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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if my tenant should have told me..

185 replies

MatildaTheCat · 14/07/2015 15:09

I'm a nice landlord, I promise. I have one very small flat local to where I live. It is 45m Sq. approx. one bedroom 10' 10' ( sorry to mix up metric and imperial) and another 7'x10' max. Living room again 11x11' max. No space to eat in the kitchen.My tenant is a young mum with two young dc aged approx 5 and 3 ish. One boy and one girl. They have bunks in the smaller bedroom. Her rent is covered by HB although she has refused to have them pay me direct and has on occasion paid late. Very late at the start of the tenancy.

She looks after my property well and I do regular inspections. I am aware that she has a cat although I've never seen it and it as against the agreement.

So, today I am due to go round to do an inspection and get a text putting me off because ' In April I discovered I was five months pregnant and the baby is now due in a month and I have to go for a check up.' I can't explain how much I cannot imagine how she will manage to live in such a cramped flat with three small dc. and all. The kit of a newborn.Perhaps I am naiave and this is normal. I'm thinking that with benefit caps now she won't get help to get a bigger place? It's a very expensive area and her dc are very lucky to be in a great school literally just over the road.

Should she have contacted me to explain her new situation? Is it none of my business? Am I right to feel concerned? I feel a heartsink situation coming on....

Thoughts much appreciated.

OP posts:
OrangeVase · 14/07/2015 16:26

Take the OP landlord to court? For what? For asking for inspections - and being granted permission? For being reasonable about late rental payments? For not evicting when tenancy agreement broken, (cat)?

The LL has done nothing illegal and as yet there is no dispute - the landlord just asked for advice.

A good landlord keeps on top of things, keeps a property in good repair and communication open. It is a partnership not a war.

Superexcited · 14/07/2015 16:26

I wouldn't be bothered about her having a baby but I would be concerned that there might be a father on the scene and living in the property. If there is a man living in the property and he is working then the tenants benefit claim might not be fully legit and that could impact on the OP in regards to the housing benefit.

araiba · 14/07/2015 16:30

OP- when you next speak to her to rearrange the inspection, offer her your congratulations and explain that if there is anything that she might need doing to the flat to help babyproof to let you know

Toughasoldboots · 14/07/2015 16:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scarlets · 14/07/2015 16:31

If the cat hasn't scratched the property, I'd accept it, but mention to her that in future, further pets aren't permitted.

Other than that, I'd leave it, given that she's paying on time and keeping the flat clean and undamaged. Double check with your insurance company though (assuming that they worry about "overcrowding"?) I'd be interested in their response!

All in all, it sounds as if you've struck quite lucky with this woman.

Ilovecrapcrafts · 14/07/2015 16:33

Butterfly- landlords have never had the legal right to inspect. They can only do so when you grant them permission to enter as a guest.

This LL is doing nothing wrong. I'm
Going to be honest- I have been an ex landlord of a 2 bed and I would never have let it to a family, and absolutely not A HB recipient. Bearing that in mind if I discovered a further child in the mix as well as the late paying, cat etc I would serve notice if I was at a point in the tenancy where I could.

Mould and damp are commonly caused by over crowding, as well as the higher likelyhood of damage etc which comes with lack
Of space.

Sandsnake · 14/07/2015 16:34

Jamais - I'd perhaps stop projecting your obvious animosity towards landlords onto the OP, who has asked a pretty reasonable question. It's not particularly helpful or kind.

JakieOH · 14/07/2015 16:34

I can see why your worried OP. She has been very late paying her rent in the past, every reason to worry that the expense of a new baby might stretch her even further and she could default on her oayments!

Do you not get the option to get the HB paid directly to you? I would be wondering why a tenant receiving HB would choose to get the money paid to them in the first place? Seems pointless to have it go into your account then straight back out again? I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with that situation in the 1st place. I've no experience of HB so I'm probably missing something here Confused

Like the PP I would definitely check your insurance. I know I have to stipulate how many tenants are living in the property that I rent out. Not sure if it makes a difference but definitely worth checking.

Original poster
MatildaTheCat · 14/07/2015 16:38

Thanks you all for your opinions. I'm not sure why I have appeared so monumentally bad a LL tbh. As stated, we have a good relationship and the inspections are a five minute visit at a mutually agreed time. Once there was definite evidence of smoking in the property which is why I have continued three month visits for now. I agree I could reduce them now. As I stated previously, my last tenant caused thousands of pounds worth of damage by failing to report an issue that could have been fixed in minutes.

To the person who asks about dampness, the issues related to condensation and require good ventilation. She has been very sensible about this but it does mean having to avoid having stuff piled up against outside walls etc. I spent a lot of money installing a ventilation system which, alongside her keeping the place ventilated has helped eradicate the problem. It's obviously in both of our interests to keep this under control.

I agree there is very likely another adult there at times but I have no evidence of this.

Thanks to the person who suggests asking her about her plans making her anxious. It's a good point so I won't. I was only told this today so really was a bit flummoxed hence posting. So thanks for your opinions and thoughts. I will keep an eye on her rent payments and otherwise keep out of it.

OP posts:
Toughasoldboots · 14/07/2015 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OrangeVase · 14/07/2015 16:38

I have been both tenant and landlord. I wish I had inspected my flat when it was rented.

