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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Landlord asking why we don’t have emergency funds

198 replies

JustDrained48 · 10/04/2019 23:52

We’ve rented the same property for 2 years.
We’ve always paid bang on date.
I’ve recently changed jobs which meant a change to my pay dates for the first month.
I immediately emailed our landlord to tell him this monthly rent would be a day late but would follow the original date here after.
Obviously I said I was sorry & hoped this was ok.
He sent a v long email by return stating that we needed to explain to him why we didn’t have emergency funds to cover these one off occurrences.
Should I even grace him with an answer?

OP posts:
NeverTwerkNaked · 11/04/2019 08:47

A judge would either
a) roar with laughter
Or
b) yell furiously

If someone tried to get an eviction order for rent paid one day late.
There is some shocking ignorance and idiocy on this thread. I think that’s the problem with amateurs dabbling in property rentals.

JinglingHellsBells · 11/04/2019 08:48

You really can't imagine a situation in which a normal family might not have hundreds of pounds in savings?

Ican imagine it yes.

But I also think that many people are poor at managing their money. I always saved even as a student, by being frugal. I've gone without lots of things people regard as 'necessities' (newer cars, holidays, clothes, meals out, newest phones) in order to have a safety net of money, all my life from being 17 and now almost 50 years on.

So yes, there are people who are hand to mouth but in some cases it's a choice.

Cosmoplease · 11/04/2019 08:48

I can see both sides, but he's gone too far. .

I would reply that you are genuinely very sorry and stress the fact that this is a one off and not a sign of things to come. Ignore his request. I'm pretty sure that legally, you don't have to supply this information.

AnotherEmma · 11/04/2019 08:48

NeverTwerkNaked
Exactly!

BarbaraofSevillle · 11/04/2019 08:49

As to why the tenant doesn't have a slush fund to cover a months rent - well maybe its because tenants have to spend the bulk of their income in rent

In addition to handing over a month or two's rent as a deposit. OK the landlord doesn't have access to this but neither does the tenant. If they didn't have money tied up in a deposit, there's your emergency fund right there.

Paying one day later than agreed as a one off is hardly going to put the landlord into poverty. He can cover any cashflow issues using his own emergency fund, that he must have seeing as he deems it so important.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 11/04/2019 08:50

Emma I think you are going to have to take it that I did say could and I wasn't wrong (especially after I expanded). Could woulda shoulda will always apply BUT landlords do have the legal right to start proceedings after late payments!

It really wasn't my arse talking. I do work in the industry!

AnotherEmma · 11/04/2019 08:52

Oh come on. If you work in the industry you should know better than to start talking about section 8 (10/11) in this scenario.

funtimespeople · 11/04/2019 08:54

Ask rather than tell. It's all about the delivery.

TacoLover · 11/04/2019 08:56

I think it was very rude to tell instead of ask.

sighrollseyes · 11/04/2019 08:57

If my tenant doesn't pay on time then I have to find money for bills too and don't get to say "oh I'll pay tomorrow".
My general rule of thumb in life is ASK don't TELL!

C8H10N4O2 · 11/04/2019 09:02

I've gone without lots of things people regard as 'necessities' (newer cars, holidays, clothes, meals out, newest phones)

Oh gods not that old trope.

I'm a fairly similar vintage to you. Like you when I was a student I lived frugally and was careful. I was then able to buy property in London in my first year of full time work on a supremely average salary. I never had to spend most of my income on someone else's mortgage after I started work.

I don't see notably different behaviours in my DC generation but for them, rent as a proportion of income, is much higher for often poor quality properties and little security. The money isn't going on avocado toast its going on paying rent, bills and hideous transport costs to commute long distances to work.

Idonotlikeyoudonaldtrump · 11/04/2019 09:04

OP, mn is highly unrealistic about most people’s finances. YANBU, your landlord is a dick. I’d just politely email back reiterating that it’s an unavoidable one off. Ignore the question about why you don’t have savings.

onionchucker · 11/04/2019 09:04

Did you actually tell him the reason or just say that the rent would be late?
Maybe your message came across as a bit rude without you intending it to be so and it got his back up.

His email sounds a bit rude too. What did it actually say? You've just told us your interpretation of it "we needed to explain to him why" etc.
I can see what people are saying - it's only one day late and so on
BUT I can see his point of view. I run my own business where a lot of people pay monthly. Some of them inform me of late payments, others don't bother. It is a nightmare sometimes. When I first started out I was more flexible about dates etc but too many people took a lend and ended up a whole month late and others managed to skip a month's payment by doing this.
I'm afraid I've had to start contacting people straightaway as soon as the payment is one day late to avoid the "slippery slope" that others mentioned in this thread and I do this the very first time they pay late so that they understand that it is not acceptable.
Yes I sound like a right cow, but it is my income and these people have received a service from me which needs to be paid for and if they see me as a soft touch I will be the last to be paid.

