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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask my tenants to do this?

28 replies

ArsMamatoria · 01/11/2010 10:03

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.

OP posts:
bamboobutton · 01/11/2010 10:06

we had a rent reduction when the LL was doing work on our house.

i can't remember how much it was though.

TheLadyEvilStar · 01/11/2010 10:10

I would love you to be my landlord!!!

nottheeurowinner · 01/11/2010 10:13

I'm a landlord - I haven't offered a rent reduction to tenants but I've ALWAYS replaced and repaired quickly and professionally whatever has needed.

I think there are a lot of very cr**py landlords out there and most tenants are very happy that I've kept the house in good nick.(rented house is actually repainted more often than mine!!)

I think it might be going above and beyond the call of duty to offer a rebate on rent - but I'm sure your tenants would love you for it! I wouldn't be able to afford that - but if you can & want to - go for it.

You might be better to put any spare cash into a slush fund, though.It's amazing how things always seem to break down at once! I had to replace the the boiler last year and thankfully had enough money in the kitty to organise a same-day call out/replacement for my tenants.

emptyshell · 01/11/2010 10:17

As long as you remember the regs about accessing the property/quiet enjoyment etc - I'd just apologetically say it's not going to be doable until after they've moved in, it'll take x long - how do they want to go about it, do they want to be in, or are they OK with him letting himself in if they're out at work?

If they grizzle and make unhappy noises, perhaps offer the rent reduction but I wouldn't go in with it outright.

For what it's worth - I'd just love a landlord who actually does repairs! Our front door's had a hole in it for a year plus now!

ForMashGetSmash · 01/11/2010 10:17

I am a tenant and personally I would be thrilled with all that work going on and would not expect a reduction. THey saw the plae before taking it on...so the work is a bonus. Don't offer a reduction.

BelieveInLife · 01/11/2010 10:18

I wouldn't offer a rent reduction. Part and parcel of being a tenant as I see it.

Original poster
ArsMamatoria · 01/11/2010 10:30

Thanks for all your responses. Very helpful to know where I stand on the evil slum landlord/ nice landlord scale! I'll keep things upfront and friendly with the tenants and go from there.

OP posts:
MaMoTTaT · 01/11/2010 10:31

I@m with ForMash - I'm a tenant an it wouldn't bother me the work going on. (although 3 days after moving in would be a little stressful with unpacked stuff around as well if I had notice it would be happening I wouldn't mind).

vez123 · 01/11/2010 10:43

Will you be my landlord? When we asked for perfectly reasonable repairs to be done ou Ll wanted to increase the rent!!

Pixel · 01/11/2010 10:52

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? Envy

MaMoTTaT · 01/11/2010 10:54

oh that's shit Pixel.

I would never expect a rent reduction - but an apology for inconvenience, imo, goes a very long way.

LittleMissHissyFangs · 01/11/2010 10:54

I think that 3days after moving in is ideal, the stuff can stay in boxes.

I'm a tenant and I'd be thrilled with the work being done, I wouldn't expect a rent reduction for inconvenience that at the end of the day I will be benefiting from.

vez, you need to look for a new place to live, your LL has all the hallmarks of being a LL from hell.

Firawla · 01/11/2010 11:15

never heard of landlords giving rent reduction im not sure you need to
getting the work done asap should be fine, they will be happy with that. 3 days after move in doesnt seem too bad

LittleRedPumpkin · 01/11/2010 11:25

Wow, I wouldn't expect a rent reduction! You sound lovely.

I have occasionally asked my landlord not to paint while I'm living there because the fumes are bad, but that's their choice and they asked for the work to be done.

EvilEyeButterPie · 01/11/2010 11:31

We have had a total of four of the last 18 months with no oven, and not even so much as an apology- you are a good landlord!

NoahAndTheWhale · 01/11/2010 11:34

As a tenant I wouldn't expect a rent reduction (although of course wouldn't complain Smile).

You sound a very thoughtful landlord Smile

Original poster
ArsMamatoria · 01/11/2010 12:44

Oooh, I'm preening now Grin. I have precious memories of that flat and want it to remain a happy place to live.

Pixel and EvilEyeButterPie, that is appalling!

OP posts:
MaimAndKilloki · 01/11/2010 13:40

Can I also add that you sound like a fantastic landlord!

I've never had a landlord who'll do any repairs (even when they are dangerous!), let alone offer a rent reduction!

SMummyS · 01/11/2010 14:11

Our contract states rent reduction will be given fir times when the property is not fit to live in eg no boiler therefore no heating. From the list you've said I don't think it's a case its not fit to live in, its just personal taste so I don't think you should have a rent reduction.

ItsGraceAgain · 01/11/2010 14:15

Blimey, my landlord won't even give me the paint to redecorate the place myself!

I wouldn't have thought a rent reduction was in order unless the work involved knocking down walls, cutting off the water, etc.

Sarsaparilllla · 01/11/2010 14:16

I wish you'd been my landlord when I rented Grin

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.

ballstoit · 01/11/2010 14:19

When we moved in there was some work that needed doing; carpet downstairs needed replacing, porch needed replacing as the wood was rotten and glass wobbling and the shower needed repairing. It was agreed with our landlord that the carpet and shower woud be done within a month (I was pregnant with DD and wanted it doing prior to the birth) and the porch done within 3 months before the end of the summer. We didnt have a rent reduction and I woudnt have expected one. We were aware that things needed doing but wanted to be settled and unpaced before DD arrived.

I think you would be quite reasonable to agree dates for completion of wor, without offering a rent reduction.

TheLifeOfRiley · 01/11/2010 14:19

I want you to be my landlord! Shock

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.

psammyad · 01/11/2010 15:04

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 Smile.

cheesesarnie · 01/11/2010 15:07

our landlord gets dh to do the work and knocks the labour and materials of the next months rent.helps us and helps her!

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