To throw away the landlord's shit in the loft?

[MuttonWasAGoose]

We've just moved in to a nice house. The landlady mentioned that the loft was partly boarded out and that they'd left "a couple of boxes in the very back that we couldn't reach."

I just went to stow some things and pretty most of the boarded out space is full of their stuff. It's about a dozen or so cartons of crap. Mostly toys and holiday decorations.

None of this is on the inventory. I'd like to use that space for our empty suitcases, camping gear, etc. There's already a large shed full of their stuff that I grudgingly accept we can't use. But the loft situation annoys me.

DH feels it would be wrong to empty the loft. I have been in this situation before (previous landlord was much, much worse and I did throw everything away.) I just have no patience for this. I think it's infantile to be unable to take responsibility for your belongings. If they can't be bothered to move it, or even inventory it, then they clearly can't really care about it.

The first carton I looked in had what was clearly a well-loved child's teddy. Even I don't have the heart to toss that. But what about the other stuff?

Sorry mutton I'm droning on

That's two hundred pound a month btw. Not a year

Surely the landlord should get rid of it for you.

Havnt read the entire thread but I thought keeping your attic stuffed to the rafters with 'junk' was a major fire hazard. Is your LL putting you at risk and could you approach it that way?

Really laughed at tenants being 'long standing guests'. With attitudes like that no wonder the vast majority of us are desperate to buy our own home!

I'm stunned by this thread.

If something isn't on the inventory, and she told you explicitly she couldn't reach it, it wouldn't occur to me not to throw it out - if she wanted it, she'd either put it on the inventory or remove it, surely?

I agree a polite email saying 'actually, it's a bit more than you said and we need the space we're paying for' would be good for cordial LL/tenant relations, but you're not a charity - you're under no obligation to keep something she hasn't bothered to remove or list!

Mumsnet has odd ideas to tenants/renting. I was told I was unreasonable before for wanting to paint my home a colour other than magnolia. Anyway OP of course you are not unreasonable for wanting the space, and I would be expecting to use the shed too. They should either move their stuff to their new home or pay for storage. Also laughing at tenants being guests! It's shocking that there are no really good options for long term private rentals in this country.

Seriously? On what planet is it remotely OK to deliberately throw out something that you know belongs to someone else? She could kiss goodbye to her hoped-for 10 year tenancy if she did.

Really? Or she could find the LL, like a normal person, replied 'oh, ok, chuck them then'.

Most LL aren't actually idiots (I know some can be unpleasant but that's the case with any group of people). If you contact them with a reasonable request, such as 'can we use the space we paid for and throw out this stuff you didn't put on the inventory and couldn't reach to pack', a lot of them will just say yes.

Think about it: if the LL really wanted this stuff, they would have listed it or bothered to reach it down.

Most houses I've rented, LL have left things they don't care about, off-inventory - a few bits of cutlery, or a pile of hangers or some bits and bobs in a cupboard. Mostly, they don't do this because they imagine tenants will treasure these pieces for them - they do it because the tenant might use them and they don't really care.

You have a point, clam.

Perhaps, if she doesn't remove it herself, quickly, I'll just do as I see fit with the beloved Teddy and plan to move at the end of the tenancy. And be even more careful next time before signing anything.

Renters get a rough deal. Pay more than a mortgage, no permanency, getting ridiculous charges at the end of the tenancy.

Of course she should be able to use the loft, she's renting the whole house not alol but the loft.

Or would it be ok if one of the bedrooms was filled too?

If you moved out of the rented house and left a box of Christmas decorations and children's toys there is about a 0.5% chance of the landlord calling you to ask if you wanted that stuff back

Renters get a v tough deal

You can ask her to remove it,explaining that its not 'a couple of boxes' but a full loft. You can also place it into secure storage at your own expense.

SHE can call the police and have you charged with theft if you just chuck it.

I'm a landlord, and if I'd left stuff in the loft then I'd fully expect you to be miffed, and hold you under no obligation to keep it unless I'd cleared it with you - it's your house not hers (yes, she owns the property, but you are the tenant).

The only stuff I'd expect to be in the loft/shed are spares for the house - curtains that you've changed, or spare paint/wallpaper/whatever - things that I wouldn't have a problem with you using if you needed to.

TBH, it's rather off having a shed full of her junk too (is that inventoried at least? Stuff like lawnmowers for your use?) - what responsibility does she think you have to it? How would she access it? What happens if it's broken in to?

I would probably contact her and ask, it's way beyond what you'd agreed, and it would be fair of you to remove it and say it's available for her to pick up if she'd like, otherwise you'll be disposing it.

yawn yawn yawn....

short memories; 5 years ago rents were cheaper than mortgages. When interest rates go up things may swap again.

contract is a contract. On both sides.

Fascinated by this thread.

I'm a reluctant LL - we were posted overseas. Our loft had (genuinely!) a couple of boxes left in it - toys and clothes for a child that we knew we may need again one day, but knew we wouldn't need while away. I see no point in carting these boxes across Europe only to then cart them back again in a year or so's time.

Our tenants viewed the loft space before signing. So they knew what was up there too.

Of note, if you think tenants get a raw deal in the UK, do try renting elsewhere - the difference is astonishing. I'm currently responsible for the maintenance of both my rental and rented properties.

I called the landlady, but no answer. She's apparently a professional letting entity. She used an agency to rent it/list it, but she apparently manages all of her properties.

Anyway, it's a daytime office number. So I'll call tomorrow.

I want this dealt with quickly. Not a vague promise of getting around to it.

The agreement says nothing about either the loft or the shed and I was wrong.... she did say that they'd empty the shed. So, I want it done immediately.

What's the best way to get that result?

I would suggest firstly asking if the loft is included in or excluded from the tenancy, and if it is included, I would say that you want her to remove her items from the loft, and set a deadline, after which you will throw the items away.

I would ask the same question about the shed - is included, and if so, set a date for it to be emptied.

Dixie is right, I got charged £50 for 'scuff on wall' (no idea where or what this stuff was) bastards. Didn't seem to care the 'professionally cleaned carpet' was covered in dog hair though..,

When I moved in obv

The ll is trying it on. Ask 'nicely' if they would remove the excess stuff in the loft (give a timeframe) then if you don't get a sensible answer or they drag their heels, give them notice that you will put all the boxes outside for them to collect within x days. These boxes are not on the inventory therefore it's highly unlikely they have been insured by the ll but they want you to house them for free.

OP just ring the landlady and let her know that you need the loft space so can she come and take her stuff elsewhere as it's taking up the whole loft.

Waaaay upthread, but I can't let it lie:
When my father moved out of what had been the family home, not long after DM died, to move in with his new partner, he left some stuff in the attic. He locked it up, but the tenant, a real charmer, broke in. I have never seen some of DM's things since. And yes, I'm still a bit bitter about it.
And someone responded:
You're bitter at the wrong person. Would you leave stuff you really cared about in a home someone else was living in?
I left it there because I was living in rented myself, with nowhere to put anything, and didn't know what he'd left up there nor who he'd let it to. The attic was NOT in the lease, and the tenant was a thief (yes, it did end up in the courts). I'm still narked at both of them: my father for running true to his usual useless form and the tenant for stealing.

OP, say that you rented expecting to use the shed and the loft and can you have a reduction? I'd be pissed off in your shoes, but I wouldn't just chuck out someone else's stuff. That's not on.