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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I've got my landlord over a barrel

39 replies

HollyHollyHo · 27/07/2017 08:04

And to be quite enjoying it BlushWink

I love the house I rent, ramshackle old cottage with numerous small problems but nothing really terrible. My LL I don't like so much. She's been nothing but a PITA since I first moved in. Turns up whenever she feels like it (despite words from the agents telling her she can't), she is the tightest women I've ever met e.g. A tap on the bath broke, she didn't want to shell out for a set of basic taps so took an old tap from another property and replaced it with that (result: two mismatched old taps that still drip). Every time my contract is up for renewal (yearly) the rent goes up by £75-£100 despite hardly any work being done in the property ever with no reasoning behind the rent rise other than "she can". I've never once missed or been late with the rent, fix things as and when I can etc

Anyway the EPC assessment was done the other day and came back as a G!

As of April next year (when my contract is up) any new property being marketed for rent has to be an E as a minimum.

In order to re market this property she's going to have to shell out thousands to get it up to code. There's no insulation, no double glazing, solid brick which needs insulating outside or inside. All in all it's going to cost her loads to get it up to code...unless she carries on renting to me and doesn't have to Wink

So AIBU to think that come negotiations next April I can tell her I'm not accepting a rent increase in the knowledge she won't want to shell out to remarket the property?!

OP posts:
Cuppaoftea · 27/07/2017 10:01

YABU. Of course you don't have her over a barrel, she owns the property.

It may not cost your LL much out of her own pocket to improve the property's rating, she may find a farm worker or other local family who would be happy to have the property at an increased rent if you won't pay it. If you start playing games with her she's very likely to want you out and give notice.

While normally I'd agree you have a right to private enjoyment and she shouldn't be turning up at all times unannounced, in your case you live on her working farm so I'd say you have to accept it or find another property to rent.

Alicia555 · 27/07/2017 10:07

The property I rent was built before 1918 so I think it's exempt from these classification ratings, when was your property built op?

Charley50 · 27/07/2017 10:15

I'd be more inclined to appeal to her benevolent nature. Contact her next time she wants to up the rent and say that you're really happy in her lovely cottage (with the mismatched taps), but your salary hasn't increased and you can't afford to pay more. Remind her what an accommodating tenant you've been and appeal to her better nature.
If she says no then maybe bring up the other thing. Is the rent low for your area?

lovemycatsanddog · 27/07/2017 10:22

You dont have to put up with this,your landlord[lady] has no right to just pop in whaen she likes,
Also she has a responsibility to get any repairs done, and as far as putting your rent up, every time you renew your contract she can only up to a point
If you think the rent is being increased too much you can go to a fair rents officer
Look at tenants rights on the CAB website
My son rents a house out and does any repairs, and only calls with notice, [usually] but had some bad tenants at one point that neighbours were complaining about so had to just call on spec one time

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 27/07/2017 10:25

You haven't got her over a barrel if she owns the property!

She might just decide not to rent at all. I agree with the PP,don't play games.

Mummyoflittledragon · 27/07/2017 10:41

She sounds stubborn and eccentric. Idk if you can assume anything.

Ohwool. Your ll is disgusting.

MakeJam · 27/07/2017 10:45

Sounds like my old LL. She was tight as arseholes. AND we had mismatched second hand taps too!

Original poster
HollyHollyHo · 27/07/2017 10:52

At work so ill make it brief

Not a listed building
She doesn't live on the farm or have any reason to come here as it's rented to another farmer to work it. They refused to live in the house as they have their own property.
Crap hole Grin it's a beautiful house with lots of land. Not bothered by single glazing or no insulated loft.

OP posts:
Cuppaoftea · 27/07/2017 11:11

She doesn't live on the farm or have any reason to come here as it's rented to another farmer to work it.

No reason except perhaps she owns the land?! And will presumably be there regularly to inspect how things are running on the farm.

In the example you gave she wasn't asking to come in to your property, she was going past and knocked to ask you to put away an axe you'd left propped up. Presumably it only took you a minute or two to put it away, she didn't march in for a house inspection during your child's party!

If renting this property gives you the opportunity to live in a beautiful old farm house with lots of land that you wouldn't be able to afford to buy or rent at the going rate then I'd say you have to accept the small rent increases, minimal maintenance and your LL dropping by if you want to stay there. Otherwise look for somewhere new.

honeycrumpet · 27/07/2017 11:23

I might have misunderstood but this website makes it sound like the regulations will apply to all rental properties, either when a new tenant starts renting them, or when the existing tenant renews their contract (See the Implementation section). So she might have to make the improvements anyway, regardless of whether you renew your contract or she decides to market it to new tenants.

DrHorribletookmycherry · 27/07/2017 11:25

That's why our LL is selling - zero interest in improving the property. It's a shame LL rather than agencies don't get reviewed by tennsts. A lot seem disinterested in their investment and constantly short on money because they've borrowed too heavily.

jacks11 · 27/07/2017 12:03

I think I'd be careful about being quite so smug about this situation. You may be right that she will not want to have all the hassle and cost involved in doing the work, so will agree to some/all of your demands. Or she might, as others have said, decide to do the work (and claim back against tax, which she is entitled to do). Then she may decide to put up the rent. Or she might decide to sell the property to avoid hassle/expense.

Until you know which it is, then I'd hold off on the smugness and making too many significant demands as it might just backfire on you. Decide what work you feel should/needs to be done and what you are willing to pay to rent the property with and without those things done. Negotiate sensibly with that in mind.

If your LL is not doing work you feel is essential, then absolutely talk to her about that. If you want her to stop coming round, then address that too. In your situation I'd avoid coming across as too smug- it may just get her back up and she may decide it's not worth it.

jacks11 · 27/07/2017 12:10

Also, are you sure the property is not exempted from these? I think some older properties and some properties in certain areas are completely exempted. Maybe check that so you know where you stand. Always best to have all the information before trying to negotiate changes to contracts.

FirstShinyRobe · 27/07/2017 12:16

There's a lot of misinformation about these regs on this thread. No time to explain why now, but I work in the EPC world. The RLA website has a good article about the minimum energy efficiency standards.

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