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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was an outrageous request from our landlord and to be a bit suspicious?

398 replies

pinkowl · 14/09/2017 09:24

We rent our house and have been here for 3 years, so it is very much our home.

Some background. The landlords aren't buy to lets, they inherited this house and we are the first tenants. Before letting they completely refurbished the property - new bathrooms, kitchens, windows, carpets, roof extension, the lot. They did it themselves to a high standard and it's lovely. I can imagine that they're proud of it (relevant)

We have a good relationship with them. They're not local but come down to see family sometimes and tend to use the opportunity to do any maintenance that needs doing. Recently they've been sprucing up the exterior.

Onto the outrageous request! She text me yesterday and explained that she was coming down with a girlfriend who knew the house as it was before, and would love to see what it looks like now. And could they come round today so the friend could have a look round the house.

I feel pretty disgruntled. This is our home and of course I don't want a complete stranger traipsing around looking at it out of curiosity. Surely as a landlord once a property has tenants, you leave them be unless there's a real reason. We have annual inspections with the leggings agency which is bad enough, but obviously accept as being part and parcel of renting.

I also feel a bit paranoid. It seems such an unreasonable thing to even ask that I'm concerned there could be an ulterior motive. Perhaps the friend is an estate agent who could cast an informal eye. I'd like to think that if they had plans to sell that they'd be upfront, but you never know.

They do have photos of the house as they were used in the original advert - can't they just show the friend those?! Why would the friend herself want to impose upon strangers in their home?!

I politely replied that it wasn't convenient today. But should I be concerned?

OP posts:
thegirlupnorth · 14/09/2017 21:56

And to answer your Q no I don't think it's outrageous, just cheeky and you were right to say no.

expatinscotland · 14/09/2017 21:59

It's a business transaction, so in the future I'd pull back and stick to strictly professional/business boundaries so you don't get someone who thinks this type of request is okay. It doesn't make you mean or a bad person or hard work to not want to open your bloody home to someone you don't know and haven't invited in.

meltingmarshmallows · 14/09/2017 22:01

This has been an utterly bizarre read. Of course you're not being unreasonable!! I would hate this.

And to people saying you shouldn't view it as your home ... Absurd! You pay your rent and have made your life there, it's your home. The LL I'm sure is just being over familiar and misjudged the situation, but the idea you're being mean or rude for saying no is just Hmm

Daydreamerbynight · 14/09/2017 22:03

It sounds like they think that you are on friendlier then with them than you really are. On realising this, they may adopt a more professional attitude. This could be of benefit or not.

TBH, if I were your LL reading this, I would be a bit put out that you decided to make this request known to such a public forum.

Original poster
pinkowl · 14/09/2017 22:06

Why? I'm posting anonymously. Nobody knows who I or the LL are.

Crikey if we all refrained from posting about RL situations lest we put somebody out there wouldn't be much of MN left!

OP posts:
Smitff · 14/09/2017 22:13

I think you're storing up trouble for yourself, getting attached to a rental. Unless you have an unbreakable lease for perpetuity (i.e. Own) you always run the risk of having to leave when you don't want to. That's life as a tenant.

You are also somewhat unreasonable to emphasize the "home" aspect so strongly. When you rent, the property is the house you live in which you call home. But given it can be taken away for reasons out of your control, it's not YOURS. Anything that's on loan to you, even if you pay for it, is not yours.

As such YABU. She asked, you said no thanks - that's the end of it. It's not an invasion of privacy, it's not a big deal, it's nothing more than someone wanting to see the house you live in to which you're entitled to say no.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 14/09/2017 22:17

'glorified peasants'

@expatinscotland, I wouldn't even go that far...

Daydreamerbynight · 14/09/2017 22:20

Fine OP. You are not unreasonable at all, you are the best tenant ever, your LL is obviously bat shit for even thinking of making such a request and is trying to sell the house from under your feet by having an estate agent pose as a friend. Good luck.

Oidog · 14/09/2017 22:43

Pink owl, like you I wouldn't accommodate for LLs mate who wants a nose around our home. It's our family space which we pay (a lot of money) for.

And for whoever commented that things should be done in the right order, I'm living proof that you can own a house, get married and have children (in your so called correct order) and still end up in a shitty renting situation. Life throws crap at you and you deal with it. God help you if you suddenly lost your home, had no other choice but to rent with the view of it being a short term solution and still be stuck renting 7 years later!!!

everythingsucks · 15/09/2017 00:39

I'm a little worried by this thread.

I'm a landlord and due to marriage breakdown I need to sell my property. The tenancy was due to end in the new year but I have told the tenant already as I would like access to the house to work out value and be able to agree on finances.

She isn't responding to me or the estate agents. It is her first year of tenancy and I wish I didn't have to sell but have no choice.

Why is everyone suggesting that this LL is getting E/agents round on the sly? Surely if a LL needs to sell and the contract has passed the break clause they can?

I have been a good LL - I fix stuff fast and rarely do checks tbh. I don't intrude on their privacy. But there is so much antagonism towards LL and selling on this thread I feel quite stressed.

I can barely cope with my marriage ending and upset kids. I didn't think I would have to deal with an aggrieved tenant too. Have I done the right thing telling her asap? I don't mind if she wants to leave early. I would understand that. I've been up front. That is the right approach surely? Is there anything else I can do to ensure this goes as smoothly as possible?

BoffinMum · 15/09/2017 07:34

If it's a normal tenancy agreement, it should be fine for a landlord to have entry for things like repairs and valuations but you need to give at least 48 hours' notice and preferably time major disruption to when tenants are on holiday.

