Commercial property - issues with its condition

[pastascionut]

Hi

I hope someone can offer me some advice. I seem to be in a pickle regarding my commercial property let.

The property is basic and with a lot of irregularities as it appears to have been built on a budget e.g. uneven flooring, windows not totally made to fit.

I primarily chose this location as it is local, i needed the space and the imperfections seemed adequate space at the time for a studio. My landlady agreed initially I could repaint the place, the interior walls discoloured and the shed area outside was getting dirty.

I agreed that if I were to repaint it any other colour when i vacate I would repaint it back to white. Now, I have chosen to vacate the property, my landlady has asked me to sand down all surfaces before repainting and wants me to effectively make me restore it to new, which it never was. I have reviewed my contract and I am responsible for keeping the place in a reasonable state.

Considering the original state of the premises my paintwork has been an improvement. Now that I am leaving she is complaining it has not been done properly. She keeps phone me out of hours telling me I have to do it all now, so she can show potential tenants around.

The flooring in the front is very cheap and peeling away (before i took it) she is saying that as it is no longer in a fit state.

What should i do now? I only have a few more days at the property and would prefer to leave on better terms.

Thanks!

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Do you have pictures of how it was when you moved in?

 

[PerfectP]

I'm guessing you didnt get a survey done before you took posession that you can refer back to?
A friend of mine is a Property Surveyor and told me these kinds of disputes happen all the time, when landlords see an opportunity to save some money on decorating.
What form of lease have you got? Did you get any legal advice prior to taking posession? It might be worth a call to them for some initial advice on how to proceed.

 

[pastascionut]

No unfortunately I didn't photograph it before I took it and I didn't take legal advice before I moved in.
She seemed so straight forward about arrangements to start of with and we discussed reviewing my stay on the property six months from the let.

Now that I've my notice to vacate it seems that she wants to add a whole bundle of extra work and charges.

I need to check the lease again.

 

[Rhodes100]

I would guess that you did not have a schedule of condition when you moved in, this should always be done even on the simplest residential letting never mind a lease with presumably full repairing clauses in it.

You have made a mistake and found yourself in a pickle as a result.

It would seem that you have a number of choices:

Ignore her and see how serious she is
Do the work
Agree a schedule of dilapidations privately
Instruct a surveyor to bat for you

It would depend on how much expenditure she is asking you to commit to I guess as to which choice you make.