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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be miffed at prospective landlords not accepting children in a rented property

214 replies

MolotovCocktail · 06/03/2013 16:19

We are looking to rent a larger property. We want to remain in the same location, but just need a bigger house. There's me, my DH, and our 2 DDs, aged 4yo and 11mo.

This is the second time that, when I've called to arrange a viewing, I've been told 'the landlord doesn't accept children' when asked who the property would be for.

Why is this? Surely, if any of us caused damage to the property, that's what the deposit is for?

AIBU to feel miffed and want to question the reason why such landlords are holding onto 3-bed family properties within walking distance of school?

OP posts:
specialsubject · 06/03/2013 16:22

the deposit is indeed to solve any damage although it does depend on the checkout clerk actually noticing (been there...)

small kids scribble on walls, bigger kids burn things with hair straighteners and leave blu-tak marks all over walls. It's all part of being a landlord.

oh well, their loss - empty properties lose money big time and a 3-bedder will obviously attract families.

babanouche · 06/03/2013 16:25

I found this as well - couldn't believe it. I think it's really short-sighted on the landlord's part. Parents want to keep a roof over their kids heads and are far less likely to cause trouble imo.

Original poster
MolotovCocktail · 06/03/2013 16:26

I guess I just feel marginalised. Not in a position to buy; have specific criteria in terms of house size and location - all the time feeling like we're stuck living in a house that's too small for our needs now.

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 06/03/2013 16:27

YABU - annoying as it is, it is their property therefore they can rent it to whom they like.

Wierd though, I am a LL and although I have a no pets policy, I don't have a no kids policy........

Original poster
MolotovCocktail · 06/03/2013 16:28

Agree bab: my standards are high! I'd no more allow either daughter to damage the house than I would myself! I guess the prospective landlords don't know that, though.

OP posts:
lisad123everybodydancenow · 06/03/2013 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CooEeeEldridge · 06/03/2013 16:28

We have a 4 bed house rented out and our agent advised us not to accept children, due to the damage they cause. But yes, agree, that that's what deposit is for.

ChocolateCoins · 06/03/2013 16:29

I don't understand it either. Who else would want a 3 bedroom house but a family with children?

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 06/03/2013 16:29

I have never ever had damage to my property which has been caused by children....always the adults!!

I much prefer a family being in my place :)

INeverSaidThat · 06/03/2013 16:30

Mmm, I can see that it is irritating but I can certainly see the landlords point of view too. I guess it is up to them.

Original poster
MolotovCocktail · 06/03/2013 16:31

I do understand a 'no pet's policy. That's quite obvious why someone may not want a pet in true property. But with 'no children', it just feels like a huge amount of people are being cut out; couples/professionals only sort of thing.

OP posts:
higgle · 06/03/2013 16:32

I suppose they would go to "young professionals" but with them the landlord would be risking damage from partying.

Original poster
MolotovCocktail · 06/03/2013 16:33

'their' not 'true' Blush

OP posts:
akaemmafrost · 06/03/2013 16:33

Yes it annoys me too. It seems they prefer partying singletons in house shares than stable families Hmm.

teatrolley · 06/03/2013 16:37

I can understand it having recently helped my friend scour a flat where the child living there had drawn on the doors, walls, paintwork, floors etc. In the end she had to replace two doors and redo the flooring in one room.

QueenMaeve · 06/03/2013 16:38

We have 3 houses rented out. We always prefer tennents without dc. I have 5 dc, I know the damage they cause! But I can see how you feel penalised because of it. But it is their asset and their entitled to safeguard it any way they want to

SnowyWellies · 06/03/2013 16:38

That is crazy. I am a LL too, and have the policy that as long as you leave the flat in the condition you found it (accounting for fair wear and tear of course!) then you can do anything you damn well please. Children, pets, tear the flipping thing down if you want- just it must be returned to me in the condition I sent it to you.

Original poster
MolotovCocktail · 06/03/2013 16:38

We would like to stay long-term in our next house, too. We love the area and wouldn't be looking to move from this current house were it not too small. Guaranteed income for the landlord and all that.

OP posts:
msrisotto · 06/03/2013 16:39

I actually had a couple fail to mention that they had children when they moved into my house. I think I had specified no pets or children as well. I let it go at the time, as you say, it's a 3 bed house near a bunch of schools, what do you expect? However, I am pretty upset at the damage they've caused to the house - baby gate has destroyed the plaster on the walls either side of the stairs (that'll come out of the deposit), kids splashing about in the bath has caused a leak in the ceiling below too (I can't take that out of their deposit but it wouldn't have happened if it was just adults). The deposit actually only covers so much. I've had tenants fail to pay their last months rent so the deposit only covered that and they did hundreds of pounds worth of damage too.

I can understand why you are upset though, you sound like a normal person, however unfortunately landlords get burned by dick heads.

DontmindifIdo · 06/03/2013 16:39

well, I can see why they do it if they can fill it without families, if you get a houseshare of working people, then for the bulk of the day, no one is in the property. Wear and tear is far less as there's just less use of the property. It's reasonable to hold back deposit for repairs that are due to damage like drawing on walls etc, but not really for what can be classed as acceptable levels of usage - it's just people who are rarely in the house will have at the end of the tenancy far less usage.

There's also the fear that the damage small children can do will be more than the deposit.

It's rubbish, but if they can easily fill it for the price they want, then they get to be picky...

PureQuintessence · 06/03/2013 16:39

I have let our property two a family that managed to cause more than £20k worth of damage (much of this through spirit markers on all the wall, radiators, on the furniture, and paint and poo and nail varnish on all carpets, etc), which naturally was not covered by insurance and not by the deposit. That was after leaving with no forwarding address, rent arrears and, they were behind with electricity and gas.

The same property was then refurbished, and let to 4 student sharers (who had boyfriends so I imagined quite a bit of wear and tear). All I needed to do when they left was give the house a spring clean! I did change the carpets when they left, but that was because we were going to move in ourselves when they left.

Original poster
MolotovCocktail · 06/03/2013 16:40

SnowyWellies will you please be our new landlord? Grin

OP posts:
akaemmafrost · 06/03/2013 16:41

Kids splashing about caused a leak? How about ADULTS not supervising the kids properly caused the leak?

abbyfromoz · 06/03/2013 16:41

OP- totally understand where you're coming from... We also rent. Had a bit of trouble finding a house for me, DH, DD (almost 2) and 2 cocker spaniels... Do you know what fixed it? 6 months rent in advance... Money talks. If you can afford it i suggest you give that a go.

BlueberryHill · 06/03/2013 16:41

It seems bizarre that family houses aren't rented to families, why have that type of house and not rent it out to families.

Having said that our children are much 'heavier' on the house than the cat, the wear and tear just seems so much more than when we had no kids, marks on the wall (not even pens just scuffs) and the woodwork from ride ons. Mind you it is my house and I will just repaint in a couple of years.