dispute with holiday rental owner concerning floor damage

Discussion in 'Wood' started by Jessica Jouan, Jul 6, 2021.

  1. Jessica Jouan

    Jessica Jouan New Member

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    Hi all,
    we are looking at some views and expertise on oak wood.
    went on holiday a week in a house.
    When we left, the owner found the floor warped/peaked and threatening to send us to court.
    We have a toddler and lucky enough that he did not break anything but he did drop a vase with shattered glasses and glass beads deco the first day. there was no water in the vase, We did not spill any water. Could not mop cause there was no mop.
    the area in question is the area near the stairs we blocked with armchair/chairs and props to stop our baby climbing up the stair which is a dangerous hazard for a baby. and we used the sofa bed , could that damage the floor ?
    we used the sofa bed ? can moving furniture affect a wood floor. can we be responsible for a oak floor that has warped ? we do not know how it is possible and made lots of research, he thinks we spilled water but we have not but all it said online, that one spillage if we did could not just possibly swell a treated oak floor in such a short period of time.
    Any ideas, we have listed him all we have done but still does not believe us.
     
  2. Carpet tucker

    Carpet tucker Well-Known Member

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    He's probably got some cleaners coming in after each break and they're probably wet mopping it and He's only just noticed the damage they're doing,unfortunately you're the most recent tenant so you'll get the blame
     
  3. LKAB Gypsol Alan Jackson

    LKAB Gypsol Alan Jackson Well-Known Member

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    Tell him to go swing. Tenting could be due to loads of things and that's why he will have insurance. Carpet tucker is probably closest or was it tenting when you got there...
     
  4. Paul webb

    Paul webb Well-Known Member

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    He needs to prove it wasn't like that before you arrived, he needs a proper independent inspection report, stating all possible causes, he will have to prove that it was definitely something you did
     
  5. Jessica Jouan

    Jessica Jouan New Member

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    Is it possible we damage his floor by using the sofa bed or moving some furniture near the stairs. We did not spilled any water or bath in the living room if there was a spillage would it damage the floor in a few week ?He is so unreasonable, he looks like he will send us to court regardless what an fitters would say .. we referred him to websites to he can look into other possibilities, the wood woukd have swollen but does not listen, I am trying to get experts feedbacks I can use to support our arguments really. It is our first experience and we are quite in shock we are accused of such damage.
     
  6. Jessica Jouan

    Jessica Jouan New Member

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  7. Paul webb

    Paul webb Well-Known Member

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    Moving furniture wouldn't cause that kind of damage, i say let him take you to court, he has no proof that you damaged the floor, if by chance he comes up with an inspectors report, tell him you want to get your own report and you will be claiming the cost of it back in court
     
  8. Jessica Jouan

    Jessica Jouan New Member

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    Thank you for taking the time. That last thing he wrote to us is "he has an idea of what happened"... he looks like he will make up some ki d of story... but we have everything in writing... so will wait... I really hope he is fitter is honest and will support the possibilities we have listed him... but he seems to be stubborn enough to just scrap what everybody days and just sticks to what he thinks not what is possible.
     
  9. mjfl

    mjfl Well-Known Member

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  10. AngryAndy

    AngryAndy Well-Known Member

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    This guy looks to be a chancer who is attempting to bully you into submission. His opinion is not a professional opinion and his "fitter" is likely to be unqualified to pass a judgment worthy of a court hearing. He may also really believe that you caused his wood floor problem, but I doubt it.

    Where is this holiday home as there may be a local expert witness (inspector) who could quickly resolve your problem? But, before you engage an expert inform this landlord that it is your intention to do so as they will need access, and if you are in the right, and I think you probably will be, that you will be passing the bill for the inspection on to him for settlement. Do this in writing stating the approximate costs so it is clear and can be presented to a court hearing when you take him to small claims court for refusing to pay the bill. This action alone may resolve your problem if he sees you're no push over and prepared to fight him. I refer to my first statement that he sounds like a chancer.

    A word of warning. He may get an inspection, but I can tell you from experience that not all flooring inspectors are as straight as they claim and some will blatantly write a report for their paymaster rather than for the floor. So if he gets a report done do not simply take it at face value. Get it checked independently as it may have glaring holes in it that can be torn down with the correct science applied. Opposing reports will be determined by a court and an third expert could be called to pick over the reports and the science claimed in each to validate them. Best if your expert understands the science and, most importantly, gets it right.

    Has anyone even taken a moisture reading of this floor? That will tell you a great deal and could resolve the issue very quickly. Everything that happens to a wood floor can be explained. It really is science and there are formulas that apply to the amount of movement in a wood floor plank based on the amount of moisture added or removed from it.
     

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