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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect my tenants to understand?

354 replies

Littleelffriend · 24/10/2017 18:45

I own a flat which I rent out. I wanted to sell it but no takers so I’m stuck . The rent doesn’t cover the mortgage but better than nothing. I got new tenants 5 months ago, lovely couple no issues.
Since they moved in there have been numerous problems. The roof started leaking, I got it fixed within 3 days. The cooker broke, I ordered them a new one straight away. They blocked the toilet with wipes, I paid for an emergency plumber the same day.
They called Friday and said they had no heating or hot water. I had an engineer out within 2 hours. He said he had to order a part which would be here today. It’s the wrong part, and it won’t be fixed until Friday now so a week of no heating or hot water. Totally shit, no argument from me. But my tenants are now being crap about it, going on about how frustrating it is. I know it’s frustrating, but these things happen and I’ve done my best. Aibu to wish they would be a bit more understanding?

OP posts:
thecatsarecrazy · 24/10/2017 20:00

Ive lived in private and housing association and been left without heating or hot water for over a week. These things happen

fakenamefornow · 24/10/2017 20:00

I'm amazed at everyone on here saying you should give a rent rebate shock I bet if you'd posted saying you were the tenant and wanted a rebate they'd all be saying that was unreasonable.

I'm a landlord, I think she should give a rent rebate.

Littleelffriend · 24/10/2017 20:00

I really appreciate all points of view. I’m not offering a rent reduction for a week. I think I’m a good ll, and I know my responsibilities which I try to fulfill. They are paying very low rent. I did reduce the rent but when the oil price collapsed so did everything else. I have apologised to them, there are no children in the property.

OP posts:
turnaroundbrighteyes · 24/10/2017 20:00

We had to do without heat or hot water for a week in a rented property, was awful. Landlord provided an electric heater and had to wash with wet wipes and boil kettle for hair.

Can see why the tenants are upset and, iin your position I'd be putting more pressure on the engineer to make us for his mistake by paying for next day delivery on the part to get it fixed sooner.

JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:01

By heating up water on the cooker. A big pan of heated up water can wash your hair and body, a nuisance but perfectly doable.

mygrandchildrenrock when my boiler went it shorted the electrics somehow. Which also fucked my cooker up.

How would you propose I got hot water?...

burninghigh · 24/10/2017 20:01

Rebate is unreasonable as stuff breaks and you are dealing with it. All these people advocating a rebate would ultimately end up with higher rents to take account of such voids. I'm a home owner with a relatively new (under 3 years) boiler that is well maintained (serviced annually) and a decent one that was installed by a reputable firm. When it broke down no one compensated me for the short delay whilst parts arrived and the mortgage company would have laughed in my face if I said I didn't want to pay them that month. Life doesn't work like that.

By all means if the plumber compensates you for the delay pass onto your tenants and you must ensure that you pursue the plumber to fix quickly now but a weeks delay on first breakdown doesn't = rebate of rent to my mind.

fakenamefornow · 24/10/2017 20:01

Depends on the LL and the tenancy agreements but ours states that no boiler & no hot water is an emergency and must be fixed within 72hours.

Even with the best will in the world this is impossible sometimes. You might not be able to get a plumber out for a day, then they need to order parts, part doesn't fit etc. List goes on.

expatinscotland · 24/10/2017 20:03

'By heating up water on the cooker. A big pan of heated up water can wash your hair and body, a nuisance but perfectly doable.'

Nope. No. 1 not enough to wash my hair or DD's long hair, no. 2, autistic DS would be having none of that. Our bathroom is also upstairs. Wouldn't be able to carry a big pan of heated up water with my sciatica.

turnaroundbrighteyes · 24/10/2017 20:04

Have you provided them with an electric heater?

JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:04

I have apologised to them, there are no children in the property

But whether there are children in the property or not should be irrelevant. Expecting hot water isn't asking too much. I was taking my DCs to DMs for showers. But I'm pretty sure I smelt a tad ripe by the end of the days I couldn't shower at DMs too. Presumably they both have work to go to?

Of course the toilet blocked by wipes shouldn't have happened but I'm sorry if you can't be prepared for these sort of maintenance repairs, however costly, which can happen at any time, I think you should seriously reconsider selling.

Bubblebubblepop · 24/10/2017 20:05

"Today 19:54 LaurieFairyCake

I’m sorry but carrying a pan of hot water to a bathroom is really dangerous and just not doable for me.

I might manage half a dozen electric kettles boiled next to the bathroom and poured in the bath - I’d be expecting you to buy me kettles though. No one has the time to boil one kettle 50 times before work hmm

I don’t think a sink wash for a week is acceptable at all, it’s just not clean enough for me. I knew this thread would bring out the people who only shower twice a week !

And I know no one in this area to go and have a bath/use their bathroom."

This is quite a long explanation about how impossible it would be for you not to have hot water, but that won't make a landlord fix it instantly you. A weeks delay is perfectly reasonable to fix a boiler (it's already had a much faster call out and attempt to fix) and the LL is under no obligation to reduce rent or offer a gesture. As for a hotel or air Bnb, you're bonkers.

Percephone · 24/10/2017 20:05

I agree, some people have really weird ideas about tenants' responsibilities. It's the landlord's fault for not telling the poor tenants not to flush rubbish down the toilet? Hmm

expatinscotland · 24/10/2017 20:07

'This is quite a long explanation about how impossible it would be for you not to have hot water, but that won't make a landlord fix it instantly you. A weeks delay is perfectly reasonable to fix a boiler (it's already had a much faster call out and attempt to fix) and the LL is under no obligation to reduce rent or offer a gesture. As for a hotel or air Bnb, you're bonkers.'

Depends on the contract. Some state that no hot water is an emergency and has to be fixed in 72 hours or alternatives provided.

