Getting landlord to replace furniture

Gael23

Living in a rented property almost 5 years, happy there and have a good relationship with the landlord. However at this point some furniture needs be replaced, in particular my mattress.
How do I initiate a conversation about this?

3DataModem

After 5 years?

"Hi there, I would like to replace the X and X, as I think they are at the end of life. I can deal with ordering and delivery if you like and deduct from the rent, if you want to give me some options for the replacements."

callaway92

’Hi X, our furniture is wrecked and needs replacing’.

Can’t believe you needed to ask boards this

Allinall

You managed to initiate a thread on boards.

Try the same tactic with your landlord.

Gael23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123074512#Comment_123074512

Not a situation I’ve dealt with before. Well dealt with broken electrical appliances but that’s a little different

lucalux

Yeah it's just a case of using the (very good and clear!) examples provided to you above, hopefully they'll just say grand work away, I'll deduct from the rent and ask you to hold the receipts for them to claim back tax

The landlord may just say no too though, so you might need to push them on it, and they may just outright refuse even if you do persevere.

In that case you'd be buying your own mattress

Gael23

I was thinking of buying a mattress topper and then I just take it with me when I move out

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058389996/getting-landlord-to-replace-furniture

buy your own mattress.
you’ll spend 8 hours a day in it and function better with a good nights sleep.
a landlord will buy a cheap one. You need to spend money on a good quality one

lucalux

Mattress toppers in Lidl on the 27th

Depends on your landlord, but I've never met one who'd replace a mattress after five years. Of course there are plenty who would

A mattress is pretty important so worth asking. Then if the answer is no decide on a topper, or depending on how long you're going to be there, just buying yourself the mattress you want and either leave it there when you move or replace with a cheaper one and bring it with you

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123074511#Comment_123074511

landlords generally don’t like when tenants suggest they are not going to pay their full rent.
the landlord does the purchasing and selects the items and it price.

Was the mattress new when you moved in?

Generally mattresses are expected to have a lifespan of at least 7 to 10 years.

I'd ask the landlord to remove it and invest in a really good mattress yourself that you can take with you, if you ever move.

Gael23

I’ve no idea how old it is. It’s not ancient I know that. I’m there 5 years in a few weeks time so it’s at least that old

exiledawaynothere

if you buy then try big Mickey.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2057307031/high-quality-bed-mattress-and-headboard/p51

Back Home

It’s still very odd this country is the only one I’m aware of that rent properties supplied with furniture and mattresses.  Would you be happy sleeping on a mattress the previous tenant had been using for two or three years?  Much better option to buy your own and like others have said take it with you when you leave.  

Mrs OBumble

Would you be happy sleeping on a mattress the previous tenant had been using for two or three years

Would you think twice about staying in a hotel or BnB where the mattress has been used by a wide variety of people over the last 2-3 years?

Back Home

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123076128#Comment_123076128

Yes I would.

jamieon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058389996/getting-landlord-to-replace-furniture

What did you do to the mattress 😅

Dial Hard

This might sound stupid, but have you been flipping your mattress (on alternate axes) regularly? I mentioned this to someone on here before and it was a brand new concept to them.

AlanG

Just ask for a replacement but bear in mind that the government view (Revenue) is that furniture in a rental property has a lifespan of at least 8 years. If it is worn out sooner than that then it may be considered more than regular wear and tear.

If you have a good relationship you should have no problem getting a replacement but if I was you I would ask for written permission to dispose of the old mattress and then just buy my own of a high standard.

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123076510#Comment_123076510

When I moved into the last place I rented, the mattress was there and couldn't get over how hard it was until 1 week in when changing the sheets I realised it was upside down. Was only one way to have the mattress, the underside was like bricks.

A lot of cheaper mattresses that landlords supply cannot be flipped unfortunately.

