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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:13

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?)

You ring them up and remind them. It's what I did. As it happened fakenamefornow mine did run over 72 hours as the part they needed for the boiler was as rare as rocking horse shit.. They came out the very next day with a brand new boiler instead. I was suffering from a chest infection at the time. Could have hugged the man! Grin

Bubblebubblepop · 24/10/2017 20:14

Well yes because ringing and asking always works 😭

ohreallyohreallyoh · 24/10/2017 20:14

You should have made sure your flat was flawless before renting it out

Oh wow! A magic house! Nothing ever goes wrong, nothing ever breaks down, everyone lives happily ever after. Where can I get one?

jacks11 · 24/10/2017 20:15

I think people are being a bit harsh on OP.

I think she was outlining what she has done in the past to show she is generally a good LL who tries to get things sorted promptly rather than anything else. In her shoes, I'd have considered billed the tenants for the blocked toilet as they shouldn't have been putting wipes down them- it even says so on the packaging. They caused damage either deliberately or through carelessness but OP footed the bill.

I think OP has done everything she can. Nothing more she can do- she's offered heaters etc. Unfortunate and annoying for tenants but what more can she feasibly do?

Percephone · 24/10/2017 20:15

jonsnowswife I was referring to Mathanxiety's comment about tenants not knowing you can't flush wipes.

Original poster
Littleelffriend · 24/10/2017 20:20

Mrmeek you have no idea where I live. I offered to pay extra for next day courier and was told it wasn’t possible.

OP posts:
ManInTheMoonMarigold · 24/10/2017 20:20

Our rental agreement states that if we have no hot water at all for more than 48 hours we must be offered temporary alternative accommodation, e.g. a hotel (although we are not obliged to take up the offer). It has a list of various services and how long we can be without them before triggering the alternative accommodation clause.

Blueemeraldagain · 24/10/2017 20:22

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.

That's exactly what happened to me. 7 weeks! 53 days (so just over 7 weeks!) and the great and good of mumsnet thought I was being incredibly cheeky to ask for a small rebate. (Just in case anyone was wondering we have showers at work and gym membership but our LL did not know either of these facts).

ChocolateWombat · 24/10/2017 20:25

A rent rebate isn't due for a standard domestic breakdown which the OP has got on the case for of and is fulfilling her duties with, but which takes a few days to sort out.

Her duty is to speedily get on the case and find workmen to fix the problem or have her agents carry out this role. She has done and is doing this.

It is to be expected that the tenants moan about it. It might not be unusual if they enquire about compensation (not sure they have) but the OP or the agent can be quite clear with them that a broken down boiler where a gasman has attended within 48 hours and which is going to be sorted within a week, whilst an annoyance is not a cause for compensation.

Tenants have a right to a property in a good state of repair and with all the services provided, but also have to recognise that things break down. They are entitled to a speedy response but have to accept that instant attendance by workmen or instant repairs are just not possible and sometimes a few days is required to sort it. It is the same if your phone line goes down or if your internet stops working or if you have a water leak or your freezer breaks down regardless of if you are in rented or owned accommodation - so,etimes you just have to wait for the workmen and you don't get compensation unless a certain period passes which makes the delay unreasonable. That period has not passed yet.

Dailystuck71 · 24/10/2017 20:26

Arf at those people who live in a house where nothing eve breaks down.

A roof can leak

A cooker can break

A boiler can have a fault

A boiler can have a service agreement but they may still not be able to repair it within 7 days

FFS get into the real world. This doesn’t mean the OP has a poor Property.

In my house, my fridge freezer, boiler and front door all broke within 5 days earlier this year. Shit happens.

MissEliza · 24/10/2017 20:26

Nothing ever goes wrong As pp have more or less said, shit happens and sometimes you can't fix things overnight, whether you're a landlord or a homeowner. I'm a landlord and luckily there's never been a problem which hasn't been fixeable promptly but who knows what can happen? Our hot water tank went bust last year and we waited over a week to get it fixed because good plumbers aren't always free when you need them. That's life. I think the Op has done everything she can reasonably do.

fakenamefornow · 24/10/2017 20:29

They came out the very next day with a brand new boiler instead

Because of a one day delay in getting the boiler fixed? There is no way I'd be spending thousands instead of waiting another day or two for a £50 part.

gingergenius · 24/10/2017 20:29

I used to be a home owner. I now rent a four bed house a ps a single parent. I've gone without hot water and heating for longer than this, as I'm an actual adult who real uses that landlords are also expletive and no superhuman who wear their pants on the outside of their tights!

