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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tenant requesting reduction in rent

259 replies

TattyCat · 15/02/2018 11:42

Just need to check whether IABU.

Our tenant has rented for around 15 months. A few months ago, she complained of a damp patch in the kitchen, so we've had investigations and this has included knocking plaster off the wall, removing the radiator and applying damp proofing. We are awaiting the plaster drying before the radiator can go back on. Just as a note, the house is REALLY warm and this radiator is one I generally had switched off, or on low when I lived there as the kitchen gets hot.

Anyway, tenant has a dog and a few months ago requested permission for a cat, both of which are fine with us and we've always wanted to be flexible. Tenant is now pushing quite hard for a £50 reduction in rent because of the inconvenience of the work being done (albeit it makes the place better!). This work is costing the equivalent of 2 months rent but clearly, we also want to maintain the property so I don't suppose this is relevant.

IABU in saying 'no'?

OP posts:
Jenny17 · 15/02/2018 12:38

IMO it may not be unreasonable. Has your tenant been able to use the property in the manner that she wanted to under the agreement?

Personally asking for £50 is a little weird. How did they get to that number. Was it the cost of a night in a hotel? Was it the cost of running a portable heater? Did the tenant need to replace an item due to the damp? Did they have to pay for someone to look after their pets? Has the tenant not been able to cook or store food on the kitchen? Did the tenant have to take a day off to be there for the workers? Did it smell musty a lot! If any of the above then maybe.

Also depends on how much the rent is £50 is a high percentage of £500 but low for £2500.

Jon66 · 15/02/2018 12:38

Forgot to say, it is in my tenancy agreements that the tenant facilitates viewings. What does it say in your tenancy agreements?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/02/2018 12:38

Yanbu

Letting her have a dog and a cat at the property is a huge favour you're doing her.

Laiste · 15/02/2018 12:38

Sorry, when you said The damp issue only became apparent at the last tenant check i thought you meant the check after the last tenant. IYSWIM?

SaskaTchewan · 15/02/2018 12:39

How is your area? An empty property will sell a hell of a lot faster than a property with tenants. If you sell to an investor or some kind, they might not mind, but buyers who need a place to live will be worried, most won't even view such properties.

If you think it will sell anyway, you can see how it goes, advise her that you are selling and tell her about viewings. If she is not happy, then suggest a discount and maybe a day or 2 of "open house" to limit the viewings.

To be fair, viewings are a pain for everybody, they are inconvenient, even if you don't have to make the place look like a showroom, you still have strangers rooting in your cupboards (people are so rude and have no boundaries), so it's not a pleasant experience.

londonrach · 15/02/2018 12:40

Jon66... even if its in your tenancy agreement you dont have to allow viewings. Ea know this but hope you dont.

Beetle76 · 15/02/2018 12:40

The two issues are not related. You’ve said yes to the pets so that’s done and dusted. You need to work out if she is being inconvenienced by the work being done or not and make your decision on that.

brownelephant · 15/02/2018 12:41

Jon66
Forgot to say, it is in my tenancy agreements that the tenant facilitates viewings. What does it say in your tenancy agreements?

doesn't matter. the tennant doesn't have to let anyone into their home if they don't want to.

alotalotalot · 15/02/2018 12:46

I'd say no and then if she is stroppy, I'd rethink the selling with a tenant in situ. You'll probably lose money that way anyway.

crispsandgin · 15/02/2018 12:47

Letting her have a dog and a cat at the property is a huge favour you're doing her

It's not a favour, it's a variance to tenancy that the landlord feels works for them as a commercial decision. It's not kindness.

Desperatelyseekingsun · 15/02/2018 12:47

If you want to sell I would give notice, think how much effort you put into getting a property looking it's best before a viewing, a tenant has no incentive to do this. After notice has been given you can deep clean the house and dress it for sale.

eggsandwich · 15/02/2018 12:49

Give her notice to quit and tell her good luck trying to find somewhere else to rent with pets, she’ll soon change her mind.

FreshStartToday · 15/02/2018 12:50

Also a LL here, who has the philosophy that I should look after the property and accommodate the tenant where possible, as she is paying for a home. I too allowed pets (although our deposit was higher, in case of pet damage.) However, she requested that this damp be investigated, and you accommodated her, so I wouldn't be offering a rent reduction for that.

