Landlord's ugly sofa - storage v. replacement

[RosieH]

Moved into a new rental flat. The landlord's sofa is hideous, takes up too much space in spite of being only a 2-seater and isn't a sofa bed. I have my own sofa that I'd rather use.

Have asked for the sofa to be taken away, which isn't an option apparently.

So, I can't bear to live with it, and wondered what the implications are if I get rid of it and buy a replacement when I move out. The alternative is that I put it in storage, but I can't find anywhere that will cost me less than about ?600 for the year, and frankly I could buy a new sofa for that and not have the hassle of transporting it somewhere.

It isn't the landlord's home, so the sofa isn't a treasured possession, so I'm not too worried on that score.

But are there any limits to what could be charged for a replacement sofa when I come to move out? If I buy a replacement sofa for ?600 can they tell me it was worth ?2k and I have to stump up the difference?

Or does anyone know any dirt-cheap long term storage solutions, where I could stick it and not have to think about it?

[Huguenot]

What kind of material is it made of? Long term storage really might not be a solution in the damp UK climate? They can rot quite quickly.

Could you offer to buy it off them secondhand? Offer 300 quid or something? Say a mate wants it so not to offend?

Then dump it.

[seemster]

Out of interest, who says removing the sofa is not an option? Is it an agency or the landlord? I'd be surprised if the landlord was refusing a free sofa upgrade, maybe you could contact them directly to ask, send a letter or something? (If it doesn't contravene terms of agency agreement).

[Vicanna]

The landlord has no obligation to remove any furnishings. You've rented the property as furnished (I assume), as such you knew what would be in the property and let it as seen. The landlord may agree to remove some smaller items but larger ones are difficult to move and expensive to store, as you've found. You should have discussed the options with the landlord before taking it upon yourself to buy new furniture.

Sorry if I've come across as being blunt, but it's the kind of response you're likely to get from a landlord that knows the rules.

[RosieH]

Doh! Must spend more time on the forum and less moving packing boxes. Edited to remove my comments to Vicanna, because, you know, life's too short to feed the troll.

Huguenot and seemster, good ideas. I'll explore those. Short of that, I think I'm spending my evenings trawling long term storage websites.

[OD]

As a landlord, I would consider a request that you replace the sofa at a cost/style mutually agreed if you wanted to dispose of the sofa (if it really was in bad condition). I would make sure to write a seperate letter specifically stating what was agreed and signed by both parties. I would not like the idea of storage (have had this happen before with tenants the end result was disaterous), since I would have let the property furnished I would expect all the furniture to always be present!

Definitely contact the landlord directly about this, agents can be awful(and thats putting it very very mildly).

[Vicanna]

RosieH Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Doh! Must spend more time on the forum and less

> moving packing boxes. Edited to remove my

> comments to Vicanna, because, you know, life's too

> short to feed the troll.

>

> Huguenot and seemster, good ideas. I'll explore

> those. Short of that, I think I'm spending my

> evenings trawling long term storage websites.

Google "landlords and unwanted furniture" and you'll find exactly the same answers (or thereabouts) to the one I've provided you with. The landlord is under no legal obligation to remove any unwanted furnishings that were present at the time of viewing and subsequent lease agreement.

I didn't see your unedited reply to what I wrote. But it wasn't my intention to provoke such a juvenile response. Either way, it isn't my concern if reality gets up your nose.

[RosieH]

OD Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Definitely contact the landlord directly about

> this, agents can be awful(and thats putting it

> very very mildly).

Thanks OD, good advice. Yes, the agents in this case have proved shockingly bad - furniture that they told me wouldn't be there was, and furniture that was supposed to be included wasn't.

Net result, I have very bruised shins.

[Annette Curtain]

Can we have a picture please Rosie.

I'm guessing a greenish-blue-peach washy looking floral print, with a stripe, tho the colour 'Lemon' is coming through to me from the Spirit world (which means someone may have died on it)

Studded overstuffed arms of a disproportionate size to the seating area, with extra arm caps (faded & odorous)

X 2 cushions with pleated edge fringing design.

Pleated valance makes up the final look.

http://www.therecycler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/crystal-ball.jpg " I am OFF MY TITS "

[KidKruger]

You could

Get rid of it snd say you lost it.

Get rid of it and say you we're 'burgled'.

Get rid of it then before end of tenancy replace it with a sofa 2nd hand from EDF of equal quality (you'll likely be able to get better quality) quite cheaply. You can say something like a friend weed on it - something which writes-off the landlord wanting to keep it but shows you've resolved/improved his sofa situation.

[numbers]

the agent sounds really incompetent & dishonest - I'd be fuming about this. its really shoddy that furniture that wasn't supposed to be there was and vice versa.

definitely complain directly to the owner if the agent isn't forthcoming with a solution that suits you. its your home now, you have to live in it and you're paying for it.

no sofa is better than a shitty sofa that takes up space. stick it to them!

