Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

AIBU to not want the sofa?

21 replies

MrsPancakes · 27/09/2017 14:20

So as no to drip feed: I'm moving into a new flat, but - crucially - have not yet signed the tenancy agreement.

When I made my rental offer through the estate agent I included 2 conditions: fix a small fault, get rid of the hideous shiny pleather sofa.

The LL has agreed to fix the fault, but has said he really doesn't want to move the sofa.

So my question is WIBU to push back on this and ask again?

I don't want to piss of the LL (especially as we haven't signed on the dotted line yet) I just really really hate the sofa.

Also, I'd ideally like to replace it with a sofa bed (which I already have) and have offered to help move the sofa.

Please tell me if I'm BU - my dislike for this sofa may well have eclipsed any sense of perspective...

OP posts:

Shoxfordian · 27/09/2017 14:22

Yeah you could ask again or get a nice throw and cover it up then you can use it

Travis1 · 27/09/2017 14:23

I don't think YABU that would be a decider for me renting anywhere because I have all my own furnishings. Are there other properties around?

MrsOverTheRoad · 27/09/2017 14:28

Is it let as unfurnished? If it is then insist it's moved. If it's being let as furnished then YABU a little bit.

Original poster

MrsPancakes · 27/09/2017 14:41

Thanks everyone.

Sorry - always end up drip feeding a little!

@MrsOverTheRoad It is let as unfurnished and I don't have enough furniture of my own to fill an unfurnished flat.

@Travis1 there are other properties but it's a very fast-movng rental climate so I feel lucky to have snagged somewhere I do actually like iyswim?

It's not a deal breaker for me, I just don't want to be a pushover and live with a sofa I don't like if I don't have to. But, equally, I don't want frosty relations with the LL...

If I asked again and it was a firm no I'd get a throw/cover and suck it up I guess - just want to know if it's unreasonable to even ask

OP posts:

MyBrilliantDisguise · 27/09/2017 14:43

Ask him if he ever wants to see it again. If not, you can put it on FreeCycle when you move in. If he does want to see it again, he has to take it with him.

teaandtoast · 27/09/2017 14:44

Well he hasn't met the terms of your offer yet, has he?

Offer a reduced rent?

swingofthings · 27/09/2017 14:45

So is it the only furniture there? If so, it would indicate that the LL wants to leave it there just because he can't be bothered to move it/sell it. That doesn't fare well to hope for a responsible and reasonable LL. It would raise alarm bells to me.

Yellowheart · 27/09/2017 14:45

As a landlord in London I've had this. Tenant wanted to rent but wanted rid of sofa. I actually got another tenant (had one lined up anyway) as if the first tenant had only stayed six months then moved out I might have had to furnish it again and had nowhere to store a sofa.

Laiste · 27/09/2017 14:48

If it's let as unfurnished then it shouldn't have his furniture in it!

Original poster

MrsPancakes · 27/09/2017 14:48

Oops - sorry it's let as furnished

Quite a crucial bit of info to get wrong...

OP posts:

wheresmyphone · 27/09/2017 14:57

There are tax breaks at moment for landlord I think between furnished and u furnished. At least for the moment. That may be why LL Is resisting.

swingofthings · 27/09/2017 15:02

If it's let as furnished, then you definitely can't demand it to be moved. It's furnished, you either take the furniture, or you store it yourself.

What if you didn't like the plants in the garden? Would you ask for these to be removed before you moved in?

SlothMama · 27/09/2017 15:21

If I'm honest you are being a bit unreasonable sorry, it's his property and his furniture. He may not want to get rid of the sofa as a property labelled as furnished would look daft without a sofa for future tenants.

Could you get a sofa cover for it? Or offer to store it during your tenancy? My brother did this for a disgusting leather sofa (that stank of curry) which his landlord didn't want rid of.

Allthebestnamesareused · 27/09/2017 15:47

I ad a tenant who wanted me to remove my 2 seater leather (not fake pleather) sofa from a FURNISHED flat which is 200 miles from where I live. I had nowhere to store it.

They sugested they'd take it to the dump!! They also said they'd buy a 3 seater to replace it and leave it when they moved out. I sent the link to the 3 seater version (and the seater I had) to show them the cost. They wanted to replace it with a cheap fabric one.

I said I would accept the 3 seater version of mine or they had to keep the 2 seater as leather ones are much simpler in rentals as they are far easier to keep clean etc.

The upshot was they stuck with the 2 seater and it stayed there for 6 years after they left and indeed I gave it to the first time buyer who bought the flat from me and she was thrilled.

Ninjakittysmells · 27/09/2017 15:52

Could you see how much a small secure lock up would be so you could store the sofa on his behalf? I had one for about £35 a month (but I'm up north!) which obviously isn't cheap, but it depends how much you hate the sofa!

MrTrebus · 27/09/2017 16:06

Seriously! Just live with the sofa and cover it in throws and push it into a corner if you have to. If it's let as furnished then YABU. If you're happy with the flat and the neighbours and parking seem ok then that's the main thing!

Butterymuffin · 27/09/2017 16:07

Get a throw.

anothermalteserplease · 27/09/2017 16:19

You can't ask to get rid of furniture in a furnished flat. Unless you want to guarantee you'll give the landlord money to buy a new sofa when you move out.

Original poster

MrsPancakes · 27/09/2017 17:04

Ok - thanks for bringing me back to reality, everyone!

Anyone got any recommendations?

OP posts:

Ninjakittysmells · 27/09/2017 18:15

bless you op. Try these?!

thethoughtfox · 27/09/2017 18:17

You would have to pay for storage for it or get rid yourself and replace when you leave.

Flip