To ask if our tenants' request is reasonable?

[TrickyD]

Tenants have just moved in to our two bed terrace house which was let as furnished. They have requested, via the agent, that we remove the bed from the second bedroom as they have a 6 month old child; they want the room as a nursery, and apparently " their furniture will be arriving soon".
We live 90 miles away, so bringing the bed here, storing it and probably taking it back for the next tenant is a pain.
The bed was there when they viewed. Would it be reasonable to ask them to deal with it themselves and replace it at the end of the tenancy, or should we just suck it up and drive over and fetch it? DH prefers the latter "to keep them sweet".

[cantpickusername]

Is there a reason why you want to rent it out furnished? Otherwise you can just sell the bed and rent it out as unfurnished next time?

[DeathStare]

I'd think carefully before you do anything as it sets a precedent. What if over time there is more furniture they want you to collect and store so they can use their own?

[absolutelynotfabulous]

I think you should let them deal with it themselves.

They took the property as seen, knew it was furnished and with what, and should have negotiated removal of any furniture as a part of the agreement.

90 miles is a considerable inconvenience imho.

[PoshPenny]

I think reasonable to say no you won't be going to collect it. They should have asked before they signed if they wanted rid of it so they could put a cot in there. So long as the room is reinstated to how it was when they moved in at the end of the tenancy, within reason they can do what they want in the meantime. I think they're trying it on.

[lastqueenofscotland]

Perfectly reasonable to trot out the taken as seen line.

I'd tell them to deal with it or that you can arrange a removal person and storage but it will be at their cost

[PoundingTheStreets]

I'd ask for clarification about their "furniture arriving soon." I am not a legal expert, but I know there are different rights for tenants/landlords depending on whether a place is let furnished or unfurnished, and I'd want some assurance that you're not affording them extra rights by agreeing to remove your own furniture for theirs.
Assuming that's all in order, can you strike a compromise and state that you'll remove it next time you're in the area due to the 90-mile distance and that you'd have removed it sooner had they requested that be done before they moved in.

[mum2Bomg]

Get them to put it in the loft if they don't want it and put it back before they leave. I'm a long term renter and wouldn't expect a landlord to come and get it. YANBU.

[LumelaMme]

Can't they dismantle it and put it in the loft?

[LumelaMme]

x-post!

[FireSquirrel]

Could it not be dismantled and stored in the attic at that house?

[SpotTheDuck]

I have a property I rent out, and had a similar request from a tenant.

Just tell them you aren't able to collect or store the bed, and it is included in the tenancy. If they want to remove it, they can do so but they will need to replace it (with a bed of the same size and similar style, approved by you) at the end of their tenancy.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

It's a perfectly reasonable request from the tennants.
It's perfectly reasonable for you to decline.

[TrickyD]

cantpick, it used to be DH's home when he worked away, and it is furnished with decent stuff. It was featured in a 'home' magazine, and it attracts a good rent for the city where it is located, so I am loathe to strip all the furniture out. It might be hard to sell the bed with the tenants living there. If we bring it here I guess it can be accommodated, it just seems an unusual (and annoying) request.

[RhiWrites]

Say it's not feasible for you to remove it but you're willing for them to dismantle and store it provided it is returned in good order at the end of their tenancy.

[Spam88]

I rented furnished properties for years and would never have thought this was a reasonable request to make of the LL. I agree with PP's - tell them that is long as it is reinstated in the same condition at the end of the tenancy then you don't mind them dismantling and storing it but unfortunately you are not able to provide that service for them.

[NoSunNoMoon]

Tell them to store it - it was there when they viewed and it stays there. If they dispose of it they will have to buy a new one when thy leave.

As a LL I say start as you mean to go on. They will have you on toast if you don't put your foot down now.

[TrickyD]

Thanks everyone. There is no loft, sort of vaulted ceiling to the roof. However there is a cellar, though it is a little damp, not from water entry just lack of ventilation. We could suggest they store it there, with the proviso suggested by Spot that it should be replaced if not suitably wrapped up, by which I mean the mattress, the frame should be OK.

[WatchingFromTheWings]

Definitely question the fact they have furniture coming. Before you know it you'll be getting further messages asking to move even more of your furniture. Or they may get rid of yours to make way for theirs.

[ijustdontknowanymore]

If it were my tenants, I would arrange for my agent to remove it.

[appalachianwalzing]

We've requested two landlord to remove furniture, both were obliging, both also said we were great tenants so I'd consider facilitating them if you're hoping they'll be there for the long haul.

Most adults acquire some bits of furniture- in our first long term rental, we bought a fancy coffee table, two large bookcases, and an armchair. We asked them to remove a (really ugly and overbearing) cabinet that took up a lot of space and was a bit pointless, and a bed because we wanted to use the second room as a study.

We took incredibly good care of that flat, it was our home, but ultimately different people live in different ways- if you don't make room for their cot, what will they do? Most people will have a second bed in the second bedroom, but you rented to a young family, not two sharing professionals. It's almost impossible to get unfurnished let's, so I'd facilitate them making the changes they need to to enable their home work for them.

[TrickyD]

watching, thst was worrrying me too.
Sorry about drip feeding, but we informed the agent over a week ago that we would be like to visit tomorrow a) to get rid of some rubbish that the previous tenants had left in an outside cupboard and b) to check that the electrical work we had arranged before the start of the tenancy has been done satisfactorily. Agent, despite my reminding her, only spoke to tenants today and received the bed request and passed it on then, so not much notice. Tenants have been in for two weeks. .

[OneSoupAndAnotherSoup]

Two weeks?! No, no, no, if they wanted furniture to be removed they should have requested this before taking the tenancy. I've rented loads places, both furnished and non, and would never ask for a bed to be removed AFTER moving in.

[Lazyafternoon]

I'd say ok - this time. But question what other furniture they have coming. Let them know you will be only be making one visit to remove furniture. You let it as seen and you need to know now (or at least a couple of days before you visits so you can work out how to transport and store it) if there's anything else they need removing. Make it clear that it is long way for you to travel etc and after this trip you will not be coming to remove any more furniture. if they want to remove it and store appropriately/ replace themselves when they leave then that's going to be the only other option.

[MargaretCavendish]

I have on two occasions asked a LL to remove furniture for me and they both did it. I didn't think I was being unreasonable. I did say that I would do this when viewing both properties, though - and in both cases the agent told me that would be fine. I'd double-check that this wasn't the case, if I were you: in my experience it's not uncommon for agents to tell you things that they haven't checked with the LL, especially when they're trying to let...

[PaulDacresConscience]

It depends. Are you looking at this as a long term tenancy? If so then I'd be inclined to agree the request and remove the bed. 90 miles is a PITA but presumably the bed can be taken apart which will make it easier for you to store.

If you are only planning this as a short term tenancy then I would say no.

Whatever you decide, it needs to be made clear to the tenants that the house was advertised as furnished so there will be no further removal of furniture.