Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you private rent your life should not be dictated to by the landlord whose mortgage you are paying

999 replies

Nursejackie1 · 25/05/2019 08:54

So many of us are stuck in private renting with no choice paying over the odds, while landlords are making a mint. Most landlords have all these rules that you can’t decorate without permission, can’t even put a wall hanging up without asking. Often can’t or need permission to have pets, have regular inspections. I pay loads for my home and due to that cannot save a deposit. My kids have never had their bedrooms decorated in the way I would like.. having to stick with plain magnolia. Why should somebody else decide whether my kids get to grow up with a family pet or not? AIBU to think that if you are paying somebodies mortgage for them then while you are in that house you should be able to treat it as your own within reason and not have your life dictated to and controlled by them?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
CruellaFeinberg · 25/05/2019 08:57

What if your landlord owns your house outright and doesn't pay a mortgage?

You are using something that belongs to someone else, someone who for whatever reasons has a 'spare' home, it might be their pension or their only income, you should have to take care of it

You might like magenta walls, or black ceilings, the next renter might not

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 25/05/2019 08:58

No, it's not your property and therefore comes with rules. Choose a different landlord if you don't like your current lease.

It's not the landlords fault you can't afford to buy or you have children.

freshstartnewme · 25/05/2019 08:58

YABU.

It's not your landlords fault that you are not in a position to buy.

Rainycloudyday · 25/05/2019 08:59

YABU. I understand your frustrations but your home does not belong to you and the owner has every right to decide they don’t want pets living in their property. Bluntly, if you want to treat a house as your own you need to buy one. I totally understand it isn’t that simple and the housing market in this country is utterly fucked but that isn’t your landlord’s fault.

Original poster
Nursejackie1 · 25/05/2019 09:00

I’m not talking about not taking care of it I am talking about not having my life dicatated to just because someone happens to be able to afford more than one house shutting others out of the housing market

OP posts:
Shoxfordian · 25/05/2019 09:01

Yabu
If you don't like it then you need to buy somewhere yourself

Shoxfordian · 25/05/2019 09:01

Why is one person owning more than one house shutting others out of the market?

Yellowbutterfly1 · 25/05/2019 09:02

Not sure why you assume all landlords have mortgages to pay.

Bluntness100 · 25/05/2019 09:03

Of course you can't. You're not doing them a favour. It's their house not yours. You can't do what you wish to it any more than a hotel room. The house needs to be maintained for future tenants, you don't get to change it, damage it or do anything you please to it.

You're paying to stay there. Not paying their mortgage as a favour. It's by definition temporary accommodation. The money you pay is for the use of it for a period of time both of you deem acceptable. During that time you're responsible for maintaining it as is.

Original poster
Nursejackie1 · 25/05/2019 09:03

In a way it is landlords faults that a lot of people can’t afford to buy. Rent is ridiculous these days due to private sector and being forced to pay those amounts stops people being able to save for a deposit. Most landlords buy extra houses specifically to rent out and make a lot of money by doing so. I think it’s reasonable to expect the tenants to be able to live reasonably without having to ask permission for every little thing.

OP posts:
EssentialHummus · 25/05/2019 09:05

I’m a landlord and generally I’m happy for tenants to paint, have pets etc as long as any sign of this sort of thing is rectified when they leave (or a higher deposit for pets so I can clean the carpets if needed). I broadly agree with you. Have you asked?

freshstartnewme · 25/05/2019 09:05

I’m not talking about not taking care of it I am talking about not having my life dicatated to

You are not having your life dictated. You have rules regarding your housing. Turn it around and ask why your landlord should have their house rules dictated to them?

I do feel for people that can't buy, but that isn't anyone else's fault.

Bluntness100 · 25/05/2019 09:05

Your landlord isn't the reason you can't afford to buy. Hmm

IDontDrinkTea · 25/05/2019 09:06

Find a new landlord? I’ve had a dog whilst renting and I’ve also repainted, changed the kitchen, redesigned the garden etc

It’s also not your property. So YABU.

MoviesT · 25/05/2019 09:06

I am a landlord and if you said to me that you wanted to decorate your child’s room and were prepared to up your deposit to cover the cost of reinstatement to magnolia, I would agree to it. Perhaps try that option if you are a good longer term tenant?

freshstartnewme · 25/05/2019 09:06

think it’s reasonable to expect the tenants to be able to live reasonably without having to ask permission for every little thing.

What things are you asking for? Your lease should be clear in terms of what you can and can't do

Nanny0gg · 25/05/2019 09:07

I do think if someone has proven to be a good tenant then some leeway over decoration and pets is fair. A clause in the contract saying damage must be repaired on leaving is reasonable.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 25/05/2019 09:07

I let tennant decorate on the promise they would white wash it after- guess what they didn’t and I spent time and money putting it right. Btw I may be a land lady but I’m totally skint and work my arse off it’s y pension because I earn so little and won’t have a pension

Nofunkingworriesmate · 25/05/2019 09:09

My parents were landlord and allowed a dog but she was long term tennant who poked after the house immaculately

bibbitybobbityyhat · 25/05/2019 09:09

I understand your frustration. It's terrible that we have this absurd two tier arrangement of property ownership in this country with housing to buy in short supply precisely because of the enormous buy to let market. I feel so sorry for the millions of young families forced to pay exorbitant rent and caught in this nasty trap.

IDontDrinkTea · 25/05/2019 09:10

Also there are rules for housing in every circumstances. I’m a homeowner and I can’t just whack a massive extension on the back - it needs planning permission, which I can apply for. They might say yes, they might say no. It is the same with renting, you can ask to have a pet, they might agree. They might not

Livpool · 25/05/2019 09:10

YANBU

Unfortunately it is a vicious circle but for long-term leases there should be some leeway to change some decoration

Whatevermission · 25/05/2019 09:10

I agree nurseJackie. There is a lot wrong with the rental situation in the UK. You definitely ARE doing the landlords a favour, in paying their mortgage, providing a pension etc

Landlords need to be locked into long term contracts to give renters security (a friend of mine has been evicted 3 times in 10 years and she has 2 kids. It's an awful situation to be in). Then, rules like this wouldn't be needed

Dongdingdong · 25/05/2019 09:10

Agree with the OP and EssentialHummus - I think you should be allowed to decorate and hang paintings in a rented property, as long as it’s returned to the original state and condition it was in before you leave. Could you suggest that to your landlord and see what they say?

thirdfiddle · 25/05/2019 09:11

I liked the way it worked when I lived in Germany, you could decorate how you liked but you had to return it to freshly painted plain white when you left. There were hefty deposits to ensure it was so. (Most people just left their places white though as painting over colours is a pain.)