To think it will never be good enough?

[nurserygames]

Hi
I have a flat that I used to live in and now rent out. I was hoping to hang onto it as long as possible to try to help DC with uni costs in later life. The flat has been rented out and my neighbour had a friend who was looking for somewhere, so she and another friend moved in after the last tenancy ended. They requested new carpets, which I said I would put in in a year/18 months, but then agreed to put in for the start of their tenancy. I also redecorated and had all new white goods put in. This was six months ago. Since then some cracks have started appearing in the flat and after getting some specialists in, it turns out the house next door has a tree which is causing subsidence to mine and some other flats. Surveys have commenced and I was considering a rent reduction through this phase. Prior to the tenants moving in, I let them store their stuff for free, put up with changing moving dates and let them bring their dog. I still haven't had a deposit. They pay on time, but did start drip feeding additional requests in the first couple of months which I eventually pushed back on. After they stored their stuff they also asked for the flat to be unfurnished when it was previously furnished. I've now had a text asking for a rent reduction or they'll start looking elsewhere in the new year. They have previously said that whilst the subsidence cracks are unsightly they're liveable and they know I'm doing all I can to rectify quickly. If they asked for a temporary rent reduction, I'd understand. However, they are stating the kitchen is too small, the stairs are too steep and there is a boiler in the bedroom. This is all stuff they saw and agreed to prior to moving in! The flat is reasonably priced, compared to others on the market. They are also now stating the flat costs too much to heat - I hate the cold and I lived there for over ten years without feeling like this. I'm tempted to call their bluff, but due to the subsidence issue, feel I can't rent it elsewhere yet. I think they're trying it on as I'm over a barrel. AIBU or would you reduce rent for known aspects of a flat?

Oh God get them out ASAP! Why are you putting up with this.

Why on earth did you not demand a deposit before they moved in.

Get the deposit and then give the required notice to leave.

Normal tenant requests are: the X is falling apart, can we get a new one? Or Y is broken, can we get it fixed?

The kitchen is too small, the stairs are too steep are NOT normal requests! This is the layout and structure of the property and there’s nothing to be done. They are taking the piss out of you.

I say call their bluff, it’s a pain to find new tenants but surely less stressful than putting up with this.

Definitely call their bluff. And tell them if they aren't happy they can start looking for elsewhere.
Don't reduce the rent until you have a deposit just in case they do just up and leave overnight.

Tell them to jog on!

First, you need to ask them to leave and the legal way to do this is to serve a section 21 Notice. Then you need to select your next tenants properly. The easiest way to do this is a letting agency Tenant Find only. They will vet, credit check and interview. You must make an inventory and take a deposit which must be lodged with Deposit Protection Service straight away. I am sorry you are in this mess but you have gone into it very naively without doing any homework. Also, never put in white goods. If you do you are liable for their repair and maintenance. I have been letting out property for 20 years and still have a lot to learn. Do some homework on sites like The Landlord Zone. Accidental landlords as you are are getting in these messes on a daily basis, usually by thinking its easier thatn it is

I have just seen they are trying to get a rent reduction or they will look for somewhere else. Tell them that is the best idea as clearly the flat is not suitable for them . No more bending over backwards. Your aim is to get them out now

I would get rid. You can always rent it by reducing the rent to make it look like an attractive option. Acknowledge that there are cracks and you are going to be doing something about them.

Complaining that a kitchen is too small is ridiculous

I would call their bluff and if they don’t move out, consider serving them notice.

They're being cheeky fuckers. Ignore all their stupid comments. Get them out if you can - the subsidence might make a good excuse but get legal advice.

Let them give notice and get all the required paperwork in place with the next tenants including a deposit lodged with one of the protection schemes.

You can’t issue a Section 21 giving them two months notice because you didn’t take a deposit etc. Pray they don’t realise this as if they were to stop paying rent and not love out it would take months to evict them via the courts.

*move not love, obviously

You've given in to so many requests from them, most of them unreasonable, that they think you're a soft touch. Let them go, and then they can try it on with a new landlord who won't be nearly so accommodating.

If the problem is the neighbour's tree then there should be insurance somewhere to rectify it, and if you can show that the flat wasn't in a fit state to be let the insurance may also cover you for loss of rental income.

But yes they’re being cheeky fuckers with excessive demands and you can’t fix the layout of the flat, which they’ll have been well aware of.

There are plenty of decent tenants out there and having clear boundaries will help weed out the CF.

Serve them notice. They are absolutely ridiculous!

Heart - op can serve notice.

Only if a deposit is taken it needs to go into a scheme. It's up to op if she takes a deposit it or not.

'It sounds terrible, let me know when you find somewhere'

This is the first time I've rented without an agency. Bit of a backstory

• flat is a conversion and lady who lives in downstairs flat is a battle axe who continually complains about basic living noise and complains about people in general. This got rid of first tenants. Second tenant was housing benefit, they stopped paying benefits and we had to do a long eviction and lost lots of income. They also trashed the flat. Third tenant I went fully managed with a big agency that starts with "f"- there was a leak and managing agents didn't let me know, tenants got annoyed and withheld rent after no response for a month from managing agents (think huge agency that starts with an F), tenants said to agency they would move out, I didn't know this but chased agency to find out about missing rent and was told about problem, I then chased agency who manages flats to deal with water issue (who were shite to respond too). The leak wasn't a constant drip into the flat but some walls were getting damp. eventually estate agency told me they'd moved out but hadn't returned keys and had left lots of stuff there and then tenancy was almost up. Managing agency admitted they had been poorly managing flat and offered six weeks management fee back - it's that or a more expensive court case. Cue another repair job for damage. Neighbour complained about all tenants except current one who she actually likes! She has complained about every person except them (including me and my predecessors)! I am so sick of losing money by renting it out that think will be cheaper to leave empty. I thought would be better to manage myself given previous poor experience with agencies and that it cost far more than the management fee in lost rent and damage to be out of the loop when agencies don't let you know what's happening. I am fed up with neighbour putting tenants off and fed up with tenants taking the piss.

I would sell and buy a different property if you still want to btl. But obviously after the subsidence issuebis dealt with

I thought about buying another flat but after stamp duty (I'm within m25), can't afford it!

It would eat into deposit for new place too much.