To ask if our tenants' request is reasonable?

[TrickyD]

Tenants have just moved in to our two bed terrace house which was let as furnished. They have requested, via the agent, that we remove the bed from the second bedroom as they have a 6 month old child; they want the room as a nursery, and apparently " their furniture will be arriving soon".
We live 90 miles away, so bringing the bed here, storing it and probably taking it back for the next tenant is a pain.
The bed was there when they viewed. Would it be reasonable to ask them to deal with it themselves and replace it at the end of the tenancy, or should we just suck it up and drive over and fetch it? DH prefers the latter "to keep them sweet".

[LittleWingSoul]

Being a tenant with a young family can be hard enough as it is - many of us are not renting through choice, so anything to make the relationship a pleasant and respectful one is welcome, IMHO.

A little bit of compromise goes a long way!

[TrickyD]

Thank you to everyone who has given advice and opinions on this.

We visited today, checked the electrical work had been completed and took away the rubbish left by the previous tenants in the outside storage cupboard.

I am not going to change agents. We have found them to be perfectly satisfactory and diplomatic with previous tenants. I will not be hunting around for others just because one employee failed to pass on a message. Indeed she says she had emailed them informing them of our intention to visit, but received no response to say it would or would not be OK, until yesterday when we pressed for an answer and contact was made.

They seem sensible people, the woman and baby have not moved in yet, the husband is a surgeon so probably busy, hence not returning agent's emails or being easy to catch on the phone.

The agent has told them that they are responsible for storing the bed, the cellar is an option but it must be returned in its current condition, and they do not have carte blanche to remove any other items. The deposit would cover a replacement bed, though I do not anticipate it coming to that.

To the person who suggested we were being petty not to want to transport a bed which was clearly part of the let, and which was not queried at the outset, 90 miles away, store it and return it later, I would say ODFOD.

Thanks again, the situation seems resolved. If any other problems arise, I will come back for helpful advice from most of you, and give others an opportunity to deliver a good kicking.

[Bluntness100]

This is unreasonable. They should have asked before renting, say yes, but they have to remove it, store it and put it back in by the time they leave.

[Bluntness100]

Sorry, cross posted, but the agent did the right thing,

[user1478551766]

Did you really need mumsnet help to work out that its ok for tenants to want to put a cot in their babies room, and remove a bed?
It's a standard request for a landlord, and not a difficult situation by any stretch.

[TrickyD]

Did you really not read that the situation had been resolved? I can't imagine why you want to prolong this thread.

[Ditsyprint40]

This happened to us (but from other angle). Agent told us furniture in certain rooms could be removed, landlord said no when we turned up on move in date. Check what the agent may have agreed.

[Ditsyprint40]

(Ps. I haven't RTWT - I blame wine). Hope situ is resolved!

[TrickyD]

Yes, Ditsy, all fine thanks . Have some more

[YelloDraw]

o the person who suggested we were being petty not to want to transport a bed which was clearly part of the let, and which was not queried at the outset, 90 miles away, store it and return it later, I would say ODFOD

And I'd say ODFOD yourself. It's no more polite putting it as an acronym you know. FT. You choose to manage a property 90 miles away. Deal with doing a bit of work now and again. You might find it pays dividends when you need to do something that inconveniences your tenant.

Having been both a LL and a tenant, I can't even believe that a professional LL posts on MN for advice. And if you're aren't prepared to act like a professional LL, get out of the game. Like I said before, it is not hassle free income.

BTW so good of you to make the arduous journey to remove the previous tenants rubbish. Like you are doing the current tenant a favour... FFS.

[Ditsyprint40]

Cheers tricky 🍷

[Ditsyprint40]