Damage/rot to bottom of door?

[RafeDonson]

I rent a house and I've noticed the bottom of the front door corner outside has damage - possibly rot. I'm going to tell the landlord/agency at some point, but should I be worried about it from a security standpoint - I have bolts on the top and bottom. Is there any urgency to getting it fixed? Also, is there anything I can apply to the door - varnish etc - without changing the colour - to stop any further damage?

 

[dishman]

Hard to tell if it is due to rot or not by just one picture. It looks like it has just been caught on something and chipped a bit off. As long as the door is not crumbling away in your hand when you prod the area, it should be fine. You could tap it lightly with a key, if the key sinks in easy and it is like polystyrene, then there maybe rot. If it is hard, then it is good. Tap it in a good area first to check.


As long as you have good working locks (mortice locks), it will be fine.


However, even if there is rot....you should not do anything,


You are a tenant and are not responsible for fixing or maintaining the building/house. It is down to the landlord to effect repair. You do not own the property and you could make it worse which could then cost you your deposit.


It does look like it could do with a strip and re-varnish. Also possibly get them to install a weather guard, which is a bit of sloped wood to take the rain away from the bottom of the door.

 

[RafeDonson]

Thanks - I've looked at the floor and there is marks where the door has been rubbing, so it appears friction damage is a factor. I'll give it the tapping test and see what happens.