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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to pay for new curtains in the flat we rent out?

39 replies

kbird · 19/10/2011 15:49

I moved in with my partner a few months ago, and so rented out the flat I had been living in - nice Victorian one bed, large living room, designer bathroom etc. Quite nice but not in perfect nick. I had whole living room redecorated. I agreed to insulate bedroom windows as v draughty. Now tenants are asking for insulation plus heavy weight curtains in bedroom and living room! Ceilings are 3m!! I said no.

The loo seat was a bit broken, so I have replaced it at the not so tiny cost of £80 - stupid designer bathroom put in by previous owner.

The door to the living room doesn't click shut and now they are asking for that to be sorted.

I really feel like they are taking the piss, as there are blinds at all windows, plus lightweight curtains over the living room windows. I said they would be welcome to buy own curtains and take with when they go but there is a definite frost in the air now!

Frankly, I hope they give me their notice after 6 months and I will sell the bloody thing.

Is it unreasonable to say that the flat is rented as seen at viewing? I agree that the insulation should be done, but not the rest...

OP posts:
worraliberty · 19/10/2011 15:53

Well once the windows are done...and the living room door, they might not feel so cold.

How long have the tenants been there?

Feminine · 19/10/2011 15:53

I think it depends on a few things really.

If you are certain you will be able to sell, or rent it out again you could say no.

If you want to keep them happy ,I would just do the door.

I am surprised they don't want to choose their own curtains and keep them!

shesparkles · 19/10/2011 15:54

For as much as I like my heavyweight curtains, if you've provided some kind of curtains at the window then I don't think you need do any more. You've given them the option to change them and put their own curtains up, I don't think you're the unreasonable one!

Feminine · 19/10/2011 15:54

Sorry, forgot ...would you like it to be a long let?
Do they want one?

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 19/10/2011 15:56

Insulation and door should be sorted by you. Curtains are up to them.

And they are not taking the piss asking you to sort things out in the flat.

ScaredBear · 19/10/2011 15:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ThoseArentSpiritFingers · 19/10/2011 15:57

I am in a rented flat that has blinds on all the windows. Last winter It was cold so we asked the landlord if we could put up curtain polls and curtains. He said yes, and I thought this was awfully reasonable of him, seeing as we will be taking them with us and leaving little holes in the wall from the curtain poll. would never have expected him to pay for it!!

Catsdontcare · 19/10/2011 15:57

if there are blinds on ALL the windows then no I don't think you need to provide curtains. I would fix the door though

Original poster
kbird · 19/10/2011 15:58

Good points, I would like longish term let as less hassle all round, and they are nice! So, I am doing insulation and door. Agreed?!

OP posts:
Original poster
kbird · 19/10/2011 15:59

Scared bear - stupid mental designer loo seat! Due to stupid mental designer loo in non standard shape. Believe me, I would have gone the £15 route if I could have.

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 19/10/2011 16:01

I rent. I've never asked a landlord or an agency for new curtains. This isn't your responsibility. I'd love for the agency to sort out jobs, I've been here for almost 9 years though and they have done nothing Hmm

DesperatelySeekingPomBears · 19/10/2011 16:03

DP and I have rented a few properties and none have come with curtains. Usually we have to ask permission to put up poles/curtains and have to agree to leave the poles behind so as not to leave holes in the wall.

StickyGhost · 19/10/2011 16:04

I've lived in lots of rented places and some didn't even have curtains! They are expecting too much. I think you have done loads already compared to most private landlords. I don't even have double glazing in my place, it's all single-glazed and no heating in the bathroom or kitchen. When you rent you can't expect things to be perfect.

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 19/10/2011 16:04

They will be concerned about their heating bills with huge great windows like that and unlined curtains. Never mind, they'll probably move out after 6 months eh?

TandB · 19/10/2011 16:05

Insulation - down to you if there is genuinely a problem.
Door - definitely down to you.
Curtains - not a chance!

