Tenant Lost my Furniture

[ALIEN1X]

:mad: Hi,
I have a rented my property out via letting agents fully furnished.The furniture was bought and installed in 1988/1999.It was good furniture and robust. I spent approx total £800 on sofabed, double bed,and table set.

My currnet tenant moved in approx 2001/2 and is know moving out in 2005.
The tnt did not want my furniture and wanted there own,so they put this in protected storage(so they claim) and to be returned in good condition, all agreed via letting agents. The inventory states my original furniture.

I have been informed by my agents that the tenants cant get get my furniture back. The agents tell me that I want get the full cost of approx £800 as they say its old.

However, my contract with the tenant states that tenants are responsible for replacing missing furniture.The letting agents do not wantt to know and its under full mamangement.The agents hold approx £700 deposit from the tenants.

What can I do about getting cost back and how much and what are my rights?This is not ware and tare its items lost my the tenanat.

The agents tells me I want get anything.The tenant is willing to pay a small contribution and leave some naf table and microwave behind. But my agents tell me that the tenant has to agree to cost of lost items or it goes to dispute and the to the courts and i end up with nothing as the furniure was old.

The fact is the furniture was good and lost by the tenant who has breeched the contract.

I'am going to hold the deposit, and informed all the utility companies of moving out dates and who is responsible for the bill.But I have no forwarding address.

Im going to inspect the property once they have moved out

Any tips please.

Regards
Alien1x

[zoe]

You can only claim money from the tenant to replace the furniture at the current value. If it is nearly 6/7 years old cost £800 and presumably heavily used I wouldn't expect to be able to claim anymore than £200 (max) for replacements.


Zoe

[Paul_f]

I have to agree with Zoe about the probable value of the furniture but I can see why the poster is concerned here. My observations would be:


Who gave the ingoing tenant permission to store the furniture away from the premises?
Was it insured by the landlord in the first instance?
Are there receipts for its cost at purchase?
Is there a good enough inventory to be able to ascertain both condition and details of the items?
Did the agent take your instructions first about the furniture's storage or not?

The agent by the way cannot return the deposit to the tenant without you both being involved if held as "stakeholder" , and if it's held as "landlord's agent" then they must by law pass it on to you if you ask them to do so. :(

[ALIEN1X]

The tnt asked via the agent to store the furniture with my approval,provided it was returned in the original condition and they would be fully responsible.

I asked the agent to make note of this at the time.The missing furniture is in the inventory check in, but would not be on inventory check out.

I have recepits when bought in 1989/1999.

I have no insurance on the furniture, but I have buildings insurance.

The furniture I lost was good gear from habitat regardless of age.It would last donkys years and still look fresh/ contempory.

Obviously the tnt did not like my taste in furniture, and I recon it was stored in someones garage, and got trashed after a while.

Regards
Alien

Regards
Alien

[ALIEN1X]

Oh, my agreement is between landlord and tenant. But the agreement will not state is stake holder or not, but they hold it for me in there account or somthing.