So yes, to you it seems harsh because this is the first time you have paid a day late and probably won't do it ever again but your landlord has maybe been badly burnt in the past or has problems with late payers in other properties and has had to take a tough stance on everyone. If he just said "that's ok, no problem" which is presumably what you wanted him to say, some people might think that they could do this any time in the future for any reason.

If you didn't explain the reason for the late payment just send him a message saying what the reason was. No need to respond to the "Why don't you have emergency funds question?" If you've already explained the reason just send a quick message saying "Sorry for the inconvenience. It really is a one-off due to my change of employer and it won't happen again. Thanks for your understanding" - or something like that.

SnakeRattleRoll · 11/04/2019 09:06

You have agreed to pay on an agreed date so rather than telling him you would be a day late maybe you should have asked him first. He may have bills and stuff to pay on the date you pay.

Then why does he not have emergency funds to cover such one off occurrences?!

lottiegarbanzo · 11/04/2019 09:08

Private landlords are under no obligation to renew tenancies. They have no access to your deposit to cover unpaid rent, until you move out. If you want to stay somewhere, giving the landlord incentives to end your contract seems like a bad idea. (Addressing more general points).

Some people on here would appear to live in a parallel universe, must be nice to have never had to worry about money and how you’re gonna pay your bills.

Landlords are people with bills to pay, responsibilities and the accompanying worries.

Bluntness100 · 11/04/2019 09:12

Lol at some of these responses. Because, yes if your employer pays you a day late, and your bills are due the day of payment, you just shrug and say that's fine. Wouldn't dream of saying why haven't they got contingency for this. Nope. Not at all,🤣

whitesoxx · 11/04/2019 09:14

@C8H10N4O2 no, it's not the same situation. Yet.

My point is the landlord could be concerned that this is the start of that type of situation if he's experienced it before. Especially as it is clear to him now that the OP is short of money.

The OP has a bit of a nerve informing someone that they are to lend her hundreds of pounds. Even if it is only for 24 hours. She could at least ask!

aposterhasnoname · 11/04/2019 09:14

Then why does he not have emergency funds to cover such one off occurrences?!

This!

lottiegarbanzo · 11/04/2019 09:22

People asking why he doesn't have emergency funds are misunderstanding his point. He probably does. They are his, not OP's. He is not her lender.

He is reminding her that she made a commitment to pay rent and that it's her business how she does that. She should not be making it his business. Now that she has done, he is asking questions that he should not be having to ask.

SnakeRattleRoll · 11/04/2019 09:24

@Bluntness100 If you have bills due on the day you are due to be paid, then you are as stupid as this landlord is if they rely on OP money the day the rent is due.

SnakeRattleRoll · 11/04/2019 09:28

@lottiegarbanzo If she has immaculate 2 year payment history why would he risk upsetting them with such accusatory questions?

They asked for 1 day late and gave a valid reason, I would have thanked them for letting me know and wish them luck in their new job.

tinnitusqueen · 11/04/2019 09:34

I'm a landlord. It's one day. Chilllllllll. Smile

lottiegarbanzo · 11/04/2019 09:37

Who knows @SnakeRattleRoll We certainly have no idea how easily he could find another reliable tenant. That's his calculation to make and risk to take.

His prevously reliable tenant has just informed him that he is to give her a payday loan. This has rattled him.

Youngandfree · 11/04/2019 09:39

Maybe he doesn’t have emergency funds and if you are a day late that will then make him default on his mortgage and then he’ll be hit with fees...leading to financial stress for him!! You see OP he is a person with responsibilities too... just because he is a LL doesn’t guarantee he is rolling in it!! I am a landlord, I also rent, my landlord lives abroad and also rents. People rent and rent out their own properties for many reasons (not just for money and investments!! So...maybe you caught him at a bad time, maybe he has a lot going on, and so asked you a question that he should be asking himself too!?? Either way, you need to apologize and come to an arrangement with him!! Is there anyone else you could borrow the money from for 24 hours or maybe explain the position to your new employer. It’s not his problem to deal with...it’s yours unfortunately 🤷‍♀️

MontStMichel · 11/04/2019 09:40

DH’s partner is a BTL - he expects void periods between tenants; and he does not bother putting his rents up as he prefers to keep his good tenants rather than piss them off, and end up with void periods! So, any landlord should be able to accommodate one day’s late payment (=working capital)!

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