I had real problems once with a tenant who took a property with a large managed garden, with the cost of gardening included in the rent. She then started hassling the contract gardeners and saying they could only come at a precise day and time when she could be in, which was about two mornings a week when her daughter wasn't at nursery. We tried pointing out a. contract gardening just didn't work like that, as they had dozens of gardens to think about/schedule and not just hers, and b. if it was raining they would not be able to mow the lawn etc and they would need to come back another time when it was fine to do the gardening, along with all those other gardens, which was why timings always had to be flexible for contract gardening. But the tenant never really got it and was rather grumpy by the end. I think she hadn't thought it through and expected it to be a bit like a home cleaning service where you come, say, 10-12 on a Friday every Friday and nothing like weather, things growing extra fast, branches suddenly needing lopping etc, would ever affect it.

Original poster
pinkowl · 15/09/2017 09:04

everything I think you did the right thing giving her as much notice as possible that the tenancy won't be renewing in the new year.

However, if you've told her already that makes her only what - 8 or 9 months into the tenancy and it's too early for you to reasonably expect access for valuations. Reasonable would be within the standard 2 month notice period but even then bear in mind she does have the right to refuse and you may need to wait until the new year.

OP posts:
CaptainHammer · 15/09/2017 09:22

everything I moved in to my first flat in June and in September the landlord told me he was selling. It was sad and I was annoyed but not at him. His marriage had broken down and he also lost his business.
It's always a risk when renting and reasonable people/tenants will know this.

specialsubject · 15/09/2017 09:39

everything nothing to stop you marketing it now without viewings - there may be another landlord wanting it.

What you have to do is serve the section 21 to expire on the day the tenancy ends, make sure you post it from two post offices and get proofs of posting. Then all you can do is wait to see if she leaves. If she doesn't it will be necessary to start the eviction process.

You have given warning, so don't serve the notice early as she may then stop paying. Check your insurances and legals now.

Sunnyshores · 15/09/2017 10:19

Everything - Its unfortunate for your tenant, but life changes and we all know that. You have done the morally correct thing by giving your tenant as much notice as possible and allowing her flexibility to leave at any point in the next 4 months.

Hopefully your tenant will also be amenable and let you have a few valuers in. But I think asking for work to be done and to do viewings is a bit much; legally she doesnt have to allow you any acess until her contract ends. She may also decide not to move at that time, so have a contingency plan.

Personally I think in these circumstances it should be give and take from both parties.

coddiwomple · 15/09/2017 10:22

Mittens1969
It is dangerous to start treating your rental like your own, that's all. I have never felt it was "mine" when I was renting, because if I had the freedom to move whenever, the landlord had freedom to stop the rental.
Some people seem to think that the longer they stay in a rental, the more right they have to keep living there. It's simply not true.

MrsOverTheRoad · 15/09/2017 10:24

Coddi that's utter shite. If I never treated my home as my home, then I would spend my life feeling disenfranchised.

Fuck that.

DeleteOrDecay · 15/09/2017 10:36

Some people seem to think that the longer they stay in a rental, the more right they have to keep living there. It's simply not true.

Rubbish. So people who rent should never feel like their home is well, their home? People who rent should always be on tenterhooks, wondering whether they're going to be out on their ear within the next 2 months or not?

No, that's no way to live. I accept that our LL could decide to sell up at any time, that doesn't mean we can't make ourselves at home for the time being. I certainly won't stop my dc from feeling like this is their home.

MrsOverTheRoad · 15/09/2017 10:39

That's right Delete I hope new laws are brought in soon which mean that tenants get longer tenancies. Landlords could be offered tax incentives to offer longer tenancies and there could be ways of ensuring good tenants are the people who qualify.

coddiwomple · 15/09/2017 10:39

If it's utter shite, please quote me the legal text stating that the more years you spend in a rental, the more legal rights you have to stay there?

existentialmoment · 15/09/2017 10:40

Some people seem to think that the longer they stay in a rental, the more right they have to keep living there. It's simply not true

It is where I live. I rent my house. I am legally entitled to stay here for 6 years after I have been here 6 months, unless the ll is selling or needs it for a family member (both have to be proved), or I don't fulfil my legal obligations. They can't remove me and they can't raise the rent more than 6% every two years. Grin

coddiwomple · 15/09/2017 10:41

Landlords could be offered tax incentives to offer longer tenancies and there could be ways of ensuring good tenants are the people who qualify.

That would be absolutely great, but as long as landlords are still able to stop the tenancies eventually (within the terms of the contract), sell their homes if they wish (or had) to do so, or simply get rid of people trashing the place and/or not paying rents. Both sides do need more protection.

AuntMatilda · 15/09/2017 10:45

I'm a landlord and can't see myself ever thinking it was okay to ask this. She could be being completely truthful. Or she could be up to something. You never know. I'd be inclined to leave it a few days and then ask her if she's planning to sell. But that's just me.

DeleteOrDecay · 15/09/2017 10:48

If it's utter shite, please quote me the legal text stating that the more years you spend in a rental, the more legal rights you have to stay there?

That in itself isn't utter shite, obviously, but your attitude towards tenants certainly is.

I can make my home feel like a home whilst knowing full well that I could be served notice to leave at any time and that's fine. But how dare you tell tenants that they shouldn't make themselves too comfortable in their home 'just in case'.

coddiwomple · 15/09/2017 10:53

I don't think you understand my point. I don't dare telling tenants what not to do, I am just stating the fact that the owner of the property is perfectly entitled not to keep renting to them. Call it your home if you want, but you are still not entitled to redecorate (in most cases), make changes, alter the property in any way etc.. Why are you having a go at me for stating the obvious? I had properties in London where I wasn't even allowed to put a picture frame on the wall and had to ask in writing to change the shower head.