My tenants broke the key off in the lock, called an emergency locksmith. They wanted me to pay for all repairs. I spoke to locksmith - key had been hit with a hammer and snapped. However as goodwill I paid for all repairs, new lock and half the call out charge.

I left champagne and flowers when they moved in. I got anything dealt with immediately. They gave 1 month's notice on 4th December - impossible for me to get a new tenant over Christmas yet they knew they were moving. (Ok they didn't have to but as a courtesy?).

They then didn't pay the last month's rent. I had 1 month's rent as a deposit so nothing to pay for the damage they had done. When they had gone I found a burn on carpet hidden by their rug, (ironing on the floor?), they stole the mirror in the bathroom and had broken and not replaced the loo seat. General state of place very poor and needed a lot spent on it - after nine months!!

I would not be such a vulnerable landlord next time.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 14/07/2015 16:38

Seems to me OP has not been at all unreasonable in asking this question. If I were a landlord, I'd be a little concerned, and asking for advice too.

So - tenant has looked after property so far (that is surely an expectation of any tenant)?? She has broken the rules of the agreement by keeping a pet, which was not allowed, but LL (OP) did not contest. Tenant was also very late with some of her payments. Something, again, that LL did not contest. (Presumably LL/OP has to pay her own bills, thus relying on the rent from her tenant).

Tenant is now pregnant, thus breaching insurance regulations, possibly? Insurance covered tenant + however many children she had at the time of the agreement. An extra child surely breaches the insurance criteria.

Many posters saying to the LL/OP "it's none of your business". Actually, it is her business, being the owner of the property and renting it out under certain criteria.

Toughasoldboots · 14/07/2015 16:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jamaisdeux · 14/07/2015 16:39

Sandsnake I am a landlord, which is why I am on this thread.

You interview the tenant and you decide. If you are being paid and the flat/house is in a good condition you have NO RIGHT to accept money if you want the tenant out.

OP asked if she was BU, as a landlord, I said yes, VVU, like most others.

Ilovecrapcrafts · 14/07/2015 16:43

Jamais

"If you are being paid and the flat/house is in a good condition you have NO RIGHT to accept money if you want the tenant out."

Can you explain what this means? The tenant pays rent until the time they move out. Even if you want them out, you give them notice and they continue to pay until move out day. I really can't think what else you could be referring to

capulette · 14/07/2015 16:43

I am a landlord and whilst many of the things Matilda mentions would concern me the pregnancy in itself doesn't.

I'm confused as to how smoking and pets and late payments are a shrug and a smile but a baby - no.

LaLyra · 14/07/2015 16:46

Glad you took the point about making her anxious in the way it was meant.

The very late payment at the beginning of the tenancy was likely to do with HB. my tenant was made redundant unexpectedly - the level of stress caused by HB and delays by them are beyond ridiculous. If they were new tenants when this had happened I'd have ended up with quite a bad feeling about them I think, I've known them for 3 years and know how stressed they are over it.

Original poster
MatildaTheCat · 14/07/2015 16:47

Erm, I didn't 'shrug and smile' at late payments and smoking. I discussed both and continued to monitor my property with quick inspections. Otherwise I accept she is a good tenant.

OP posts:
Original poster
MatildaTheCat · 14/07/2015 16:50

And, sorry I forgot to mention that my response to her text was 'congratulations.' I haven't been at all judgey, just slightly concerned but thanks to those who have been helpful. I will leave it there.

OP posts:
Mintyy · 14/07/2015 16:50

I'd be tempted to befriend this woman and have a heartfelt chat with her about contraception.

jamaisdeux · 14/07/2015 16:50

No Ilovecrapcrafts

If you do not understand that accepting rent from a person who maintains the house and happens to be pregnant, means they need to be evicted then this is your issue.

The OP asked if she WBU, most people have said yes, including me.

I am leaving the thread.

Smoking and pets are a total drip feed and the OP has gone.

araiba · 14/07/2015 16:50

"If you are being paid and the flat/house is in a good condition you have NO RIGHT to accept money if you want the tenant out."

what on earth does this even mean? to me it reads that when you serve a tenant two months notice you don't collect any rent for those 2 months? and how do you know if the house is in good condition if you have never seen it?

As OP has only asked a question but taken no actions at all, she has done nothing wrong at all

NoMontagues · 14/07/2015 16:51

OP you are not BU if there is a potential overcrowding issue in the property.

I am in Ireland so I do not profess to have knowledge of the UK laws (although many are similar) - but I found this for you.

It would seem there won't be an issue in the next year anyway.

Overcrowding laws (in all countries) are there for the protection of the tenant.

capulette · 14/07/2015 16:51

Yes but the premise of your 'aibu' was that she's pregnant.

BrendaBlackhead · 14/07/2015 16:52

I wouldn't be surprised if the tenant's reason for putting off an inspection is so she can remove evidence of a male staying there.

I have been a landlord and tenant and whilst I was a model tenant with several absolutely horrendous landlords (including a peeping tom), I was a model landlord with a terrible tenant (police called because he shouted abusive language at the same sex couple upstairs). Why am I always the mug?!

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