If you are sure you are selling I would then discuss the options with her. I would offer a rent reduction for inconvenience, if she were to allow viewings on, say, a Saturday afternoon and one week night. Or if she preferred you could give her her notice and then market it once she is out and the property cleaned (assuming that she is on a tenancy with a break clause??) Once she has that question to think about, she should forget about the inconvenience of having the damp repaired - particularly if she wants to stay on.

RedHelenB · 15/02/2018 12:55

Landlords- you are not doing tenants a massive favour by letting your properties. You are making money

I find the whole tone of this thread weird. If she didn't have heating in one room for more than a day or so she had to.oay out more cos an electric heater would be more expensive so I think s one reduction to reflect that.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 15/02/2018 12:57

Personally I would sell without the tenant.

Laiste · 15/02/2018 12:58

I hate this mind set that landlords are doing their tenant a huge favors left right and center just by existing conducting themselves properly.

When you go into the business of offering housing for people for financial profit there's no reason to expect gratitude from your clients for NOT being a wanker. (As with any business). How did it get this way?

This is not aimed at the OP btw.

Laiste · 15/02/2018 12:58

x post red

alotalotalot · 15/02/2018 13:00

It's not a favour, it's a variance to tenancy that the landlord feels works for them as a commercial decision. It's not kindness.

It would be kindness fro me. In fact I've been in this situation and allowed a pet. I didn't want to allow it but wanted my tenant to be happy because I like him. I didn't need to do it but I did it for no other reason than to be kind. There was nothing in it for me.

Gabilan · 15/02/2018 13:02

what would be the right thing to do for the tenant?

Talk to her and be up front about it. As you say, she might want to buy it herself. I've been through this as a tenant and it was a weird limbo land that I would really rather not go through again.

Also, watch out for estate agents because whatever agreement you come up with between your tenant and you, the EA is likely to ignore it. I had the EA phoning up at work asking if someone could look around in an hour's time. Well I don't leave my home in a state that would allow someone to look around with what was effectively no notice. Viewings are weird because you can have none for weeks and then several in one day so you can't always be on the alert - not if you're renting and the sale was never your idea anyway.

That was the one time I refused a viewing, on the grounds that it was too short notice. And even then I didn't refuse, just asked for it to be delayed. I was told the potential buyer was only in the area for a limited time blah blah blah. The next day I was given notice to leave, on the EA's instructions to my then landlady that it would make the property easier to sell. EA' s do not like tenants so however nice you're trying to be, they won't be.

SaskaTchewan · 15/02/2018 13:03

No one is doing anything any favour, it's a business transaction that works for both sides.

It is ridiculous to pretend that all landlords make a huge financial profit from their tenants, some just break even, property prices fall, mortgages are expensive, maintaining a property to tenant standards is expensive.

Accepting animals when you don't have to is doing the tenant a favour. Many landlords don't bother, and there's no shortage of good tenant in most areas of this country.

BoneyBackJefferson · 15/02/2018 13:04

If she owned her home she would have the inconvenience AND the cost

Completely irrelevant to the thread.

SaskaTchewan · 15/02/2018 13:04

EA are just realistic, tenanted properties don't sell as well for obvious reasons. It's easier and quicker to shift empty properties.

crispsandgin · 15/02/2018 13:05

It would be kindness fro me. In fact I've been in this situation and allowed a pet. I didn't want to allow it but wanted my tenant to be happy because I like him. I didn't need to do it but I did it for no other reason than to be kind. There was nothing in it for me

Of course there was: keeping your tenant happy, which is good for your bottom line.
It's a business. You aren't doing your tenants favours.

Fairenuff · 15/02/2018 13:05

Give her notice. Wait till she's out for the viewings. Really don't want to do them with a dog and a cat there, anyway.

Yes, this.

Laiste · 15/02/2018 13:06

It is ridiculous to pretend that all landlords make a huge financial profit from their tenants, some just break even, property prices fall, mortgages are expensive, maintaining a property to tenant standards is expensive.

Poor land lords. And they have no choice after all ....