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Original poster

Tenants getting handyman to do work. I'm just really peed off about it

182 replies

Porridgeaddiction · 13/10/2022 13:47

I moved on with my now husband when we met into his house and I rented mine out.

I wanted to be a good landlord, so when the tenants moved in there were a few bits that they wanted doing so I asked my friend who's a handyman to do it.

There has been a couple of little things that have needed doing eg fix the guttering, and I've got my friend to do the job.

A couple of times he's messaged me to say that xyz needs fixing, is it ok for him to do the work.

Yesterday he messaged to say that he'd been to the house a few weeks ago to fix the leaking shower and a loose tile. Parts and labour £100. I didn't even realise that there was a problem with the shower and I'm p**sed off that the tenant went to the handyman and didn't tell me.

I just have a horrible gut feeling about all of this - either he's mugging me off or the tenants are getting work done which I'm not really required to do as a landlord. I know that they're very houseproud and like everything perfect, bit IMO as long as there's running water, central heating and no leaks, shouldn't that be enough?

OP posts:
ZooTropia · 13/10/2022 16:36

Kfjsjdbd · 13/10/2022 13:58

You think your friend is ‘mugging you off’, and your tenants are unreasonable to want a leaking shower and loose tile fixed?

You need to work harder on that ‘good landlord’ thing.

She was only asking and yes she is right, they should bloody ask first or not expect to be repaid
Sounds like you have landlord issues yourself

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 13/10/2022 16:39

@Porridgeaddiction - I think you need to write to/email your handyman friend and your tenants to say that, in future, you want to approve all repairs etc, apart from emergencies such as a burst pipe, before they are done. If it’s in writing, there can be no misunderstanding.

ivykaty44 · 13/10/2022 16:39

If the tenants have engaged with someone to do work then they have entered a contract with them

tell them if they want work done and you to pay then it must be you that sorts it out, anything they sanction will be down to them to pay the invoice

put this in an email and make it very very clear

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Home improvement Property legal advice
Oliverfunyuns · 13/10/2022 16:40

What's done is done, but yes, you should tell your tenants to come to you with requests for any future repairs, and tell the handyman not to do work without your say-so, from now on. That's how things normally work, and it's a perfectly normal arrangement.

ivykaty44 · 13/10/2022 16:41

Contacting you first about emergency is also vital, office hours only (if it was managed this would be the case) as what they consider an emergency may not be

Dillwyninthebath · 13/10/2022 16:41

They should definitely tell you first but also the basics you think they require are a bit below bar. I'm sure their rent is all and well and good though?

MrsGamgee · 13/10/2022 16:41

phishy · 13/10/2022 16:35

Are we reading the same posts?

OP says:

Since the tenants have moved in I've retiled the utility room floor because they didn't like the lino that was in it, had guttering replaced (it leaked), reinsulated and boarded the loft as they wanted to use it as storage so wanted it to be a clean space, I've done little bits of cosmetic work...

That is not the bare minimum., OP sounds like a great LL.

Show quote history

I didn't see that before I responded tbh.

Doingprettywellthanks · 13/10/2022 16:42

How very strange.

you need to adult up op.

”please ask me before contacting the handyman in future and I would like to give approval before any costs incurred. Many thanks”

done.

ancientgran · 13/10/2022 16:42

Motnight · 13/10/2022 15:08

Let your tenants know that they need to come through you.

Let the handyman know the same.

Clearly state that any further unauthorised work won't be paid for.

It's very cheeky of both of them.

Exactly that ^

ivykaty44 · 13/10/2022 16:43

No need to contact handyman, tenants could contact anyone to do the work - just tell the tenants not to get work done before contacting you first

KarenPirie72 · 13/10/2022 16:43

Given the tone of your posts here and your comment about your tenants only needing the basics , I wonder whether the tenants went to your friend because they thought you'd say no? Have you refused to carry out any other repairs?

Untitledsquatboulder · 13/10/2022 16:44

ChilliBandit · 13/10/2022 15:23

Do your tenants think the handy man is the property manager? I’d be more annoyed with how they had his details and why he didn’t contact you first.

