the register the whole time, even if you change tenancies.

P_1

Usually a lease would let you do whatever to the place so long as you return it in the same state that you found it in.

E.g.:
You don't like the couch in the sitting room, you move your own one in instead. When the lease is over you make sure your new couch is gone and the original couch is back in its place.

You don't like the paint colour in the sitting room, you paint over it. When the lease is over you make sure the wall has been repainted in its original colour.