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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to not be bothered about chalk on the concrete

53 replies

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 09/08/2015 21:32

A couple of days ago my dcs and a friend spent a glorious couple of hours colouring the flagstones in the driveway at the front of our house in coloured chalk. They were so pleased with it and I think it looks pretty.

My LLs came to inspect yesterday and they raised it as a concern. While here, Mrs LL stated that the chalk looked bad, and in a text afterwards their comment was "The outside feel of the home was very poor and doesn't reflect good [sic] on our investment". Because of this, they want to send a new contract which "can be terminated at one months notice from either party" (not, I understand, lawful anyway as they have to give me two months' notice. In the interests of fairness, there were also a few weeds that took very little time to sort out today and genuinely were not more than most other houses on the street. Merely a matter of slightly differing standards and certainly not unkempt).

Anyway, AIBU not to be bothered about colouring with chalk on the ground, given that it washes off as soon as it rains, and in fact to actively encourage it because it's a lovely activity that the dcs really enjoy and is good for their motor development? Would you judge someone with a chalky driveway? And if you are a LL, would this bother you?

OP posts:
Murfles · 09/08/2015 22:38

We have a few rental properties and it's a pain in the arse to go round once a year for the annual "inspection". I only normally go round to make sure the electricians have pat tested electrical items, that the guys have been to service the boilers and if any redecorating needs done. I occasionally pop in on my way past to hand in eggs, fresh veg and fruit from the farm we live on though but text saying I'll leave it some where if they're not going to be in Your LL's appear to have have some sort of agenda. I'd never dream of changing a contract. For goodness sake it's your home. It wouldn't have bothered me to see chalk drawings or a few weeds. As others have said contact Shelter. Personally, I think your LL's are twats.

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 09/08/2015 22:42

yeah, me too. TBH I'm amazed they actually turned up - this is their third appointment to visit; the first they didn't bother to turn up so we rearranged for the next day and they came: the second they didn't show up (or let me know until I texted them an hour later), we rearranged for the next day and they didn't show then either. And didn't let me know. And then got stroppy because I asked what their intentions were that afternoon so I could plan accordingly.

Definitely twats.

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DixieNormas · 09/08/2015 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 09/08/2015 23:07

sounds like mine - the loo flush handle is broken, it was when I moved in and they've asked a few times if it's still broken. Well yes, because despite me asking you to you have not had it fixed yet!

Encouraging that this is not standard behaviour for LLs though, so perhaps when I move I will get a better set. Hopefully.

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Boofy27 · 09/08/2015 23:13

Might be worth texting back to say you'd feel too guilty to take a publicly funded boiler with only a periodic tenancy, new AST or no boiler.

NorahBone · 09/08/2015 23:43

I think Anomaly raises a good point. We're your children drawing outlines of people on the drive? Because nothing devalues a property quicker than looking like it's the centre of a recent killing spree.

Murfles · 10/08/2015 00:12

I'm gobsmacked that some LL's don't do repairs when needed! I honestly am. We have 4 properties that are rented out. One was my house before I met DH, one is my dads house, one is my mums house (mum and dad were divorced) and one is a flat DH lived in years ago. We didn't buy to let. All of them have families in them. The way we look at those properties is they are people's homes. We don't use letting agents as the people renting from us contact us directly if anything needs done. I've actually never really thought about it before but having read this thread some LL's are complete arseholes going by what I've read here. It's not hard or costly to replace loo flush handles, decorate yearly or ensure boilers are up to date with checks as are electrical items. No bloody wonder LL's get such a bad name on here if this is the way they treat people renting their houses/flats.

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 10/08/2015 07:54

Haha Norah. No, no chalk outlines - they'd just coloured in all the bricks. It looks like the yellow brick road only...er...multi coloured.

And Murfles you've reminded me of something; the boiler inspection (that I had to organise - it was well overdue) has come back with concerns for a couple of times, which I have mentioned. They have done nothing. If, as I suspect, when I point out that a month's notice is unlawful they get tricky I am stacking up evidence to fight my corner. I don't think it will take a lot of fighting, I don't think they know what they are doing. I also don't have a proper inspection report as they asked me to do it so I presume my deposit (which is thankfully in a proper protection scheme) is safe as they can't keep some back without a proper inspection? it certainly wasn't decorated before I came in!!!

Starting to realise what seriously crap LLs they truly are.

