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Original poster

Please help! New tenants complaining.. who is right?

35 replies

Diorissimo1985 · 21/08/2018 06:38

We are renting out our house for the first time so a bit tentative about what is reasonable when it comes to the tenants...

They moved in a few days ago and have so many complaints already. Some are completely valid and I'm fixing them asap (I.e new washing machine has mechanical fault, John Lewis is replacing with another new machine this week).

However others are things like:
-the handles on the kitchen drawers are a little loose

  • the kick boards under the kitchen cupboards are loose
  • two sash windows only stay open from the top and not the bottom
... and lots of other minor things besides

I am wondering if this is all normal? Some of the requests I feel are a bit silly and if I were the tenant (I have been in the past) I would just tighten the handles myself... takes a few seconds and wouldn't require a handyman to come out, which is what they're asking for.

Any advice from other landlords? Do I just fix everything, however minor, as I don't want to get off on the wrong foot.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 21/08/2018 06:40

By reporting them now it also makes it clear that they where faults when they moved in so it could well be a case of covering their own backs!

PotteringAlong · 21/08/2018 06:41

I agree; they’re making sure you don’t leave them with a hefty bill to fix things that are not their fault.

I think you should have made sure they were fixed before they moved in, really.

Byebyebye · 21/08/2018 06:43

It might be that they’re not expecting you to repair these things but making you aware so when they move out they aren’t expected to pay for these repairs.

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Property
HereBeFuckery · 21/08/2018 06:45

Depends. If you charge a decent whack of rent, then yes, it's your job to fix the issues. That's what renting is about, not having to fix your own house.

If you charge below the going rate then it would make sense for tenants to do some stuff themselves. IMHO.

BritInUS1 · 21/08/2018 06:51

I see their point of view, why are the handles loose if it’s so easy to tighten them up?

Either arrange to go round for a day yourselves to sort out or pay someone to fix the list

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 21/08/2018 06:52

Thanks for the replies. To be honest we didn't even realise these issues were there, and we had been living there! Yes they have said they want everything fixed.

Rent is very reasonable and below what we could get for it - I wanted longer term tenants so was happy to rent it for less.

Do I just suck it up and get everything done? I'm sad they are not having a good first week there as I tried so hard to make it nice and got new floors, furniture and white goods before we vacated it Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 21/08/2018 06:53

Yes I'd pay a handyman as we don't live locally anymore

OP posts:
Oblomov18 · 21/08/2018 06:57

I baffled by your view. Of course these things should been fixed before. And no they are not tiny.
Loose Handles, kick boards that fall down etc are not ok.

rwalker · 21/08/2018 06:58

get it done or they can stop paying rent saying you have not done repairs

LustyBusty · 21/08/2018 07:00

As pp, I'm sure my landlord thought they'd got a troublesome tenant when I first moved in as I logged every single tiny issue (even if it wasn't necessarily a "problem" - back door sticking, door handles come off, paint on lampshades etc etc.) It was more to cover my own arse than a need to have the stuff put right. Since that first week, there's been 2 issues logged in 3 years (garage door needed replacing and screen door mesh needed redoing - I'd have done the screen door myself but couldn't figure out how! Offered to pay and was told no)
You may have troublesome tenants, or they may just have been burned in the past.

Slartybartfast · 21/08/2018 07:03

if the handles are loose they might break.
i would get them fixed

AstralTraveller · 21/08/2018 07:07

Are you letting it furnished then OP? I think you expose yourself to a lot more problems by letting it furnished.

AstralTraveller · 21/08/2018 07:08

Oh and Gripfill is your friend.

ApolloMing · 21/08/2018 07:10

As a tennat who has their fair share of experience with money hungry landlords I can assure you they are covering their backs. If they don't report these things you'll charge them for the repairs on check out. We were once charged £2.56 for a fitting the owner themselves removed and then 'forgot' about removing. My advice to your tennants is to write everything down, take photos, and report even the most minor defects. Fixing or not fixing is up to you - do you want to protect your investment or let it go to pieces?