By the way everything you are describing you’ve done is standard for a landlord (minus the limo repair but if it was in a poor state of repair then it needs replacing). You aren’t coming across as a particularly amazing landlord.

Don't agree @ChilliBandit . I think both replacing the lino and reinsultating and reboarding the loft are going above and beyond what could reasonably be expected.

OP just make it clear that all reports of dsmage/problems/repairs must come to you to be sorted in future.

KarenPirie72 · 13/10/2022 16:45

Since the tenants have moved in I've retiled the utility room floor because they didn't like the lino that was in it, had guttering replaced (it leaked), reinsulated and boarded the loft as they wanted to use it as storage so wanted it to be a clean space, I've done little bits of cosmetic work...

I missed this. Apologies for my other comment, OP.

UnderCoverFieldAgent · 13/10/2022 16:45

I don’t understand landlords like you. This property is your investment for the future and you don’t want to take care of it 🤔 This job is small
now and, whilst £100 is annoying, would you prefer to wait until the whole bathroom needs doing and it costs you £5k? Weird.

RedAppleGirl · 13/10/2022 16:45

Do not threaten non-payment.
Asking for confirmation of works is fine.
I think you need a set maximum for repairs, anything above this figure needs to be authorized. Maybe.

MargotChateau · 13/10/2022 16:45

Lol, you don’t see a leaking shower and a loose tile as something that should be fixed. Great landlord. Like pretty much ever landlord I’ve had in London, that left me without hot water for days, dripping hot taps which pushed up the power bill.

Don’t be a landlord if you are going to be rubbish. You say house proud as if that is a bad thing. Yes your tennants should have told you, but as the guy is your mate they probably thought it was fine, and given my experience with landlords taking their sweet time to do repairs, while we their tennants had to live with the effects of the issues and paying through the nose for the privilege in living in badly maintained properties, they probably thought it was quickest way to get it done. Seems they were right.

ivykaty44 · 13/10/2022 16:46

reinsulated and boarded the loft as they wanted to use it as storage so wanted it to be a clean space, I've done little bits of cosmetic work..

your insurance will not cover you for storage in the lift on boards- that’s really not sensible,

imagine they go up and put a foot or fall through the ceiling… you’d have to pay and if they’ve injured themselves…

sjxoxo · 13/10/2022 16:46

The tenant should come to you first but you do sound like you don’t want to spend the money to fix the various issues… They’re not asking too much imo. I don’t get the impression you really want to manage tenants tbh.. could you use an estate agent or sell the house x

redskyhaze · 13/10/2022 16:46

I can understand why you want the tenants to come to you instead of going straight to the handyman, especially if you're paying for it.

But I also think your criteria for 'being a good landlord' are pretty much bare minimum.

DenholmElliot1 · 13/10/2022 16:47

I agree with you OP they should check with you first.

Politely remind the tenants that they need to get approval from you first before going ahead with repairs and also tell your repairman that he needs to get approval from you too before you go ahead with repairs.

Hopeful16 · 13/10/2022 16:48

I'd have a quiet word with both about you needing to 'authorise' work tasks BUT speaking as somebody who has a similar rental I would LOVE to have a house proud tenant who wanted to keep it nice. We've been stung with the last two sets of tenants in a big way! Costs of thousands from unreported minor leaks from kitchen taps that have been left to ruin kitchen units, radiators that have dripped and made flooring and floor boards damp, etc.

TheWolves · 13/10/2022 16:49

You need to work out how you are managing your property. It'll be a lot easier for you if you make a list of what is pre-approved and what you wish to review before authorising. Give a list to tenants and your handyman.

worriedatthistime · 13/10/2022 16:50

They should always go through but the shower was leaking and. Tile broken , yes you would be expected to do that as both could lead to further damage which would cost you more

meateatingveggie · 13/10/2022 16:50

I'd be pissed off too. Being a tenant doesn't give you carte blanche to have whatever work done you want and send the bill to the landlord. Which is what's happened.

However you should get such things fixed (on your say so). Your property needs maintaining and to a standard you'd want yourself.

I don't agree you should be grateful for them sorting problems. That's your job.

worriedatthistime · 13/10/2022 16:52

You are aware of the other legal requirements I assume of being a landlord its not just having a roof over their head

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