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

[pinkowl]

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?

It wasn't a blunt request, very nice and polite, I've no issue with how she actually asked at all. Just the fact she did in the first place!

You did say it was wrong!

Coddi it's only "daft" because a professional bank manager would never allow or consider it.

An amateur landlord...like the OP's however WOULD.

An agency wouldn't dream of such a thing!

People playing at being LLs is very damaging for all concerned at times.

I did, but in that context..
If it's wrong to be friendly, then it's wrong with not treating the whole thing as a business and not putting the rent up, not doing 2 inspections a year... which I think it's ridiculous. Good will and common sense from both sides go a long way.

Yes Coddi. You did say it was wrong.

You're obviously here to wind everyone up. OP I'd ignore Coddi personally as they're not contributing anything useful.

Just stirring the pot.

you got me MrsOverTheRoad feeling better now

I really don't think it was an outrageous request at all op, especially when the landlord explained the circumstances.

It's interesting that you view the house as your home.
I find that nice to hear as we have recently spent quite a lot of money renovating a house, and we really hope we get a nice family who will appreciate it, respect it and look after it.

We have been lucky so far with other properties we have let so fingers crossed!

Susannah...professional landlords would NEVER make such a request.

If you're renting your house out, then I suggest you look up some protocol before you do.

As for the OP viewing it as her home...and you being "surprised" by that...really? What do you imagine people who rent all their lives view as their home if NOT the house they live in?

Beyond belief really that you...or anyone would be surprised by that!

How depressing that a landlord should find it "interesting" that a tenant views the house as their home. What the hell did you think they'd view it as

I can't imagine it was an agent because of the short notice. It is more likely her request was genuine as she is proud of the work they've done to get the house in such nice order. It is the most logical and simplest explanation.

Mummy OP has said it's not an agent. It's a couple who inherited a house and rented it out.

I once went to view a house through an agent...amazing cottage in a lovely street. I couldn't understand why it hadn't been snapped up.

The rent was average for the area and it was near a great school. Then I got there and the agent explained the landlord had specified that nobody would be allowed to remove any of the pictures on the wall or change the position of the (very cheap and basic) furniture.

Nor would they be allowed to garden. He would come weekly to maintain the garden.

He wanted a "long term tenant" someone who would respect his wishes.

Yeah! Right...because that's what every tenant wants. To live in someone else's home!

I wouldn't read too much into it. You can say no, and if you don't want to let them in then do just that. LL can show friends round when you leave and the property is empty.

I had a letter from the old owner of our house the other week. We bought it three years ago and have completely redecorated, changed the kitchen, garden and some of the bedrooms. She wrote and said her and her daughters who grew up here (they were here for 15 years) are going to be back in the area soon, and would love to come and see the house if it's convenient. Left her number for me to text if it's ok and to arrange a time. I don't mind at all, I'd quite like to have a nosey at my Grans old house now it's been done up if I got the chance. I probably will if it's ever for sale!

I think Mummy means estate agent.

We once viewed a house where we were advised that we wouldn't be able to use one of the bedrooms as the landlord's belongings were locked in there

Mrs I get that. Op was questioning whether the owner was asking an estate agent to come over to value the house or someone, who maybe wanted to buy it. My comment was that this is unlikely due to the short notice me.

Oops! Sorry Mummy I misunderstood.

OP...I had a rental where the shed was stacked floor to ceiling with the owners shite...we moved in because we had only a few months to kill before leaving for Australia.

He then rented it to another family who complained about the shed they couldn't use and he was annoyed!

We rented a place in Germany and some of the owners stuff was in the cellar and roof space. Some lls are clueless. I don't see how you can get contents insurance with someone else's crap there and it could be invalidated if something is explosive or flammable.

No worries

Exactly Mummy! The shed I mentioned was a fire hazard. It was hoarderish.

I don't think the LLs are clueless as much as loads of them don't give a crap.

They have the same attitude as some posters here.

"It's their house"

Erm..yes, but that doesn't mean you get to USE parts of it if someone's paying for the whole thing!

Years back, I worked in rented housing policy.

Institutional investors (build-to-let and such--not sure if this even got off the ground) are the most predictable. Decent basic condition, repairs done promptly, rent not the cheapest but increases predictable, zero chance of illegal eviction. Very much 'by the book'.
'By the book' also means possession proceedings started promptly in cases of rent arrears, don't even think about having a pet, often difficult to rent if on HB.

'Accidental landlords' are the most unpredictable--both between individual LLs and the same LL from time to time. This can manifest as: repairs done 'as & when'. Excessive chumminess...or rudeness. Arbitrary rent increases. In extreme cases, harassment and/or illegal eviction.
The flip side: may be more amenable to renegotiation or delays to rent if tenant is struggling. A pet-lover will often allow pets. Maintenance & decoration may go above the bare functional minimum. LL may offer tenant first refusal if selling.

My (rambling) point is that you are acutely experiencing a downside of the amateur LL, but some other aspects of your posts (eg the "lovely" condition) indicate upsides. Before trying to put the relationship on a more professional footing, it might be worth considering the upsides and downsides of how the relationship is now vs the most likely outcome in a more formal one. Eg you would no longer get the visit requests; but if you fell on hard times, would your new improved professionally-distant LL be more or less likely to be flexible on rent payments?

We had a bathroom renovated in our rental property a while ago. I would have liked to see the completely finished room (had seen it part completed) but I didn't feel I had the right to ask this for myself, let alone ask to show a friend round. I don't do any periodic checks anymore either because after the first year I know that our tenants take care of the property and the odd time something needs fixing verifies this. We haven't raised the rent either because we want to keep these good tenants.

Although we have a friendly relationship I know that my tenants have a right to privacy.

YANBU at all op, however given she is normally a good LL it might be wise to indulge this to keep her sweet. It's not professional but it might be in your best interests. Having seen examples of batshit crazy behaviour on MN, personally I wouldn't want to rock the boat on something that isn't that important in the grand scheme of things.

I once rented a house with a bedroom that was out of bounds. We had enough bedrooms and I rented at mates rates so we went with that. Very strange couple and I had to ask them to remove certain items at the property. One being a complete bear skin in the living room with the head attached and teeth. She simply could not understand why we didn't like it. Also the moose head. All porn to be removed. They were not remotely embarrassed by the way. I also found a horse's bridle, but it wasn't.

I know you are getting annoyed by some of the posts here op. Your landlady has unsettled you and you are now suspicious of the motives here. It is a reminder that it is not your home. I would be similarly concerned and posted further back about my dds situation.

I would give it a week or so and ask her directly about your tenancy. I think you said you are now on a month by month agreement and they have undertaken external work, along with a "viewer" this week so you have justification. You need to know.

Good post worldoftofuness. I've had a load of landlords and recognise them all in there (lucky to own now).

It is your home, but it is not your house.

Re LLs letting out cluttered property.

I once had to deal with a letter from a woman who had let out her property fully-furnished, AND with many of her possessions in it. She was at pains to point out that these had a lot of sentimental value, many being inherited from DPs etc..

The tenants had trashed everything, and she spent a couple of paras going on about the rights of LLs etc..

The letter was heart-rending, and it was one of those situations where you felt really sorry for her while boggling at her stupidity.

I don't think it's particularly a mindset of LLs, more failure to appreciate that your 'stuff' (heirlooms, children, dogs etc.) will never mean as much to other people as it does to you. In the case of rented property, damage doesn't even have to be malicious. It's the same when people don't curb their toddler 'adorably' smearing chocolate everywhere--but obviously a house full of someone else's junk is a bit more of an imposition...

Mmzz we established that some time ago.