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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would a fussy landlord put you off renting somewhere?

118 replies

mondaze10 · 02/10/2018 08:52

I'm in love with a house and we're currently waiting for the landlord to 'approve' us. It's a one off house that most people wouldn't ever get a chance to live in, it's absolutely stunning and I feel lucky to even be able to 'apply' so to speak.

Anyway, the landlords are very particular and I don't know if it's worth it...

They vet who can live there (standard procedure but turn down a lot of people like they turned down a family that they thought the children would be too 'playful' with footballs etc). They live up the lane behind the house so not far from the back garden. The agent has hinted that it's all very community so it seems as though they wouldn't be your normal 'silent' landlords but ones that would very much want to know you, and they'd have to drive past the house everytime they left their own house.

Would that put you off?

OP posts:
Treasure114 · 02/10/2018 12:28

I think that the estate agent was subtly trying to warn you off!

specialsubject · 02/10/2018 12:33

you need to check that they get how it works. They cannot go in when they like - they cannot go in AT ALL without your permission except in real emergency. They cannot tell you how to live your life. If they don't get this, you will need to write a letter (not kiddy comms, write with proof of posting) explaining the rules. If you really want it make sure you have a long tenancy agreement.

Can't think of anything worse than having the tenants on the doorstep as a landlord!

Poodles1980 · 02/10/2018 13:22

This exact scenario happened to us a few years ago. Beautiful Victorian gothic cottage in one of the most amazing settings beside the sea in my city. The agent wanted to know a huge amount about us so the landlord could vet us. There landlord lived in the big house behind and he had furnished the agent with a list of places we could not go on the drive way and other rules. There was also work sheds directly in the yard of the property which we would not be allowed near. It was all a bit overbearing and creepy so we turned it down. It was still up for rent about 6 months laterGrin

Original poster
mondaze10 · 02/10/2018 14:30

They have said they want to meet us

I'm excited but nervous at the same time lol

OP posts:
LeftRightCentre · 02/10/2018 14:52

I think you're so blinded by the house you're walking into a nightmare. We did that a couple of times and seriously learned our lesson. The football games are a real indicator of the type of LL they are. You're being quite silly and wasting your time but it's your life and money. I'd rather live in a bedsit all 5 of us then those 2 houses again. One was a gate house with the LL living in 'the big house'. Thought it was fucking 1880 and we were the hired help even though we were paying the rent on the place. The other liked to come in when we weren't there. I thought the place was fucking haunted until I came home ill from work and found her on our sofa in the sitting room 'just having a quick cup of tea'.

NarcolepticOuchMouse · 02/10/2018 14:56

It would be a no from me. We've actually been in a similar position with a grade 2 listed cottage and withdrew after finding out what the landlord is like. We've had overly involved landlords in the past and it's just not worth the stress and hassle or feeling like you have no privacy and are being parented.

albert92 · 02/10/2018 15:23

It wouldn't put my off I would just carry on as normal they can look at what they want, they can't exactly come into your house so what's driving past going to do

53rdWay · 02/10/2018 15:29

Well they shouldn’t come into the house, doesn’t mean they won’t.

Mine came in to use the shower when we weren’t in.

albert92 · 02/10/2018 15:30

@53rdWay you can report that to the police and they will most likely go to prison

53rdWay · 02/10/2018 15:32

Prison? WTAF? Hmm

albert92 · 02/10/2018 15:33

@53rdWay yeah, you can't walk into someone's house without permission can you it's against the law

53rdWay · 02/10/2018 15:35

They can’t legally do it. That doesn’t mean they’ll be imprisoned for it! That’s really not how the justice system works.

Haberpop · 02/10/2018 15:37

I am going to go against the grain and say no. Our home is very similar, our landlady lives in the manor house over the road, she vets who lives in our home because she has had her fingers burned more than once, she often chats at the gate if we are in the garden but has never been OTT, she even buys her eggs from us! She cares a lot about our (her) house and wants nothing more than to maintain it and a good relationship with her tenants.

albert92 · 02/10/2018 15:38

@53rdWay if you came home and there was a fully naked person in your shower and they had cake into your house without permission yes they 100% would go to prison if you called the police. They sign a letting agreement which means they are not allowed to go into the property

happymummy12345 · 02/10/2018 15:38

I could not cope with that at all

53rdWay · 02/10/2018 15:40

No they 100% would not, Albert. Believe me, I’ve dealt with a lot of terrible landlords. The only time it’s been a police matter is when one of them threatened me - and even then he didn’t go to prison, he just got a warning from the police.

Sitranced · 02/10/2018 15:42

Doesn't matter how nice the house is if the landlord was overbearing even before moving in.

Our house is clean and maintained well but I'd rather it in a different area with a bigger kitchen and different layout but as our landlord is so fair to us and lives in spain its one of the main reasons why we don't want to move.

BarbarianMum · 02/10/2018 15:59

Im a landlord. Im extremely fussy about who I let my house to. I also work in the building next to the house and see it every day. Other than the occasional wave to my tennants all communication is via the agent and is very infrequent. I have noticed that the garage door needs painting though so will be contacting them to arrange this.

Can you talk to the previous tennant and see what their experience is?

MotherWol · 02/10/2018 16:23

I'd run a mile - your home should be a place where you can relax and feel comfortable; how could you do that if the landlord's watching when you open the curtains and if you have guests over? If you're a landlord, you're not doing someone a favour, they're paying you for a service. It's not your home any more, it's theirs, and they have the right to quiet enjoyment of the property.

roses2 · 02/10/2018 16:45

On the plus side the reason why the house is so lovely is probably because the owner invests a lot of time in maintaining it. Can you investigate setting boundaries about their visits before you sign?

specialsubject · 02/10/2018 17:52

police dont get.involved in landlord/tenant disputes.

tenant can always change the locks and replace when they leave.

ektomarie · 02/10/2018 17:59

It depends if you’re honest or you’re putting up the perfect tenant front. I’d be yourselves and look at this as a two way interview. If you feel annoyed or irritated by their questions or anything feels off, question question question!

Let’s face it, most of us would love to pick our perfect neighbours, if we only could.

They can.

So just be yourselves and see if you click

DayManChampionOfTheSun · 02/10/2018 18:06

When are you meeting them op? I personally would be very wary and would find out how long the last tenants were in and why they left. Yanbu to meet and vet them also! Just don't be blinded by a nice smile, if they say things that make you feel a bit odd, run for the hills!

Skyejuly · 02/10/2018 18:16

No. Lived up road from landlord before. Nightmare :(

Original poster
mondaze10 · 02/10/2018 20:34

Meeting them later in the week. Estate agent said today they’re lovely people that bought the house as they’d had a bad experience with the person that owned it before so wanted to stop that from happening again...

OP posts:
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