To think that if you're letting your house you need to be flexible?

[ProbablyCaroline]

I just saw a rental on Rightmove that appealed so I called the agency. It said it was part furnished and long term..I want long term so I asked if the landlord would be flexible about that but the agent said "no...someone else asked and he refused"

The furnishings included two beds and a kitchen table as well as a ratty two piece suite...nothing special..all stuff you could buy in a charity shop.

Aibu to think the landlord needs to realise that people looking for a long term let are going to have their own furniture?

Keeping furniture in there gives a landlord different rights to access and property reclaim (if you don't pay your rent on time) I think, could be something to do with that perhaps?

oh right....I see!

Is there a garage you could have stashed the nasty not to your taste furniture in?

Perhaps, perhaps not. But depending on area, it's a landlord's prerogative to let their property as they wish. Tenants from overseas, for example, may appreciate furniture. It's clearly not the place for you - good luck finding somewhere better!

As far as I know - I'm a landlord who rents furnished accommodation - renting it furnished does not give you different rights? The main implication is to do with tax and the annual 10% deduction from profit for replacements.

At the end of the day it's the landlords house. Either you like it and rent it or you don't. Having said that personally I always try to accommodate tenants wishes because you want someone to be happy living there. Perhaps take it as an indication of the type of landlord he would be. I'm always amazed at how awful landlords are reported to be on mn - perhaps he is one of those?

I have looked at houses like this, where the furniture is unsuitable, old and you just want it removed, not to use it. The last one like that that I saw was really tatty all over, but they were remarkably inflexible about removing any of the furniture. I didn't want to live there, obviously, as that just indicated the landlord had unrealistic expectations that you would want to live in a dump with old furniture and undecorated walls and wouldn't want to do anything about it! What is odder though is the agent then rang to ask why I didn't want to rent it as the landlord was puzzled why it was taking so long to rent.

In some ways, it's good to know if they are not flexible over a few sticks of furniture, I have been a landlady too and would always negotiate with a good tenant.

Was about to say the same, it's about tax implications not rights of repossession.

Personally, I set the terms that suit me as a landlord and have no problems getting good tenants. I'd rather provide a decent rental property and fitments/furnishing to take me away from the bottom of the market and a better tenant. Works for me but then there are those that prefer to do the opposite and do well too.

YY to the tax but also hassle and cost. Somewhat depends on the market though - if good tenants are 2 a penny then why would you change what suits you as a landlord? But if good tenants are harder to find then they might need to be more flexible.

I realised that it's been on for ages already so since there are a tonne of nice houses to rent here, he might have a bit of a wait!

I've seen a house like that too..been up since NOvember! Really hideously interestingly furnished! Any money they would have lost binning the crappy furniture would have been made up by actually..renting the flat

Don't rent it.

The legal difference between furnished and unfurnished is long, long gone. Makes no difference to the tenant, small tax advantage for the landlord. Which is utterly negated if no-one rents it!

anyway, why worry, OP? Plenty of other houses around, doesn't suit you, go elsewhere.

BTW my first tenants begged us to leave furniture which we couldn't leave as it was second-hand and didn't meet the fire regs. They were new grads and had nothing of their own.

I know special it's just a bit annoying....nice house....long let wanted...good area. I suppose he'll get someone eventually but it's been up for a looong time now...I just couldn't see why he wanted this very ordinary furniture to be left.

I also once asked about a similarly nice house and was told the landlady wanted to do the gardening herself! She also would not allow any pictures to be hung up...the ones that were in situe had to remain.

I could understand that in a listed building but this was a very normal semi! Imagine...the landlady mowing the lawn and planting the plants....I want to do that myself! She also wanted a long term let.

We don't rent but have several friends who do/have. The issue my friends have often come across is that many of these inflexible landlords are too attached to the property to be properly businesslike.

ProbablyCaroline's gardening landlord strikes me as one of those. It wouldn't surprise me if those landlords insisting on keeping crappy furniture in the property are the same, and too attached to the furniture to see it realistically.