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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Renting a 2 bed house to a family with 3 kids

462 replies

Beetle76 · 31/01/2020 02:51

I’ve got my hard hat on! I am renting out my two bed house while I have been seconded to a job in a different area for a year.
While it’s a small house, it’s in a good area so I received a number of offers for the full asking rent after the first viewing day. I decided to go with the person who stated they had two cats (I know what it’s like to rent with pets so I thought I’d help them out.)
The provisional paperwork listed a single tenant with their cats and I agreed to proceed on that basis. The full lease has arrived for me to sign and now it’s the tenant, plus cats, plus 3 kids.
My view is it’s a two bed house, one living room, small eat in kitchen and is thus not really suitable for a large family.
I didn’t base my decision on no kids, I just wanted to help out another cat person, and they happened to be the only applicant without kids.
I was expecting to have a kid or two in the house, it’s a great area for kids, but I think 3 is too many for the space. I don’t see where they would go - 3 kids beds would not fit in either bedroom, they are just not big enough. Maybe a sleeper couch in the living room? I suppose a kid could live under the stairs Harry Potter style 😂
But I fiercely dislike dishonesty and I feel they have been dishonest by not saying who would be living in the house from the outset. AIBU if I decide to pull the plug on this based that it’s not what I agreed to in the first place?
YANBU = it’s ok to pull the plug
YABU = it’s none of your business how many people are shoehorned into a rental property

OP posts:
Nomel · 31/01/2020 02:55

YANBU

PatricksRum · 31/01/2020 02:58

Depends on the ages. One could be newborn sharing with mother. Other two share.

endofthelinefinally · 31/01/2020 02:58

I think deliberate dishonesty is a red flag. Plus, I am sure overcrowding would be an issue. When my friends were trying to find a place to rent, many agencies refused on the grounds that they wouldn't accept any children.

Oceanbliss · 31/01/2020 03:15

3 kids beds won't fit, but what about bunk beds and one child with the mum. It's really hard finding a rental as a single parent as many single parents find their many applications being rejected even with a good rental history. I don't think she would have applied for a two bedroom if she:

  1. Had a decent alternative
  2. Didn't think they could manage it.

She might not have thought to mention the children in the application form if it didn't specifically ask about children, so may have not set out to deceive you. Or she missed that part of the form. Or has been knocked back on the basis of her children so many times that she is very worried that they all may end up homeless. Which is just an awful situation to be in. So, really who could blame her for doing whatever she can to ensure a roof over their heads.

If you've accepted their application and she believes that she has somewhere for her and her children to live then please don't take it away.

If she was trying to be dishonest about the children living there then I doubt she would have listed them on the lease. I'd say it's more likely that she didn't realise she'd need permission for her children to reside there but asked about the cat as you need permission for pets.

mathanxiety · 31/01/2020 03:24

YABU. There could be a baby, children in bunks, children very young.

The biggest place I ever rented had two bedrooms, and I managed to fit five DCs into it for a few months until oldest went off to university. DS had one bedroom to himself. I slept on a daybed and the other four DDs had bunks.

YAB especially U to not mind two cats while you care that there are three children. I have a cat and while I love her to bits, the pet deposit my landlord asked is well justified.

I am most definitely a cat person, but people come first. How can you contemplate accommodating cats but leaving a family with children trying to find a roof over their heads?

Blondie1984 · 31/01/2020 03:28

Did you meet her? If so what impression did you get?

You could be upfront and ask her why she didn’t mention the kids (just the cats) and how the omission has made you feel

springydaff · 31/01/2020 03:29

The dishonesty is the problem.

2tired2function · 31/01/2020 03:30

Agreed that you should rent to them. There is a huge amount of housing discrimination against families. Renting with cars is hard, renting with kids is harder. Cut them a break!

2tired2function · 31/01/2020 03:30

Cars should be cats... although parking is also often a challenge...

JustonTime · 31/01/2020 03:32

I'd request to meet the whole family before making a decision.

Pilot12 · 31/01/2020 03:32

If I had three kids I wouldn't be renting a house I could only have for a year, all the stuff I'd have to move then do it all again in a years time, no thanks! I'd be wanting something more long term.

YANBU I have two kids in a four bedroom house and there's not enough room for all the kids stuff!

My sister had a nightmare trying to find a rental that would allow pets, it might be that your house is too small but you're the only one they can find that will let them keep their cats.

You don't seem to have much info about them, do you have references, do you know they will leave after a year and leave your house as they found it?

Lalala205 · 31/01/2020 03:33

I'd find it stranger she wasn't upfront about the children and potentially their ages, and then possibly tried to fail to mention a pet (sneak one in), than to mention the cat first. I'd also be asking myself if there's also an undisclosed partner in tow tbh. Many years ago as a young lone parent I rented a 1 bed flat. I was very up front with the landlord that it would be a tenancy for myself +child. She did question would there be enough space? But I was honest in it was more affordable as I was paying full rent as I was working, and DC shared a bed with me anyway. The landlord was quite happy with the explanation.