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funkybuddah · 10/08/2015 08:02

I have a paved garden, I get the dcs to colour in every square so it looks less like a yard. The letting agents (only met ll once in 7yrs) don't raise an eye at it.
Although the ll paused while discussing renovation to say ' funky I'm sorry, this is your home do you mind us doing xyz?' so I guess I'm lucky

BankWadger · 10/08/2015 08:11

When I was approached about a new boiler a few years back we had to prove we would be in the property for at least another 2 years as the boiler was for us the tenant to benefit from, NOT the ll. Ll wouldn't give us a suitable lease so no boiler.

Next property ll asked if we would have a new boiler put in courtesy of out tax credits.

BankWadger · 10/08/2015 08:15

Bah

Ll intended to move back into house themselves within a year so we politely declined (we'd have the stress and inconvenience of installation, but very little benefit).

If your Ll is refusing to give you a fixed term contract AND making noises along the lines of selling, why can you not cancel the boiler installation?

saintlyjimjams · 10/08/2015 08:20

A lot of grant things require you to live in the property for so many years after installation -so do check that. It may not be possible for them to do it then give you the boot (they sound so clueless I doubt they'd realise if that was the case)

MirandaWest · 10/08/2015 08:20

I am pretty sure that the letting agents where I used to live would have had issues with chalk being used to colour in the pavement and I would have been sent a very snotty letter about it. I used to get into trouble with them for things such as cobwebs and one once ran her finger over the top of a door looking for dust so chalking would have been a bad idea for me.

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 10/08/2015 13:01

I don't know if I can refuse the boiler, I am waiting for an email from the company to let me know. Meanwhile I have postponed the survey due on Thursday.

Miranda that sounds awful! So intrusive!

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nemo81 · 10/08/2015 13:53

Doesn't bother me. Its chalk not gloss, it'll wash away!

shovetheholly · 10/08/2015 13:59

I think your LLs sound like awful people with a definite agenda to build up a list of 'complaints' against you in order to move you onto an exploitative and unfair contract so that they can sell asap when it suits them. I would urge you to speak to Shelter or Citizens' Advice as soon as you can about your situation. They sound like bullies Sad. And I would drag my feet like crazy over the boiler situation while I figured out how to get away from them.

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 10/08/2015 20:08

I spoke to Shelter. They advised me not to sort out boiler without a fixed term contract as I'd lose my eligibility to claim for 2 years. I have informed LLs of this. They also said that one month notice from LLs is non enforceable whatever has been signed, and it wasn't worth telling them I know this, keep it under my hat for now to keep the peace and bring it out should the need arise. I will, however, at some stage point out that I do (now Blush ) have a working knowledge of tenants' rights and tenancy laws. More than they do, clearly.

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MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 10/08/2015 20:09

Shelter also said that a few weeds and a bit of chalk in the garden would be laughed out of court should they try to use section 8 (2weeks notice but there has to be strong reasons given. This does not qualify.).

I have been to view another property today. Not suitable, but I am checking the market.

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EygptianSnow · 10/08/2015 20:15

She's being picky for no reason, maybe she had a bad day or something

mineofuselessinformation · 10/08/2015 20:17

I think you know what they're up to - and Boofy's post is a great idea.

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 10/08/2015 20:31

I basically have. I sent this:

Further to your contact over the last few days, I have taken advice about the boiler installation. Given that should I be required to leave the house soon after any installation I would then not be able to make a claim for funding for another two years, I have been advised not to proceed with the replacement unless I have a fixed term tenant agreement. Otherwise any claim made through my benefit status benefits you much more than it does me and the advice for tenants is to ensure they are protected by a contract before proceeding.
Please let me know if you would prefer that I sign a longer contract or postpone the next stage of the replacement.

And in response to their (slightly odd) response:

Actually I am not protected either way. If I go ahead with the boiler I lose my rights to it in the future if you evict me so based on that I think it would be wise for me to cancel the survey for now. I am happy to restart the process when/if I sign a longer term agreement in the future. And it would be unwise of me to sign a 2 year fixed contract, so I would not be asking for one.
I have cleared the front drive.

I am actually a very good, reliable tenant who pays on time and looks after the property (and it's weeds....). Why the fuck can't they leave me alone?!

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MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 10/08/2015 20:31

Gah. Bold fail.

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ThatBloodyWoman · 10/08/2015 20:34

Your LL sounds like a right miserable bastard.

MakeHayWhileTheChalkDries · 10/08/2015 20:43

Yup! Who begrudges children colouring in chalk?!

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maninawomansworld · 12/08/2015 16:10

YANBU. It's only chalk on the driveway.

I do think it looks bad, and I wouldn't let my kids do it on my own driveway however there is no permanent damage and so long as when you do move out there is no trace of it then there shouldn't be a problem.

If I was your LL and found the chalk still there upon taking possession of the property after you'd moved out then I would be taking money for cleaning from your deposit though.