Sorry to post in AIBU as there's probably a landlords' thread somewhere, but I really need some thoughts quickly, before I send an email.
I had an email from my tenants to say that there were a few problems with the flat (leak in bathroom, could they have a shower hook put in, walls and ceilings need a lick of paint, carpet in bedroom needs replacing). This is all perfectly reasonable and I immediately arranged for some quotes and set up some dates.
In the past, we have tended to work these things out by me giving my tenants' numbers to the workmen and letting them sort out dates and times (with their permission of course).
But there are so many things to do at once. The painting job alone is going to take 6 days and the earliest the painter can do is 3 days after my new tenant moves in.
I like my tenants and want to maintain a good relationship with them.
Is it the done thing to offer a rent reduction for this month to take into account the inconvenience? If so what sort of a reduction should I offer? Obviously with all the work I'm strapped for cash, despite putting money aside from the rent to prepare for repairs!
I sound very naive, I know. My OH used to deal with the flat, so this past year has been a steep learning curve for me.
AIBU?
To ask my tenants to do this?
ArsMamatoria · 01/11/2010 10:03
We had to have a ceiling replaced so lots of work emptying room out then spending a week trying to cook etc round piled-up furniture in the kitchen. I had a hysterical ASD boy who didn't like it that the room was empty and lost money because I usually work from home and had no space to do it. On top of that, when the workmen had gone I had to spend 3 hours shampooing the carpet at my own expense.
No rent reduction or even apology for the inconvenience.
We recently had a leak in the roof above another room. We are going to live with the hole in the ceiling!
Why are everyone else's landlords nicer than mine? 
As a tenant I wouldn't expect a rent reduction (although of course wouldn't complain 
).
You sound a very thoughtful landlord
Oooh, I'm preening now 
. I have precious memories of that flat and want it to remain a happy place to live.
Pixel and EvilEyeButterPie, that is appalling!
I wish you'd been my landlord when I rented
I don't think you need to offer a rent reduction, you're getting the work done that they've requested which is very resonable of you.
Most landlords I've ever had took about a million years to fix anything, let alone come and redo some painting that was a bit tatty!!
Once I was left with a flooded cellar (and the washing machine down there, and unusable) for about 2 weeks and the
central heating timer never worked the entire time I lived in one place.
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I want you to be my landlord! 
The tenants should be over the moon that you are getting all these things done for them straightaway, I don't reckon they will be expecting a rent reduction.
You sound like a lovely landlord!
I've never expected a rent reduction for work being done - but then again, even for what seemed to me quite major works (e.g. replacing a window or a boiler) it's always been things that were completed in a single day.
Obviously there's more inconvenience if the work takes 6 days, even so I wouldn't actually offer a rebate if I were you. They are probably just happy you are getting the work done .
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