Reastie · 21/08/2018 07:10

Did you rent via estate agents? They may be able to advise if rent is going through them/they arranged the inventory. Seems like lots of the issues could be easily fixed but things like the sash windows, if they’re period and original I wouldn’t look at getting them to open from top and bottom, they open so they work and these things happen in a period Home. Some windows in a new house might open less than the top of a sash. The only thing that I’d consider with that is escape route in case of fire as you could climb out of the bottom of an open sash but not the top. Maybe supply one of htose little red hammers you can get to out by each window that only opens from the top so in case of emergency or fire they can break the glass on the bottom to escape.

thousandpapercranes · 21/08/2018 07:10

It’s definitely to cover themselves. If you’d let the property through an agent all these things would have been flagged on an inventory. It seems you’ve done it yourself there’s no other way of flagging the issues without telling you direct.

My advice would be to instruct an agent to manage it especially as you’re not local. There is so much compliance as a landlord, that it’s just not worth the risk if you’re unsure of what you’re doing.

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 21/08/2018 07:24

Yes its furnished and we do have an agent - who isnt being very helpful to be honest! They are just passing on the complaints and not advising what we should do.
Thanks for the replies - I think we must have been very low maintenance tenants when we were renting as we did loads ourselves so good to get your opinions, thank you

OP posts:
tectonicplates · 21/08/2018 07:42

OP did you get an inventory done?

Reastie · 21/08/2018 07:46

Have you given them the option of adding these notes to the existing inventory to make it clear you don’t expect them to be done when they move out and that they aren’t responsible for them and won’t lose deposit over these issues? They may be happy with this

thousandpapercranes · 21/08/2018 07:51

Well there’s nothing to advise, they alert you to a problem and it’s your responsibility to fix it. Perhaps ask the agent if the have a maintenance guy they use. Book him in for one morning and he can fix all the niggly issues the tenant is complaining about.

I can see it from both sides tbh, I’m currently a tenant in house that desperately needs work, I’d love to fix it up but it’s simply not my house and not my responsibility. I’ve also been a landlord, we had one particular tenant couple who were a pain from the moment they moved in till the moment they moved out- newly renovated property btw.

OrgyOfBarminess · 21/08/2018 07:56

Hi it definitely sounds like the inventory issues they're flagging for if/when they stop renting so they're not charged.

It depends what you've arranged with the estate agent and your tenant.

I was a tenant at my last home and I arranged to do all the decorating myself as we'd had damp proofing done prior to us moving in, I also did minor repairs myself but anything that I felt needed someone professional I'd ask. I also took before and after photos of anything I did to cover my own back in case we got stung with a bill at the end of the tenancy. Landlord bought us a new shed on the condition we built it but it meant we had a nicer garden area. It was a bit of give and take however I understand that some tenants don't believe that this is fair due to paying so much out in rent. I'd rather live in a comfortable home tbh regardless of whether it's mine or not, it's my home for the time I'm renting it for.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 21/08/2018 08:08

I think there’s a difference for the tennant between fixing odd jobs as they come up and moving into a house with lots of odd jobs needed that really should have been done before it was let. They’re making it clear that the property had various minor issues when they moved in.

DULLDull · 21/08/2018 08:25

I'd ask them to compile a list of things that need fixing and then send a handyman round to sort it out. They may turn out to be a pain or be the best tenants ever. It's too early to say, but if these things need fixing it's your responsibility and it's far better to start with a good relationship with your new tenants. I've been a LL for 10 years by the way.

DULLDull · 21/08/2018 08:27

You say the agent is just passing the complaints on and you live quite far away. I presume you have just paid for a finders fee service. I'd suggest you consider asking the agent to fully manage. It will cost more but will be less hassle.

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 21/08/2018 08:30

No we are paying for full management service - shall I say to the agent please just do what is expected? I feel they want me to decide... which is why I was asking on here!!
I do want happy tenants I just thought they were possibly being a bit pinickity - but the majority of posters think I should just get it all fixed so that's what we will do! No problem Grin

OP posts: