NSW Outgoing - what can i do about these damages?

My tenant moved out and I did my outgoing. Noticed my kitchen benchtop has a shallow hole in it about the size of a ping pong ball near the edge.

The carpets were professionally cleaned but there are noticeable stains.

Property was rented out brand new, no previous occupant.

Can i get the tenant to foot the cost of the repair and carpet stains? I'm not sure how to address the benchtop. I don't think the chip can be repaired as its one big piece of granite, i think the entire piece needs to be replaced.

 

Can you post photos?

 

Do you have a pm? Or are you self managing?

 

I have an agent but I want to get a second opinion because I have been caught in the past with other agents not telling me the facts and who cut corners.

 

You won’t get a new benchtop paid for by a tenant because of one small damaged part. At best, you will get a minor allowance. You surely wouldn’t replace the benchtop every time there is a small damaged section??

Same with carpet stains. Unless major, probably will be considered wear and tear.

The longer the tenant was there, the more wear and tear will be allowed. People do drop and spill things.

You can’t expect a property to remain pristine and “as new” forever after it has been occupied.
Marg

 

I expect wear and tear but how on earth do you cause a hole on a granite bench top? This is not even wear and tear - it’s damage.

 

Woah, hole/chip in stone bench top, ba-bow, that's damage not wear and tear,

 

how do you actually make a hole in a stone bench top!

 

Maybe using the edge to open beer bottles? People do the same with wood tables.

Is it an actual hole or a large chip in the edge?

 

Picture of the hole please.

 

Drop something heavy?

How are you alleging it happened?
Marg

 

If it’s granite, get a quote to get it filled and resealed and make the tenant pay for it

 

What has your agent suggested you do?

 

Getting someone to look at it first but agent doesnt think it is repairable without replacing the whole thing.

 

Unless it's the super top end product, generally all these bench tops are just a form of 'reconstituted stone' which is like ground up stone formed with resin to make the shape etc. so the bench top fixer people just get the same colour and consistency and it turns out pretty well, but for the tiny bit of fix it's not cheap if you have to do it every 5 minutes.

 

Stains and a large chip sound like damage, but without the length of tenancy it's hard to say whether it's claimable at any of the tribunals.

Post some photos, that would help.

Also if it's along the edge, depending on what part (say a corner) could you have it leveled off instead of a 90 degree angle to remove the damage, but not replace the benchtop? I've had this done before.

What type of stains on the carpet? What type of carpet?

 

Don't panic! Stone tops can absolutely be fixed- they will fill the hole and match the finish as best as possible.

The carpet is a can of worms- we need more information. How old is the carpet, what sort of clean did they get done, what type of carpet is it, etc. First step for me would be getting a GOOD carpet cleaner in to do a heavy stain removal (as long as it's solution dyed, otherwise it's at risk of bleaching with heavy chemicals) and if that doesn't work then discuss some form of compensation or patch replacement. You'll rarely win full carpet replacement, unless they're extremely conspicuous stains to a particular area (e.g. bedroom).

 

We have a similar issue tenants in less than 12mths laminate bench top brand new fully renovated property.
Hard to tell from agent picture today but looks like a burn about 7cms round.
They have offered $125.
Seems inadequate to us.
We have asked for all pictures of the final inspection.

 

What’s the section of Benchtop worth to replace? Probably ~ $300