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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:
BeepBeepMOVE · 14/09/2017 10:16

I think you were a bit mean to say no. She's probably just been telling her friend how much work they've done on the house and wants to show it off. Lots of people like to look around places they used to know.

YANBU to say no but equally I don't think it was unreasonable of her to ask. She accepted your no happily, just move on.

chickenowner · 14/09/2017 10:17

It's not outrageous at all. It's just a polite request.

If you don't want it to happen, then say no.

LuluJakey1 · 14/09/2017 10:17

Just ask her. Say you are now worried that with the request and all the work they are doing that they are planning to sell and can she let you know if that is the case. If she is the decent person you think she is she'll tell you what they are doing.

Original poster
pinkowl · 14/09/2017 10:18

I hope so viques

OP posts:
ElsieMc · 14/09/2017 10:19

My dds Landlord sent three separate agents round her home and she was convinced she was going to sell. She accommodated them all politely and one was rude to her. Landlord totally denied she wanted to sell and said it was for a re-mortgage. This was nonsense, because it was three separate agents and not from the building society.

One of the agents rang her and told her that the house was in a poor state of repair and it needed sorting asap. Not a reflection on dd the EA said. Landlady very upset and sometimes the truth hurts.

She didn't sell and I believe this was because the valuation was lower than expected and the rent incoming was a better prospect than the limited equity. I think this was why she was upset.

I have told my dd to get a deposit together because she is a bad landlord maintenance wise who would definitely have sold if the figures had stacked up, which of course is her right. Just don't lie about it.

Sorry op, but I think she is considering selling. My dd should be so lucky to have such a Landlord. You will know, because she will have to have it valued by a number of agents and she cannot explain them away as "friends".

Original poster
pinkowl · 14/09/2017 10:20

I'm interested to know whether the people who think I'm being mean - if a total stranger wanted to have a nose around your home, and it was of no benefit to you, would you be okay with that? Honestly?

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkowl · 14/09/2017 10:22

I'm now imagining a parade of long lost family members wanting to look round, all in suits with clipboards Grin

OP posts:
Greenbucket · 14/09/2017 10:23

I would have been absolutely fine with it. Our house is significant in our town and Ive had a couple of people wanting to look around the garden as they remember it from way back when. I even made them a coffee!!

witchofzog · 14/09/2017 10:24

But you are missing the point and haven't commented on anyone who has said this already. Read my previous post as I am typing on a phone with a small keyboard and don't want to type it all over again. There IS benefit to you whether they are selling or not

myfeetarealwayscold · 14/09/2017 10:25

I don't think it's 'outrageous' but you're fine to say no. Don't go getting attached to that house though, you are a renter and if they decide to sell or rent to someone else at the end of your tenancy they can. In fact if I were them I'd be thinking of moving you on soon in case you did get attached and decided to make a fuss when they try to get rid of you. Two years is ideal for a tenant, 3 okay, but after that I'd be looking to change the tenants.

Original poster
pinkowl · 14/09/2017 10:26

Ok. Most people's homes aren't particularly significant other to themselves though and I can't imagine that there'd be many people happy to let absolute strangers traipse round to satisfy their own curiosity.

OP posts:
AntiHop · 14/09/2017 10:28

If they are planning to sell, worrying about it isn't going to change anything. Maybe they just wanted an estate agent or surveyor to value it because they want to know how much it is worth right now as they're planning to remortgage it or use it to secure a loan.

Greenbucket · 14/09/2017 10:28

But she's not an 'absolute stranger' she is a friend of your quite frankly amazing sounding landlord.

TheMaddHugger · 14/09/2017 10:28

Asking to show her friend, that knew the house prior, seems normal to me

Original poster
pinkowl · 14/09/2017 10:30

I've never met her or heard of her before yesterday. I'm sorry, but she is a stranger!

OP posts:
Greenbucket · 14/09/2017 10:31

Well you've said no now.

I wouldn't have.

DeleteOrDecay · 14/09/2017 10:31

You're being a bit mean. The properly was inherited so they'll have fond memories of it. Was it their family home? If so the friend Kay remember being around there when she was younger. Remember that, as much as you love the house she probably loves it a lot more and has done for a lot longer.

What a load of nonsense, it's not mean so say no ffsHmm If they're that attached to the house they should have moved in themselves. This is op's home and she shouldn't feel obliged to allow strangers in just to have a nosey.

Op we rent from family and I would not allow them to treat our home like some sort of museum regardless of how 'attached' to the property they may be.

It's a reminder to her tenants that the house isn't theirs. That someone else thinks they can just visit...even with prior notice.

Exactly.

I think you were a bit mean to say no. She's probably just been telling her friend how much work they've done on the house and wants to show it off

Except it's not a show home is it. Op is paying rent to live there, it's not mean to not allow people she doesn't know to look around her home for the sake of 'memories'.

Just because op has a good landlord doesn't mean she has to graciously say yes to any request they make. Op doesn't owe her LL anything except a monthly rent payment.

myfeetarealwayscold · 14/09/2017 10:32

I would have let her in. But they can have a look when you're gone I suppose. And as for any nefarious purposes, your landlord can have someone come in to assess the property for value as long as they give you some notice of it.They don;t need to be sneaking in so I don't think it's that.

Greenbucket · 14/09/2017 10:32

No if course it doesn't. And she didn't. and the landlord was fine with it.

MrsOverTheRoad · 14/09/2017 10:32

GreenBucket but it's your house yes?

Completely different.

OP....if they do want to sell, they will want to come and have pics taken and get it valued.

The visiting friend will be a friend whose thinking of buying. An estate agent wouldn't pose as a visiting friend.

Original poster
pinkowl · 14/09/2017 10:32

witchofzog I read the previous post and you're making it sound like I'm being obstructive to their request. I'm not refusing viewings on a property I know they're selling. I'm not refusing them access to do maintenance. I told her that it would be inconvenient as I was working!

OP posts:
witchofzog · 14/09/2017 10:33

myfeetarealwayscold. Really? You would move on perfectly good tenants who pay rent on time and look after the property in case they get attached? When people rent they see it as their home whether they are there for 6 months or 6 years. I think you would be crazy to do this and risk getting not so good tenants next time. For all you know your tenants are renting while they save for a deposit

. And landlords like you are the reason why people worry about renting privately. Security is so important and it costs a huge amount of money to move from one let to another. Your post has actually made me quite cross. I was the perfect tenant when I rented a couple of years ago. The managing agent said I was the most reliable tenant they had ever had in the property and kept it immaculate. If U found out I was being given notice in case I became attached I would have been furious

Greenbucket · 14/09/2017 10:34

"GreenBucket but it's your house yes?

Completely different."

Confused why? Most people on here seem to think as a renter the house is yours?

Trethew · 14/09/2017 10:34

I think the good friend might be interested in renting the property, and this is to let her see round. If she wants it your tenancy will be ended

Fecho · 14/09/2017 10:34

Can you contact LL and ask them outright?