WilsonFrickett · 19/10/2011 16:05

We do the 'jobs' at the flat that we rent out, but we would never put curtains in - I think we once replaced a blind that literally fell to pieces, but we have definitely told tenants if they want to put other curtains up to be our guests but we won't be doing/paying for it. Having said that, our flat is double glazed... it depends if you want a long let really. If the flat is cold you could lose them in six months "because they don't want to do another winter". OTOH you could lose them in six months even if you do replace the curtains...

kelly2000 · 19/10/2011 16:05

You cannot say let as seen when it comes to repairs. The insulation and the door and the loo seat should be sorted out by you, the curtains are their responsibility so long as the curtains your provided are up to scratch (assumign curtains are included with the flat)

EllaDee · 19/10/2011 16:08

I think they should have asked about curtains when they were looking around - not later on! That's their problem, and they can ask but you don't have to do it (IMO, and I rent, FWIW).

The loo seat, the door clicking - your job to sort these things. If something is broken it needs fixing!

Quodlibet · 19/10/2011 16:12

Here's another way of looking at it. You could be like our lovely landlords who fitted thick curtains for us when we asked (didn't want to fit poles ourselves and bodge it, also flat is high-ceilinged and drafty). Your tenants, like us, are probably concerned about high heating bills and trying to insulate the place as best as possible (environmentally better, too.) We appreciate our landlords doing this for us.

Right now we are in the middle of a bathroom problem - a leak has meant major repair work which has made our bathroom non-functioning for over 2 weeks. Landlords are repairing but it is not fast. If we had a less positive relationship with our landlords we'd be quite possibly kicking up a fuss and asking for significant rent reduction this month. As it is - bathroom's not their fault, they're fixing it as speedily as they can, they've always been very reasonable to us - we're happy to let the issue lie.

Basically what I'm saying is that if you treat your tenants nicely they're more likely to be appreciative understanding tenants. In the long-term, curtains will add to your flat as people are only going to get more concerned about proper insulation.

valiumredhead · 19/10/2011 16:12

We rented for years before we bought our first home and curtains were always left to us to sort out even if there weren't blinds provided.

Quodlibet · 19/10/2011 16:14

We had asked about curtains before we moved in, though, and landlord had thought there were thick ones there (there weren't)

notcitrus · 19/10/2011 16:21

Insulation around windows and door clicking should be sorted by you ASAP.
Heavier curtains - not your problem but it would be reasonable to give permission for them to put up curtain poles for the curtains.

Curtains that size are going to be hugely expensive, even second-hand - maybe look at curtain exchanges listings and ask if the tenants would be interested in any if you put a rail up?

HeidiHole · 19/10/2011 16:26

I would say that the rent was set as determined by the state of the house.

Had all of those things been in place the rent would have been higher.

You cannot rent somewhere cheaper that hasn't been done up "as much" and then demand that it is done up to a higher standard!!! Cheeky...or if you do then obviously the rent will rise to reflect that.

MrsMooo · 19/10/2011 16:46

You need to sort the insulation and door ASAP, yabu not to expect to have to maintain your property - yes you rent a flat as seen but you don't check everything in minute detail...

Surely once you've sorted the insulation and the door, they won't need heavy weight curtains as the draughts will be sorted?

I don't think you need to get them curtains, but you do need to expect to maintain your property to the same standard you would if you were living in it, and we are looking at incredibly high fuel prices and cold winter so you can understand their concern.

If they're good tenants then I'd just say (If you're happy that they may bodge it) then I'd let them put the curtains and poles up it, you could compromise and say you'll fit the curtain poles (therefore they're done to your standard and fit the decor you want in the property)and let them put curtains up.

But you could also say that you think blinds are suffcient given that you're sorting the draughts out

Disclaimer: I may be a bit biased and angry as I have a shit landlord who won't fix the loft hatch that won't shut and is losing heat/creating a massive draught after the mainance bloke repairing the roof broke it, or the heater that hasn't worked for 3 years or give us permission to redecorate DS's bedroom where the shit job removing an old boarder means there's a ring of peeling wallpaper round the room

slavetofilofax · 19/10/2011 16:51

You do not need to provide insulation. If you managed to live there without it then there is no reason why they can't. They just want you to pay to save them bill money, they should have asked before they moved in of they were that bothered. You especially shouldn't be buying them curtains.

But I agree you should get the door fixed.

You also need to remember that as a LL you will not get objective advice on here. I would see if you can find a LL forum and ask on there. Someone on here once reccommended a good one, but I can't remember the name of it.

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