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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Landlord wants to do major work to the house

136 replies

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 11:46

I’m moving out of my rental early autumn as have bought somewhere. My landlord has been In contact to say he is putting the house on the market but will need access to do lots of work to it before I move out (installing double glazing in most of the rooms, painting the house, changing the whole boiler system, putting new carpets down etc). This is going to be incredibly inconvenient as I run my business from home and I also have a cat who would need to be put into a chattery whilst all this is going on.
I would have to move to my mum and dad’s for a couple of weeks while he gets people in to do it all. They will be having to move all my furniture and the whole situation is making me feel stressed just thinking about it.
I’m guessing I cant really ask him to wait until I’ve moved out and will just have to let him get on with what he needs to do? Thanks

OP posts:

Ellendegeneres · 15/05/2018 11:47

Yes you can tell him to wait! You’re entitled to, so exercise your rights. He can do the work after you’ve left, not disrupt you like this

wormery · 15/05/2018 11:48

I doubt he can do this while you are living there and paying rent but I am no expert, maybe speak to citizens advice.

Original poster

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 11:50

So do you think I would be within my rights to either tell him to wait or to deduct my rent for the weeks he’ll be doing it and i have to move out and place my cat in a cattery? Thanks

OP posts:

jay55 · 15/05/2018 11:51

If you have to move out, he has to supply alternative accommodation.

Speak to shelter.

Merryoldgoat · 15/05/2018 11:51

Of course you can tell him to wait! It’s your home. You can allow access for measuring and pricing if you feel generous but absolutely no need to uproot yourself before your contract is up.

havanagilahava · 15/05/2018 11:52

Yes - definitely. Tell him he'll either have to wait until you've moved out, or give you your rent back for those weeks while you move in with your parents.

He doesn't have a right to have that extensive and invasive access while you've paid to be there

MrsMonkeyBear · 15/05/2018 11:52

He can wait until you have moved out. It's not an emergency that it needs done and although you rent, it's your home until you move out.

He might kick up a stink but you have the right to quiet enjoyment of the property until you move.

PlateOfBiscuits · 15/05/2018 11:52

Tell him to wait. He probably wants to do it while you are there so that he looses no rent having it empty to do works on it when you’re gone and before a new tenant can move in. He’s being a bit of a CF.

Original poster

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 11:53

Thanks everyone. That’s a big relief. I don’t mind him doing odd bits and bobs that myself and the cat can work around, but having to actually move us both out for a bit is going to be a total nightmare. I’ve always paid my rent on time for 6 years and never given him any problems so I don’t want him making my final months here anymore stressful than they need to be

OP posts:

ScattyCharly · 15/05/2018 11:54

That’s bloody outrageous!
When I had my windows done, there was loads of mess.

pigmcpigface · 15/05/2018 11:56

Do NOT - repeat DO NOT - accept a rent reduction while this work is ongoing. I speak as someone who has been having building work done since September, in her own house. It's far more disruptive than you might think, and you won't be able to get any focused work done while you have people clomping about the house. Tell the greedy git to wait!

Bluelady · 15/05/2018 11:56

He's outrageous, he wants to have his cake and eat it at your expense. I'm pretty sure youwell within your rights to tell him to wait until you move out to start ripping the place apart.

TheFatkinsDiet · 15/05/2018 11:56

He’s basically trying to continue to make money from your rent while he does the work in order to sell the property, probably at a massive profit. He doesn’t want to do the work on his own time and is being greedy. Tell him to wait.

Original poster

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 11:57

@biscuits that’s exactly why he’s doing it as he wants the house sold before I move out or shortly afterward so it isn’t sitting empty for ages. He lives in an £850k house and drives an Aston Martin so I’m sure he can cope with no income from the property for a short while!

I’ll check my lease when I get home (away for a few days) but does anyone know how much notice he would have to give me to move out? Just worried if I tell him he can’t do the work on the property that he’ll then serve me notice to move out earlier than October (but he wouldn’t be getting my rent money then so probably wouldn’t be ideal for him to do that)

OP posts:

KinkyAfro · 15/05/2018 11:58

Exactly what plate says, he won't get rent if he does it after you've left. Not your problem though, tell him no

Original poster

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 11:58

I already let him have all the electrics in the house redone a few months ago which meant 4 days of total upheaval (the electricians were having to rip up carpets to run new cables etc). I was absolutely livid as it disrupted my business and the house was a total mess. I don’t think I can go through anymore of that

OP posts:

TheSecretMole · 15/05/2018 11:59

He definitely cannot bloody tell you that he’s going to be doing major works that you will have to move out for!!! Absurd. I had some unexpected (and emergency) works done on my property (I rent) and the landlord took money off my rent due the inconvenience (couldn’t use kitchen or living room, dust and dirt etc everywhere).

Tell him where to go! He won’t be happy, but that’s tough. You have a right to quiet enjoyment - he owns the property but it’s your home.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 15/05/2018 12:01

Refuse. He can do this when you move out. None of this is for your benefit.

Original poster

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 12:01

Thanks everyone. Really thought you were all going to tell me that as he owns the house i’d Have to just like it or lump it.
He was asking me if I have any holidays booked in August so he can come and do the work then while I’m away. I told him I don’t have any holidays lined up and he seemed so irked. My cat is old and very anxious and I don’t want to have to pay for him to be placed somewhere either. I think I’m just going to say no to him unless it’s very minor jobs

OP posts:

Cath2907 · 15/05/2018 12:02

Is he asking you to move out? He is within his rights to do this but you can resist. He would then need to take you to court to get you to move out or evict you. As you are leaving soon I suspect if you say "No" he will need to wait for you to leave.

You can't claim a rent rebate until the work is complete and if your tenancy ends before work is complete you can't claim.

In your circumstances I'd tell him no.

www.tenancyagreementservice.co.uk/repairing-obligations

Original poster

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 12:02

Also - I feel really angry that I’ve been left in a house for 6 years with single glazing, shoddy carpets and a boiler system from the Victorian ages that has broken down so many times. And as soon as I say I’m moving out he finally sorts it all out

OP posts:

Original poster

Frosty66612 · 15/05/2018 12:04

@cath he hasn’t asked me to move out but he seems to think that I have to let him do all of that work.
He has a £650 deposit from me which I know he didn’t bond into the appropriate scheme when I moved in

OP posts:

TheSecretMole · 15/05/2018 12:04

Definitely don’t let him have access even if you are away (though I know you say you don’t plan to be) - he would probably still leave an almighty mess and as you say, you have your cat to think of. Stay strong!! And come back here if you feel yourself wavering

TheSecretMole · 15/05/2018 12:05

Frosty if he didn’t put your deposit in a deposit protection scheme then he is liable for a hefty fine. He sounds seriously dodgy!

SaucyJack · 15/05/2018 12:06

He's a cheeky fucker.

Particularly insulting that he didn't feel the need to do any of the work for the benefit of his paying tenant, but only to maximise his profits for the re-sale of the house.

Just say no- Grange Hill style.

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