[KidKruger]

Or just say there never was a sofa, that the agency have messed-upb

[El Pibe]

Just borrow a few of snorky's cats, get them to piss all over it, then complain that it smells funny, suspicion will fall on the previous tenants!!

[Otta]

burn it, blame faulty wiring, sue!

[red devil]

...or check to see if it has a fire retardant label, it's illegal for furnishings not to have one...if it has one you could always 'misplace' it...

[KidKruger]

*rushes round to flat while tenants are at work, to check labels on sofa*

[RosieH]

Vicanna Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> RosieH Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> > Google "landlords and unwanted furniture" and

> you'll find exactly the same answers (or

> thereabouts) to the one I've provided you with.

> The landlord is under no legal obligation to

> remove any unwanted furnishings that were present

> at the time of viewing and subsequent lease

> agreement.

My questions were as follows:

- Are there any limits to what could be charged for a replacement sofa when I come to move out?

- If I buy a replacement sofa for ?600 can they tell me it was worth ?2k and I have to stump up the difference?

- Does anyone know any dirt-cheap long term storage solutions, where I could stick it and not have to think about it?

In what way, exactly, did you answer any of them? You didn't. Where did I ask about the landlord's legal obligation to remove furniture? I didn't. You were just being a knob.

Calling you a troll isn't juvenile (if we're telling it bluntly, you know, like what it is, then you don't seem to understand things very well and I recommend the local businesses section where there seem to be several good tutors who could help with reading and comprehension).

Calling you a knob on the other hand probably does count as juvenile. But them's the breaks I guess.

[red devil]

RosieH Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> OD Wrote:

> Thanks OD, good advice. Yes, the agents in this

> case have proved shockingly bad - furniture that

> they told me wouldn't be there was, and furniture

> that was supposed to be included wasn't.

Rosie, did you sign an Inventory to this effect?..

[RosieH]

Yeah. Not ideal - when I turned up to do the inventory and collect the keys, things were not as promised. But it was a separate inventory agency, who couldn't tell me any more than "this is what's in the flat now", and too much else going on at the time to be able to sort it out.

So I'm now just trying to work out how to make the best of the situation.

[red devil]

Ok, if that's the case I wouldn't get rid of the sofa without at least putting your POV of events in writing to the Landlord*, and copy in the agent (if you've been dealing with the agent then the landord might not even be aware of the situation).

Explain about the mix-up/confusion and why you don't need the sofa. I'd emphasise that you need your sofa bed for when guests stay, and/or it's a much loved family heirloom etc...lay it on thick. Say you are prepared to replace the sofa like for like when you leave, and come to an agreement as to the value of a replacement. Get this agreement in writing. If you throw out the sofa without his permission then the Landlord holds all the aces when he asks for compensation when you eventually leave. He might turn around and say it was a ?2000 Conran sofa when infact it was ?200 from Ikea...ergo lots of hassle you could do without.

One possible alternative to your storage option idea is to ask if there is anyone on the Forum who is taking on an unfurnished flat, and would they like to 'borrow' the sofa...

[giggirl]

Rosie H - I feel you owe us a photo.

I would be concerned if you've signed an inventory which isn't accurate. You didn't actually state that you did, but if you did then it could come back and kick you in the arse further down the line. I would get that sorted out pronto.

Vicanna. If you're a troll then fine. Well done. If not, then you may want to take a look at how you talk to people because you're coming across as high-handed and trollish (I made that word up). Rosie H is not a cretin; she knows that if landlord and agent dig their heels in then she's stuck with an ugly sofa; she's just trying to explore a mutually acceptable alternative. Nothing wrong with that.

[maxxi]

"So I'm now just trying to work out how to make the best of the situation."

This may not help.

In the interests of karma and in the spirit of making do with a bad job or making like a hippy and turning a negative into a positive - I think it's time the sofa had a say - maybe via its own blog/twitter account...

[photos of sofa and bruised knees to give balance]

Then, with the right publicity, this poor benighted bit of jetsam could achieve cult status (Id follow it)

Your guests would be honoured to jacknife the night away on its greased floral cover - signed scraps of arm-caps and individually styled antimacassars could earn a bob or two and some Tony-Hawks-come-lately could hitchhike around Wales with it and write a book. See?

Or tell your agent it's infested and that you can see it moving from where you are perched on the window sill.

[Voyageur]

Just throw a throw over it. Jeez, what a palaver.

[giggirl]

Maxxi - you have a point. I'm beginning to feel sorry for the sofa. There need to be pictures.

[RosieH]

Hahaha, I can't show you a photo - it's very distinctive and my anonymity would be forfeit. You are, of course, welcome to come round and delight in its company once I've forged a path through the boxes. I'm sure he will charm you with tales of conservatories long past.

And Voyageur, thanks for your wise advice, but even a stealth-throw isn't going to cut it. You might be all la di dah and many sofa-ed, but I've not yet attained your dizzy heights, so short of getting rid of my bed, I'm afraid I'm going to have to limit myself to just the one sofa for now.