Littleelffriend · 24/10/2017 20:08

Jonsnowwhite if I could sell I would I hate being a ll. did you read my last post?
Turnaround I offered they didn’t want one
Thanks everyone I think I have all the perspectives I need.

OP posts:
BubblesBubblesBubbles · 24/10/2017 20:08

Poor op! Landlords do get a serious bashing here. It's not the op's fault the wrong part was ordered - as a goodwill gesture I may offer a reduction in rent, or find them somewhere (cheap) to stay.

I went without heating and hot water for 3 week while I had a new born baby and a 2 year old in the snow ffs. Luckily I could heat water and the kids were small enough to enjoy a bath in the kitchen sink. Me and dh just stripped washed until we could do the 2 hour drive to my parents for a shower, or visit some friends, it wasn't fun but manageable. Heating wise I got 4 small electric heaters and had one in the lounge, and the bedrooms, I had no landlord I could shout at to click my fingers and make it happen.

This was with a supposedly all singing all dancing British gas policy (trust me I cancelled it) it was over 3 days before they even attended. Followed by the wrong part being ordered.

0nesie · 24/10/2017 20:08

A week without hot water is fairly normal when you know the bit to fix it is on its way

But not acceptable if you are a tenant paying for use of hot water. If you are paying for a service you don't get you shouldn't have to put up with it. It's a legal duty to get it fixed and part and parcel of being a landlord just as part and parcel of being a tenant is paying the rent, which I am sure you wouldn't put up with and wouldn't want to wait a week for! You aren't doing them a big favour by doing what you are contractually obligated to provide as their landlord.

Want2bSupermum · 24/10/2017 20:08

I'm a LL and I always ask what would I do as a homeowner. I've gone 8 days with no hot water. It was after hurricane sandy. We all survived and we got zero compensation yet the bank expected the mortgage to be paid on time and in full.

These things happen and they are beyond a LL or home owners control. A week is fine IMO and I would be getting them a weeks pass to the local gym so they can take a shower.

mygrandchildrenrock · 24/10/2017 20:09

JonSnowsWife With no electricity or gas you couldn't heat any water up! Smile
For all of you telling me how hard it would be to carry a pan of warm water/kettle to the bathroom, how about washing in the kitchen! I wasn't suggesting heating enough water up for a bath but a flannel wash for a couple of days would be better than nothing. I must be showing my age, it is something we had to do a lot in the olden days! Grin

JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:09

It's the landlord's fault for not telling the poor tenants not to flush rubbish down the toilet?

Who said that?

Bubblebubblepop · 24/10/2017 20:09

That's interesting and If that's what you're tenancy agreement says good for you. I think those landlords are crazy, since they have no obligation to offer that and it's not standard at all.

Makes me wonder what they'd do when they can't fix it in 72 hours. Also I'd be interested to see if they bother sticking to it when it actually happens (after all- how is the tenant going to enforce it?)

JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:10

Yes OP. I did read your posts.

I just happen to disagree. Happens on a forum with lots of people with hundreds of differing views.

Bubblebubblepop · 24/10/2017 20:10

^^ that was in response to expatinscotland

fakenamefornow · 24/10/2017 20:12

To those saying you wouldn't reduce the rent for days without heat/water you are making the tenant pay for something they haven't received. I don't think that's fair at all. Utility companies give you compensation if you are without power/gas/water for a number of days, this is only right.

ChocolateWombat · 24/10/2017 20:12

When you say 'being crap about it' do you mean they are moaning slightly (absolutely fair enough) or moaning going on and on (perhaps a bit grating, but not too much of an issue) or demanding compensation (not so clear cut)?

You sound like you've been a decent LL in the past to them. That's good and it's something they should be able to expect as standard, not be seen as super kind treatment. However, I do agree that as in all things, a relationship develops and there is a hit if give and take and goodwill and understanding involved. THe Op was understanding about the wipes blocking the loo and sorted the problem. She could have charged them and didn't. The boiler issue is a pain and they are due to have access to hot water etc but as others say, she can't wave a magic wand and this kind of repair can take several days - it is a nuisance for the tenants, but it is one of those things. Other things might go wrong too - it just isn't possible to instantly fix them and people have to expect a reasonable wait. The question becomes what is reasonable? Once it goes beyond reasonable then I think compensation is probably needed, but it's not needed instantly. If OP has provided plug in heaters and kept in good contact and the issue with the tenants, then I think she is fulfilling her role.

No one is ever going to be pleased to have no heating or hot water. The OP needs to be very sympathetic and to apologise for what has happened,mbut also professional - accepting that these things happen and being clear that she is on the case and keeping them updated with what is going on. However, there is no need to grovel and self-flagellate over this. It is one of those things that happens and if the LL handles it quickly and professionally, tenants (like homeowners - and just because you are a tenant and not an owner doesn't mean you can expect miraculous repairs without any time delay) just have to accept it as one of those aspects of living in any property.

LLS need to behave responsibly and quickly. Maintaining goodwill is always important too. Apologising, acting quickly, being a bit flexible, perhaps taking some wine or flowers on the day of the repair is all good. Being willing to offer compensation if the repair is significantly delayed would also be good, but isn't needed for a few days.

And OP, you need to get used to showing goodwill and not always getting it back. It's the reality of the market. People want you to be flexible with them (the toilet) but forget when they want something. Set yourself high standards and don't expect too much goodwill in return and you'll be less disappointed. And have confidence in yourself and your response if it is speedy and reasonable and accept that repairs will occur and can't happen instantly.

MrMeeseekscando · 24/10/2017 20:12

Your heating engineer isn't trying very hard.
If the boiler is newish, the part will be in stock or next day.
I know. I sell them. Wink