Connie222 · 31/01/2020 03:34

I doubt she would be renting a two bed if she had any other choice.

I’ve just been through the process of trying to find a place to rent with a cat and two kids and it’s hard

FWIW, the agent didn’t tell my landlord about the kids for some reason. I wasn’t being dishonest, the agent just didn’t put it forward to the LL.

sleepylittlebunnies · 31/01/2020 03:39

I don’t think 1 adult and 3 DC is too much, it’s the same as 2 adults and 2DC in a 2 bed. Depends really on whether they have been deliberately dishonest and even then why felt the need to omit the DC from the form.

Lalala205 · 31/01/2020 03:44

How do you feel about it OP? If you get a full disclosure on the kids ages would it help? I can see some other pp's point regarding maybe it's all she can afford which is fair enough. But at the end of the day it's your property, and you'll be the one footing the bill if its overcrowded and damage happens as a result. Yes, in an ideal world we'd all like to help someone else out, but especially if you only own one property then is a gamble you can personally afford to take? I sometimes think people read 'landlord', and substitute that with 'moneybags' in their head.

dontgobaconmyheart · 31/01/2020 03:46

I'd feel off put by the dishonesty OP and whilst I wish it weren't the case- I hope you're adding in extra damage deposit.1 adult(no partner?) 3 kids and two cats could generate a fair bit of damage even with the best of intentions?

As an aside, have you been transparent that you'll be resuming occupancy in a year? I can't imagine that being a very suitable set up for someone with kids anyway. Not suggesting you haven't but I'd be gutted to fork out all those charges then have to do it all again in 12 months. I would be very clear the rental period won't continue after one year.

SD1978 · 31/01/2020 03:53

Another one who would be put off more by the dishonesty than the situation- depending on age if kids, could be happy with a years rental in order to get them into a specific school. Is it appropriate to ask more details regarding kids ages? I would be honest and have the agent ask why she initially stated cats only. Is she working, or will it be UC paying the rent? Also seems a little off to me only renting for a year max- is she aware that there is no opportunity to extend the lease as you'll be coming back? As a mum that would put me off as I'd probably be hoping to renegotiate at the end of the year for further years.

OwlBeThere · 31/01/2020 03:54

I lived in a two bed with my ex and 3 kids when the youngest was a baby. Bunks in one room baby in with us. So three kids and a single adult is more than doable. Please don’t make a woman and 3 children potentially homeless on the basis you wouldn’t want to be a bit cramped.

Lalala205 · 31/01/2020 03:59

Oh, and as a renter I also had a fully paid up CCJ that showed up on my credit check. It was due to a switching bank account default, and was cleared within 25 days of issue, but not soon enough to get wiped. I'd never defaulted on a bill previously or after, and could fully demonstrate affordability, good references, and full rent account payments which I was lucky that landlords were prepared to accept. However, it should have clearly been a massive red flag/no go! My point is if you're transparent from the outset then people are generally willing to put things into perspective based on individual circumstances.

Clackyheels · 31/01/2020 04:08

YABU. I wanted to rent a 1 bed house with myself, dh and dd who was a baby and Coslept. The woman told us it was too small. We only wanted a small, cheap rental as we were saving to buy in a year. Really got my goat that she could tell us it was too small. No it's our decision!!

Princesspickle777 · 31/01/2020 04:10

I think you’re being slightly unreasonable. As someone else above mentioned it’s only the same amount of people as 2 parents 2 children. One is most likely going to be sharing with mum and 2 in the other bedroom. I do find it odd how they’ve gone for a rental that’s only for a year though, we’re you clear on this?. Seems a lot of hassle for them.

EL8888 · 31/01/2020 04:13

YANBU they should be honest and upfront. It will put a lot of wear and tear on the property. Is it suitable for that people? E.g. where l live at the moment has poor sound insulation, so that many people in the property would be a nightmare for my neighbours

Lalala205 · 31/01/2020 04:17

Clackyheels Umm no, I think you'd actually find it's the landlords decision to rent to someone, not yours to decide 😂 I'm a bit confused by the pps who state OP will be rendering a woman and her children homeless. No, no she won't! She's just considering if it's in her best interest to rent her home that she's paying the mortgage, fees, insurance, and potential repair costs for, to someone she feels has withheld very relevant information from her.

AgentPrentiss · 31/01/2020 04:21

As it’s only a year, I don’t think fitting them in is a huge issue. You can put up with just about anything for a year, with an end date in sight.

The dishonesty is a problem though, and no way would I remember my house to someone who lied so blatantly.

humblebumble · 31/01/2020 04:28

It's up to you, don't feel bad, if your gut feel
Is that it isn't a good fit that's fine.