@OP there's some solid advice given here as to how to raise it with the landlord but unless you plan on living there for another 5 years I wouldn't suggest buying it yourself as they can be a pain to transport when moving and if you move in with a partner you'll probably be out buying another new mattress then.

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123077554#Comment_123077554

Can't say I've come across one of those, but you could still rotate it (not flip it) by 180 degrees every few months so you're not constantly sleeping on the same spot. Bit moot if you're sharing the bed with a partner though!

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123077576#Comment_123077576

My newest and most expensive mattress I've ever bought and will ever buy can't be flipped over, it basically has a built in topper on it and other side is completely flat. If we were to flip it we'd essentially wreck the built in topper.

Oscar_Madison

I know someone who rents out an apartment via an agency - no beds supplied - tenants supply their own and take them with them when leaving - I’d imagine your landlord will either be slow to get a new one or will get a crap one - personally I’d buy my own had I known I’d be there for a while then take it with me if I left

Mrs OBumble

OP - all the chat is about matresses. Even I have brought my own one - when we move out, we'll either take it and replace it with a cheap-cráp one, or if it's old enough, leave it behind and buy ourselves another good one.

But what else do you want replaced? Have you good reasons?

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123076510#Comment_123076510

good mattresses aren’t usually flipable

mrslancaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123078524#Comment_123078524

Seems crazy to me that rentals here come fully furnished especially when the regulations do not require it. If landlords did not supply the items they would not need to replace them, no issues regarding misuse, wear & tear etc. Unfurnished seems to work ok in other countries, if tenants move, they just move their stuff too.

Landlords here still fit-out long term rentals like an Airbnb, it’s very odd. If a tenancy is expected to last many years, landlords should just provide the shell with white goods, safety heat and ventilation fittings, and then tenants could fit-out the dwelling with furniture, window and floor coverings to their own requirements and taste. Most people would prefer their own stuff anyway.

OP, nothing to lose by asking the landlord and if he says no, buy it yourself. Everyone needs a good nights sleep.

Dial Hard

I think it's probably safe to assume it's not a particularly great mattress if it came in a rental, and even if it is, can someone please explain to me why even a memory foam/unflippable mattress can't be rotated 180 degrees (as opposed to flipped on its back) every few months???

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123079131#Comment_123079131

In the main I’m with you on that - I know it places greater burden on the tenant and due to affordability it’s not always practical for renters to stump up on a few thousand euros worth of house stuff so there’s room for both type of arrangements - but the less “stuff” in the house on day 1, the better is my view - if they want to wreck a chair or sofa or indeed a bed, let them wreck their own one.

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123079131#Comment_123079131

I know that throughout most European cities it is the case that the place is unfurnished when renting and this works when there are long term leases in place, eg my brother has a 10 year lease in Berlin on his apartment.

However over here you get a standard 1 year lease with most landlords and would you really spend a thousand or realistically far more to furnish a place that you could be asked to leave after a year as the LL wants to sell or renovate the place? There is a major inconvenience and expense of moving furniture and some LL's won't allow you to put your own furniture in their house.

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123079131#Comment_123079131

Spoken like somebody who thinks all tenants are reasonable. Given how expensive it is to dispose of things now tenants leaving furniture behind adds up. Having expensive furniture in a rental is a bad idea as it will be destroyed by tenants and they will assume it is cheap. If they paint they will do it themselves and not not repaint on leaving. Moving furniture in or out is prone to causing damage and people don't care if it is not their property

There are laws and consequences in other countries so if tenants do such things you can pursue them but not here. There is also a list of must provides here too.

OP Ask the landlord. They aren't going to think about a mattress with an existing tenant unless it is brought up. I just look up the last time it was replaced and if reasonable I will replace it. Had one tenant ask for a new mattress after a year, turns out they had "spilled" something on it. They didn't seem to get this was beyond normal wear and tear

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123079556#Comment_123079556

1 year leases aren’t 1 year. After 6 mi the you getting part 4 which allows for ongoing tenancy