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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About current tenant's request

271 replies

Neonpotato · 04/09/2019 17:26

Name change as outing.

We have a tenant in our 2 bed flat currently, she seems nice.
Our letting agency has told us that apparently our tenant's friend's son is coming over from overseas to study, and she has asked whether it's ok for him to live in the flat. The agency has checked with insurance and it's fine, and it's not considered subletting as she will continue to pay rent and has full responsibility of the flat.

Can I say no? We specified at the very beginning that no students are allowed. I guess it's not so bad if she also lives there but I don't know how long he will be there for, and worry that he will stay on even if she leaves at some point.
It was good of her to ask and I don't want to be a difficult landlord but we don't really want students. Happy to be told that IABU though.

OP posts:
OtraCosaMariposa · 04/09/2019 17:28

You let to a single tenant. She wants to move someone else in. That makes two tenants.

It doesn't matter if he's a student, a member of the royal family or the Archbishop of Canterbury. She can't just start moving in people as she fancies.

Aquamarine1029 · 04/09/2019 17:28

This is your property and you have every right to only allow what you are comfortable with. Like you, I would be concerned about possible future problems if the tenant decides to leave and he wants to stay. It would be a firm no from me.

Simkin · 04/09/2019 17:35

It depends on your contract I suppose. If she's responsible for the tenancy and there is space for someone else I'm not sure you can evict before the end of the agreement if she ignores your wishes.

If she is a good tenant and it would be a pain in the arse to find another, I probably wouldn't stop her.

Her0utdoors · 04/09/2019 17:35

Yes, you can say no.

Her0utdoors · 04/09/2019 17:36

It may also invalidate the terms of your mortgage should you have one.

Madfrogs · 04/09/2019 17:37

The student part is irrelevant as if it was the tenants son you wouldn’t argue but they are a student.

The issue is weather or not you want to allow a second person to live there or not. Personally I think of the tenant is paying the rent and the person staying over is not named then it’s not really any of your business. Would you complain if she got a bf then fiancé then husband who lived with her?

T0getherindreams · 04/09/2019 17:40

Why do tennants, who can't afford a home of their own and have no choice but to rent one which belongs to somebody else, think they have a right to just allow others to move in as though they owned the property themselves?

It's a very peculiar situation. How is it even a consideration? People are so entitled today.
Angry

Hooferdoofer37 · 04/09/2019 17:41

It is subletting though isn't it? She's bound to get some kind of financial contribution from him to live there.

Is the letting agency going to run the same level of background checks on the student as they did on the current tenant, if so who will pay for those?

What if your main tenant goes away for a weekend and the tenant throws a big party and destroys bits of your property (more than her deposit covers) who will pay for that?

You are allowed to say no & sometimes it's easier to do just that.

Original poster
Neonpotato · 04/09/2019 17:41

I guess I can't stop her from moving him in and we won't really know as we don't live locally, unless we randomly visit which seems a bit weird.

Maybe if we say no we will be doing her a favour...so she can say no to her friend?! Because I can't imagine anyone welcoming the idea of sharing a flat with a friend's DS...

OP posts:
T0getherindreams · 04/09/2019 17:42

madfrogs

Have you ever actually read a letting agreement?

No. You can't just invite other people to live with you in the house you are renting. It doesn't work like that.

Madfrogs · 04/09/2019 17:43

@T0getherindreams what about when tenants have more children? Should they ask permission from the landlord first 😂

FishyMcFishyfingersFace · 04/09/2019 17:43

If it was the tenant's son then I'd probably say yes, but someone else's son then no. Could cause all sorts of problems if the tenant leaves at the end of their contract and the other person decides they are just going to stay until the end of their study year or even end of course, even if you have the contract changed to say they must leave at the same time as the tenant etc you can still be left with problems.

Of course, there might be no problems but you just don't know. If you don't want to take the risk that is your prerogative. But then again, if it were my ds I would want you to let him live there. I know he wouldn't be a problem but you wouldn't know that though.

Original poster
Neonpotato · 04/09/2019 17:43

Good point Hoofer...I think I'm actually gonna quote what you've said to the agency!

OP posts:
CherieBabySpliffUp · 04/09/2019 17:44

OtraCosaMariposa If the OP'S tenant started a relationship and wanted their partner to move you would they then need to get it okayed by the OP in your opinion? Seems a bit extreme Confused

CherieBabySpliffUp · 04/09/2019 17:44

*move in

MerryBerryCheesecake · 04/09/2019 17:44

I'm sorry but I just don't get it.

He won't be a second tenant, just a friend she has to stay. She doesn't sound like she's expecting him to pay. You say she's already paying full rent for the entire property, not rented a room in a HMO.

Would you be expecting a say if it was her brother/son/nephew/father.

She is renting the property as a whole, meaning although it is your property that she is paying you for the right to treat it as her home and can have whoever she wants to stay with her like most people whether they rent or own.

Why does she need your permission for her friend to stay?

If she found a boyfriend, would you expect her to ask your permission for him to stay overnight for a fuck and no nookie if you say no.

If she got pregnant, would she need your permission to keep the baby just incase you don't like the idea of a baby in your property.

If she pays her rent for the entire property, mind your own business.
If she doesn't pay it, evict her.

Madfrogs · 04/09/2019 17:44

Unless she charges someone rent she’s not subletting. None of the tenancies I’ve signed have said anything about having people living with me just not to sublet.

Warpdrive · 04/09/2019 17:44

If he moves in and is not named on the tenancy agreement, you could find yourself in a position where he has rights to live there.

If it were me I would allow it but he would have to be on the agreement for that reason, and that would make him liable for the rent so he may not agree (may not even pass the credit check)

T0getherindreams · 04/09/2019 17:45

Tenants dont invite new born babies to live with them.

I am obviously referring to other adults.

Biscuit
Butchyrestingface · 04/09/2019 17:46

Do you have a blanket “no student policy”?
How old is the son?

I’m a 40 yo postgrad student working part time with the proceeds of a property sale sitting in my account and must admit I would have found a blanket “no students” policy a bit odd when looking to rent. Confused

It seems a shame if she’s been a good tenant but ultimately, it’s your property.

Actionhasmagic · 04/09/2019 17:48

From a landlord point of view I could understand not wanting students (I saw students trash some rentals whilst we were at uni)

From a renters point of view - it’s so hard and demoralising when you can’t do what you want in a property you are paying a lot for

Maybe find out more info then decide

Original poster
Neonpotato · 04/09/2019 17:49

I suppose I worry about what he's like, could be lovely but I wouldn't really know. I mainly worry about him staying on if she leaves, not sure how long he's here for and how would I know he would be able to pay rent? It's over £1200/month and we are planning on increasing it at some point.
I don't think eviction is that easy, I've heard so many horror stories, so would like to avoid any potentially tricky situation.

OP posts:
wafflyversatile · 04/09/2019 17:49

Maybe if we say no we will be doing her a favour...so she can say no to her friend?! Because I can't imagine anyone welcoming the idea of sharing a flat with a friend's DS...

You tell yourself that.

You say you don't want students. Presumably because it might end up a bit of a party house and they will not take care of the property. This isn't students renting a house though, it's a student living in her spare room. It's probably not going to become a party house.

Madfrogs · 04/09/2019 17:51

Best way to not have trouble tenants or horrible situations ... don’t be a landlord 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

OtraCosaMariposa · 04/09/2019 17:52

It is not a "friend coming to stay" scenario.

It is a "moving in" scenario which is entirely different.

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