A follow up on the grubby tenants thread...new tenant has an "undisclosed infant"!

[breakthepattern]

For those who joined my previous thread about cleaning after grubby tenants left... more news!

Never a dull moment.

My new tenant is in and I've just popped by while she's at work (with her agreement of course) to drop off some things I'd promised her.
And I can see she has a child living with her. A toddler. They must be sharing the one double bed.

It doesn't matter to me in the slightest that she has a little one, I have no problem with it, or where they both sleep, at all.

Except for the fact that she didn't tell me. I feel a bit odd about it!

Aibu to be a bit puzzled that she didn't think to mention it?

I wonder if she thought I might not take them on if I knew, although I can't imagine why.

I'm tempted to text her and say what I've dropped off, and then a breezy "ah and I see you have a little one! You didn't mention her? She's very welcome. Let me know if you need anything in particular for her." (It's fully furnished)

Or is it all just none of my business?!

It probably is because she can only afford a one bed and struggles to get anywhere if she says she has a baby.

I'd message her. Is there anything she might want to childproof - think about if you would be happy with permanent stair gates (drilling into walls) or would prefer pressure mounted ones? Child locks on the kitchen cupboards?

Not sure about "she's very welcome" . That sounds like you don't understand that as long as she's paying her rent and not breaking the terms of the tenancy, this is her home to welcome people to (and certainly her own young child is a given and doesn't need welcoming to her mother's home), not yours.

The text is a nice idea, but I think "When I dropped off the [whatever], it looked like you might have a little one! Let me know if you need anything in particular (furniture or safety equipment etc) for her. I hope you'll both be very happy in your new home" conveys your good intentions without the power trip.

So you think it's acceptable to post on here already complaining about your new tenant?
What if the toys were for her niece or nephew?

How about when interviewing a perspective Tennant you actually ask these questions of who will be living in the property with you, instead of jumping on here complaining.

You had 2 tenants in 2 days without getting a professional cleaning firm in between, yet you say you have been a LL for 10 days!

10 Years*

I never had to disclose my children to a landlord and I can’t remember ever being asked.

If I was living in a private rent, would I be expected to disclose if I shagged, in case I got pregnant?

Definitely send her a welcoming message. Landlords like you willing to accept children are rare.

My sister and her family were rejected by a prospective landlord a couple of years ago because they had two DC. When they asked why, they were told because the children ‘might draw on the walls’.
The DC were 10 and 13 at the time!

They said they’re not toddlers but landlord didn’t want to know.

ScarletBitch
The OP is not complaining about her new tenant. All she has done is stated she wasn't aware her tenant had a child living with her and is asking MNers for advice on whether she should have been told. She has also said her tenant having a child there is not a problem.

She isn't "jumping on here complaining". You have either not read her posts properly or not understood them correctly. Otherwise you would not be jumping down the OP's throat totally unnecessarily.

I allow pets but not children...they do trash things!

My understanding is landlords can stipulate what they like in a tenancy agreement, as long as it's within the law. I had one tenancy that explicitly said no children to live at the property AND nobody aged 16 or under could even stay overnight! They were that dead set against it. Found out they'd had a previous very bad experience. But it didn't state no smoking, which they really didn't like, but we were technically allowed to do that! You sound like a wonderful landlord/lady OP, good for you.

I guess OP rents without the involvement of an estate agent? I have an agent and during the checks they do ask about the number of children and their ages (if any). I need this information as a landlady for the insurance. I also need to know if someone is at home during the day - for the same reason. I wouldn't turn anyone down if they have a child or children. I draw the line at dogs though. Tenants who were delaying rent to the previous landlord clearly fail the check but, after 3 months on the market and no interest, I felt I had to take them, but they coughed up a few months rent upfront. What happens next is a question.

I think in some cases it is necessary to disclose children. I believe it can impact on your contents insurance (eg having a toddler means it’s more statistically probable that your new leather sofa will get sharpie written over it).

PS, my own birth meant my family were made technically homeless, landlady didn't want kids there, so we left the area, long story.

In some local councils the licences for the room size/number of tenants are very strict. We have a 3 bedroom flat in such an area (I used to live in it) and the third bedroom is under the specified size and I don't actually think even a child is allowed to live in it by their rules. Currently (as our current tenancy started before the rules came in) we have a tenant in it but I suspect that next time we let it we will have to let to two adults or a family with two children who (nominally) share one of the other bedrooms.

RedPanda unless it's a case of overcrowding I don't think you are allowed to disallow children.

Oh and yes you should check whether the child is actually living there for your insurance.

children ‘might draw on the walls’.
The DC were 10 and 13 at the time!

I think it's really snotty not to allow children for this reason. Surely parents mostly supervise their children and the parent doesn't want to lose part or any of the deposit.

My husband and I have been renting for a while now.

My friends latest lodger has just moved out. Very kindly scrawled F*CK YOU inside all the drawers, cupboards and wardrobewith a permanant marker pen.

Yes you are a lovely LL break

Weird she didn't say because it is something to take into consideration. Like dogs and cats (not saying a child is like a dog or a cat but you know what I mean)

I wouldn't have a problem with a child/children living in my house I rent out and I'd permit it - (3 bedroom) but I wouldn't be overly pleased if they lied about it - maybe noise problems and definitely insurance.

I do know of an acquaintance who was renting for ages with 5 kids from 3 to 14 who were really noisy, quite feral and were allowed to run mad in and inside the house early in the morning (from 6am) until 8-9pm at night spring and summer. Eventually the neighbours threatened to get environmental noise department (right words?) involved and my acquaintance moved to the other end of the country, leaving the house in an absolute tip - and damage to the property. I did pity the landlord in that circumstance!

If I were the tenant receiving a message that my child was "very welcome" I'd feel a bit put out tbh (assuming nothing in contract precluding children) it's not a landlord's place to "welcome" tenants children to their own home.

Oh look more landlords making sure their tenants know it isn't their home.h

Just had to pop in when tenant was out.. Just had to.move sofa.. Feel compelled to.message after accidental.snoop..

That tenant will feel.lovely and secure I'm sure...

You sound like a lovely landlord. I am a single mum to two and it is very very difficult to find somewhere to rent. Wish there were more landlords like you 🌷

I think for insurance purposes you should know who is living there. But I’ve always known how many are living in the property.

Not the case for dogs. Was doing some repairs to the outside of the property when a neighbour stopped and asked how the dogs where. I said I don’t know? Then the neighbour said how two dogs lived in the house. I was surprised, but it did explain some of the damage to the skirting boards.

Did you really let yourself into her flat and move the furniture?

Can’t imagine having to disclose to be honest. If you say rented out a 2bed would you expect a family living there to declare they are pregnant again.