OP
Co-operation and patience is required from both sides. It sounds like you done your best. Plumbers are notoriously overbooked. It's annoying but as long as they know you are and have done everything possible, then try not to worry. Just keep on top of the situation, reassure your tenants that you're doing everything you can and don't take it personally.

SilverSpot · 24/10/2017 20:31

It’s mega annoying for them but these things happen and as long as LL is responsive there isn’t no need for drama. It’s a ball ache but most people can shower at work, the gym or wash with some hot water from the kettle.

onlyjustme · 24/10/2017 20:31

Erm... "the rent doesn't cover the mortgage"...
I may be wrong here but I was under the impression that the rent had to cover the mortgage and then some!

(Misses point of thread...)

JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:31

It is the same if your phone line goes down

How is having no heating or hot water the same as your phone line going down? Confused

Ecureuil · 24/10/2017 20:32

I may be wrong here but I was under the impression that the rent had to cover the mortgage and then some!

No... it doesn’t have to. Obviously preferable if it does.

JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:32

Well yes because ringing and asking always works

If that was to me @Bubble I didnt ring and ask. I rang and reminded them of their tenancy agreement. A legally binding contract and what I was intending to do if the remedy wasn't fixed within x days.

Bubblebubblepop · 24/10/2017 20:34

jonsnow And what were you intending to do? Because the reality is, you couldn't do anything. Any legal action to force the contract to be fulfilled would've cost you a lot lot more time and money than the whole situation was worth.

Want2bSupermum · 24/10/2017 20:35

MrMeer I have a popular boiler, same one in all rental properties. Only issue is that if the plumber is already busy sometimes they just can't get to you. I'm really lucky that I have a couple of people I can ask for a favour but most private LLs don't have that luxury.

frumpety · 24/10/2017 20:36

Just out of interest , how many people would be happy to book a villa or hotel room and arrive to find that due to circumstances beyond the owners control that there would be no hot water for a week ?

would you just shrug and accept it or expect some sort of discount ?

JonSnowsWife · 24/10/2017 20:37

I may be wrong here but I was under the impression that the rent had to cover the mortgage and then some!

No it doesn't have to. It's prudent to charge a little more to cover for this of course but then again that's what insurance is for etc.

SilverSpot · 24/10/2017 20:37

Some very negative Nancy’s on this thread “can’t carry a pan of water / don’t want to boil a kettle 59 turns”

A single kettle of boiling water, a washing up now , some cold water added and a flannel will be adequate for you to wash with. This really isn’t a huge drama. Super annoying yes, but seriously unless you are disabled with 6 autistic children you should be able to to cope with no shower for a few days.

fakenamefornow · 24/10/2017 20:37

As I said earlier, I would give compensation. Most of my tenants have been with me for decades. I make sure I'm a really good LL and even charge below market rent. I figure a long term tenant and no void periods is worth slightly cheaper rent.

You said you charge cheap rent OP, why is that? Mine is cheap just because I don't put it up each year.

SpaghettiAndMeatballs · 24/10/2017 20:37

Tenants rights in the uk are shocking.

Yeah.. not so much actually - I've rented in 7 countries - only got my deposit back in the UK and Canada despite leaving each place better than I got it. Housing stock is variable everywhere, repairs were done the quickest, and to a better standard in the UK though (currently waiting for a boiler fix in my current rented house - have been waiting 3 weeks. Luckily have open fires and immersion heaters for hot water - sometimes it just takes a while, it's not my landlord's fault.)

OP - if they have hot water from an immersion (which they wouldn't if it's a combi) then I wouldn't be fretting. If they had an electric shower, I'd offer an electric oil heater or two. You are moving as fast as you can.

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