Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
crispsandgin · 15/02/2018 13:07

thats fine if you are sure you can sell quickly, because if you get them out and are waiting months for a sale you could be down thousands.

Original poster
TattyCat · 15/02/2018 13:07

There are two radiators in that room (which is why it was always so damned hot!)

OP posts:
ChelleDawg2020 · 15/02/2018 13:07

Get rid of her as soon as your tenancy agreement permits. You don't need the hassle of a trouble-making tenant. (Yes, complaining about damp / asking for another pet / asking about rent reduction does constitute being a trouble-maker when we are in a letter's market.)

Laiste · 15/02/2018 13:08

Sorry - complaining about damp makes you a trouble maker tenant?? Dear god!

Laiste · 15/02/2018 13:10

The comment from chelle shows why it's very very wrong that so many have no choice but to rent from private land lords. Disgusting.

Original poster
TattyCat · 15/02/2018 13:13

We simply had a house that we decided to rent out. We didn't buy it with a view to renting it out and lived in it ourselves for 2 years. The housing market at the time wasn't great (it's improved, apparently) and the house, when we marketed it briefly, didn't sell. What were we supposed to do?

And we have a substantial amount of stamp duty tied up in it following our current house purchase (we HAD to move for work reasons) that we have a year to reclaim (about £6k).

Anyway, I'm not getting into arguments about why we're LLs or whether we're doing anyone any favours or not. It's simply a question of what's fair to our tenant - we want to do the right thing. That's all.

OP posts:
SaskaTchewan · 15/02/2018 13:14

Laiste
don't be daft, the world is not split between "rich" landlords and "poor" tenants.

Just look at the rental prices in your area, there's no way I could afford to rent the houses on my road, all the tenants there are financial means that I haven't got! They don't look down at us however.

alotalotalot · 15/02/2018 13:15

"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.*

Actually I am. There is a shortage of houses to rent in my area. I could easily get a new tenant and for more rent too. I don't need to accept pets.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/02/2018 13:15

Personally I'd give her notice if you want to sell and avoid marketing it until she's left. You're obviously a decent landlord and since she may struggle finding somewhere else which will allow pets, she almost certainly won't want to leave

If that's the case, what's to stop her telling viewers horror stories about the property to put them off?

Original poster
TattyCat · 15/02/2018 13:18

And I in no way perceive her as a 'trouble-maker', as it happens.

OP posts:
ExFury · 15/02/2018 13:18

(Yes, complaining about damp / asking for another pet / asking about rent reduction does constitute being a trouble-maker when we are in a letter's market.)

complaining about damp does not make a tenant a trouble maker. Neither doesn't asking for another pet (note asked not announced).

No wonder LL's get a bad name when shit like that gets pedalled (and I am one before anyone decides I'm a LL hating tenant).

@TattyCat you'd have to checked your local rental market for btl investors before deciding to sell with a tenant in situ. For a lot of people they don't want the tenant in place. They want to pick their own tenant and do their own checks.

With regard to viewings and the likes the key is negotiating with your tenants. Announcing you are selling and you are having viewings and it's in the contract (hoping they don't realise it's as enforceable as a clause that they have to make your dinner every Monday would be) will get their back up. Mentioning you are thinking of selling and would they be amenable to viewings if you sold as tenant in situ will get you on better.

fleshmarketclose · 15/02/2018 13:19

I don't know, ds's landlord asked ds to allow a surveyor in. Arranged it so that ds would still be able to go to work without using any holiday and sent him a cheque for £50 for the inconvenience.
Ds is a good tenant and his landlord is a decent landlord in so far as any issues are seen to immediately and without penny pinching so it is mutually beneficial to be accommodating of each other.
If your tenant is decent then £50 for the inconvenience seems a small price to pay really.

Laiste · 15/02/2018 13:20

Saska Rent is topped up by housing benefit. Rent is so high that the average working family cannot afford it. You're right. But the council pay the difference.

And then some land lords get snotty about taking 'benefit tenants'.

millymae · 15/02/2018 13:20

What percentage of the rent is £50.00?
Although I don't rent now, I did previously and it never entered my head to ask for a reduction when repairs which inconvenienced me needed to be done. Like a lot of people nowadays I thinks she's trying it on - you sound like a lovely landlord. I wouldn't be agreeing to her request if what you've told us is the exact situation.

theunsure · 15/02/2018 13:22

Definitely no way to rent reduction - I have no trouble getting new tenants as very popular area, so if they don't like it, they are free to leave!
I would point out that I am very conscious of looking after the property and tenants and always fix things/replace asap. I rented myself when in between buying properties and so I do appreciate things from the tenants point of view. But something that you describe is not significant enough to warrant a reduction. If they had no kitchen or bathroom then that would be entirely different of course.

As an aside, I allow pets in mine (within reason, it is a small house with small garden), but with an additional deposit to allow for any pet damage and they need to pay for a deep clean afterwards.

Laiste · 15/02/2018 13:23

OP i don't think the bun fight which always ensues on landlord/tenant threads is down to you or anything you've said.

MrsCharlieD · 15/02/2018 13:24

No I don't think yabu. She is trying it on. When I rented I just put up with maintenance and repair work. The worst being having our shower out of action when I was heavily pregnant. We ended up with a new boiler and all sorts, it would never occur to me to have asked for a reduction. Kind of wish I had though after being asked to paint the nursery back to magnolia after painting it a soft baby blue.

SaskaTchewan · 15/02/2018 13:25

Laiste
If the council tops up the rent allowing people to live in luxury areas of London and other places, then there is something very wrong. People buy where they can afford, why should tenants have access to properties they can't afford? It would be outrageous if it was true>
Sadly, it is, I know of a road where the smallest 1 bed sells for more than a million, but some council tenants rent for a few hundred quid a month.

None of the places I rented accepted benefit tenants, you can see why

WazFlimFlam · 15/02/2018 13:27

The first page of this thread made me want to cry. You are not good people, I hope you realise that.

crispsandgin · 15/02/2018 13:28

Actually I am. There is a shortage of houses to rent in my area. I could easily get a new tenant and for more rent too. I don't need to accept pets

Then you are terrible at being a landlord and shouldn't be doing it.

Original poster
TattyCat · 15/02/2018 13:28

Laiste I was starting to wonder!!

Neither doesn't asking for another pet (note asked not announced). Well, the cat/kitten was kind of 'announced'. Her bf had already bought it for her, so she was asking after the event! But still, it's ok and we did agree to it.

OP posts:
crispsandgin · 15/02/2018 13:30

(Yes, complaining about damp / asking for another pet / asking about rent reduction does constitute being a trouble-maker when we are in a letter's market

This is why people loathe landlords. They rent out damp properties and think that anyone who dares to complain is a trouble maker Hmm

Amyxmarie · 15/02/2018 13:30

As someone who is currently suffering from a landlord that won't do ANYTHING, I wish you were my landlord! You sound very nice and I think you shouldn't have to reduce anything.

And ChelleDawg2020, I really hope you aren't a landlord.

AnaisB · 15/02/2018 13:32

I think whether you agree to the reduction depends on the specifics of how inconvenienced she was - and how keen you are to keep her. You don’t sound unreasonable at all,but I’m am shocked at some of the comments. Reporting damp is a problem!? - surely it’d be more of a problem if she didn’t report it when op is planning to sell!

Original poster
TattyCat · 15/02/2018 13:34

WazFlimFlam The first page of this thread made me want to cry. You are not good people, I hope you realise that.

So what makes a 'good' person in this scenario?

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread