Updating post from Reddit.
I’ve never had a problem with my tenant. They’ve been great, and have been with me since 2021 and recently extended their tenancy earlier this february.
All of a sudden, the management agency has informed me that a whole wall attached radiator was never installed by a “previous contractor” so I need to install a new one.
But the inventory report during the check-in of the flat clearly shows photos of said missing radiator and the inventory report list also confirms that.
They’ve also informed me that the works for the one radiator will cost £1,000-1,400.
I’m not quite sure how to proceed.
How does a radiator go missing? So weird.
I would bring the check-in report up with the agent and see what they say, since they are making the request.
You can always get your own quotes, £1,400 does seem excessive for a radiator install
Highly unlikely the tenants removed a whole radiator off their wall. To do what with it?
More likely the photos are incorrect somehow. OR the radiator broke and agency needs a repair but for some reason has given a fake reason and said it’s missing instead
I wish the photo was incorrect but the radiator was a 2+ metre wall panelled thing that was installed in this a sort of corner/reading nook. The most recent photo shows that the tenant has put a an electric keyboard there so I wonder if they had the radiator uninstalled somehow but the agency failed to mention it.
Plus it would not be the first time they had works done without informing me because they previously had (albeit I somewhat understood because it was fixing leaking windows etc) but did not inform me till months later when they sent the bill.
Okay that’s interesting. It’s possible they had a radiator uninstalled and then to cover themselves they called up the agency and said ‘where’s our radiator’. It just seems completely illogical but you never know what some people’s thought processes are.
Since you have photographic evidence the radiator was there, I’d discuss this with the agency but the tenants should be paying for a new radiator + install costs + costs related to arranging this from your and the agency’s end.
Ask for the exif data of the photos, maybe this was an older photo from a previous tenancy that they’ve mixed up, and something did in fact change between tenants 🤷♂️ it’s not beyond impossible the plumber meant to remove it from a different property but got given the wrong keys because someone was muddled and crossed wires on that day, unlikely but also not even close to impossible, could also therefore be the agent trying to throw the tenant under a bus
Seems most likely the tenants removed it and are on the hook to put it back. Be firm with the agent. "On my latest inspection photo the radiator is there so someone has removed it without my knowledge or approval, which can only be u you or the tenant. Sort it out."
When you referred to agency to the report and photos what did they say?
What type of heating have they been using if there's no radiator there?
It is possible that the tenant just signed the inventory without reading it as no one bothers usually. It's always a rush with moving so they may have accepted it through silence, which is the usual situation. In that case the agents could have been recycling old inventories, they tend to copy and paste from various documents etc even though that's not correct.
But the main point for you is really - did you pay for a radiator and for the work to be done before? In this case you shouldn't need to pay twice... That will probably answer the question. Was there a charge for this before? In that case, they've admitted they didn't do it.
Also, who sent the new picture, was it the tenant? The agency could be scamming you and blaming the tenant.
My tenant removed a large antique style double radiator (whilst decorating) and replaced it with the cheapest, smallest Screwfix rad that wasn't even connected back into the GCH system. 🤦♂️