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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:
SE13Mummy · 01/02/2020 19:24

Having read about what you've discovered so far, I'd still say YANBU but whether or not I'd let the house to this tenant would depend on the ages of the children and if it was to be their main place of residence. If all three are under 9 and will only live there part time, I'd say yes. If one is of secondary school age and they will live there part time, I'd say no.

A few years ago DH and I were in a similar situation with his old flat. It's got one bedroom and only a shower room (no bath). A bloke was keen to rent it and would have his 8 year old DS and 10 year old DD EOW. We said no on the grounds the flat was only really suitable for a single person and didn't like the idea of two children being squashed into the flat regularly.

PatellarTendonitis · 01/02/2020 19:25

So he was upfront about the cats but not the kids and that's not dishonest? Hmm

It's cheeky AF. Go rent your house to him if you're so invested in his well-being, Gemm.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 01/02/2020 19:29

Patellar, many mortgages and insurance policies do have clauses re benefits so it’s something the OP needs to check.

It’s the OPs home and asset, she needs to ensure it’s looked after and that means being picky re tenants.

Gemm83 · 01/02/2020 19:32

@PatellarTendonitis

Seriously? Couldn't give a toss about his well being...... He is being accused of being dishonest... How can he be dishonest when he has told the letting agency there will be kids and has completed the official paperwork. The letting agency are at fault for not consulting OP, not the perspective tenant.

PatellarTendonitis · 01/02/2020 19:33

Exactly, Ice. It's not the OP's job to sort out other peoples' housing problems but to find the tenant who is most suitable. The OP's gut instinct is ringing alarm bells, that's reason enough.

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/02/2020 19:34

Did you ask if kids or just pets - is it a form you do or the agents

Did you let the agent know you wanted ideally No kids

You said this was the only applicant that you thought didn’t have kids

Do assume form said any children and he didNt fill in

Tho as he’s the dad - sexist - but assume rightly or wrongly that he may only have them at weekends or once a week school night

I would ask agency to find out if kids living there perm or how often be there

PatellarTendonitis · 01/02/2020 19:34

Yes, he met the OP at the viewing, mentioned the cats and conveniently left out 3 kids. That's dodgy AF.

Gemm83 · 01/02/2020 19:35

You are also insinuating that he has a housing problem......where the fuck has that come from??

He is a bloke that's gone to view a poxy house, as millions of people do in this country every week. Have they all got "housing problems"?

PatellarTendonitis · 01/02/2020 19:38

JFC, Gemm, who pissed in your porridge this morning! Someone who's looking for a place to rent has a housing problem in that they need to find someone to live Grin. Do you take every random internet sprite so seriously and personally? Must be exhausting! What a way to go through life, permanently chippy.

FuzzyAtmosphere · 01/02/2020 19:42

Having thought about it, I’d be inclined to think the children will rarely stay there and that is why he isn’t attempting to rent the bigger nearby house. After all, if it’s one or two nights a fortnight and perhaps not all three on the same nights then I can see why he would be happy with a small house.

Gemm83 · 01/02/2020 19:47

@PatellarTendonitis

I'm totally fine thanks, just giving my honest opinion based on the facts which OP has already set out and with personal knowledge of dealing with letting agents.

I don't feel he is/was being dishonest and lay the blame solely with the letting agent. Posters (including yourself) have just jumped on the fact that he must be a terrible person and doesn't deserve to be rented the property. I am perfectly within my rights to have my own opinion, on the topic as are you.

Anyways, I'm off to tuck into a glass of cab sav and curry.

OP, make whatever decision YOU feel most comfortable with... And maybe look at new agents!

Dontdisturbmenow · 01/02/2020 19:59

I’m a landlord and the above scenario wouldn’t bother me
I agree a FT working dad who has his kids eow wouldn't worry me either, so these are the questions I would ask.

It might be that he intends to buy again so a 12 months agreement to sort out a divorce/separation might be perfect for him.

All you and we can do now is make assumptions. You need to start asking the right questions.

Happyher · 01/02/2020 20:18

Check your local authority housing dept to see what they class as overcrowding - it will depend on kids age and sex and base your decision on how they decide, then you know you can justify your decision

BlokeTarget · 01/02/2020 20:34

YANBU OP.

If you are unsure it’ll only nag at your the whole tenancy.

To those saying tenants pay for credit checks/ referrals I can confirm as a LL I foot the bill for every tenant staying at my property for £350 + VAT. I use an agency beginning with B. And ends in R.

Under new laws I cannot request an unlimited deposit and don’t see any of it.

I have to have my property up to safety code both gas and electrical and pay for an energy performance certificate. ( all fine. It’s the law).

Any damage left by tenants on vacancy I have to try to somehow recover at my expense. I’ve had a few minor maintenance issues with my tenants all minor but I’ve had to foot the bill even when it wasn’t my fault. Won’t go Into detail as it’ll be outing IRL.

It if were me in this scenario I’d say no.

It’s my house, I’ve paid out lots of money to agencies and councils , therefore I have the final say on who lives there.

FYI my rentals are no DWP and no pets.
My house, my choice. I realise this will be unpopular with the mob left. But you don’t have to pay for the damages and consequences of dishonest tenants. I do.

You go OP! If you’re unhappy- make it known and have a tenant you’re happy with!

MoonlightMistletoe · 01/02/2020 20:43

@PatellarTendonitis that's absolute bollocks!

OJZJ · 01/02/2020 20:44

Beetle76 not read the whole thread BUT single mum, three kids so overcrowded, one year tenancy so technically homeless in a year's time. Fast track to a council house?
Woman in my son's class did this got a brand new five bed two bath house by intentionally becoming homeless-god knows how she got it as she only had 3 kids at the time twas a housing association via the council.

bytheseaby123 · 01/02/2020 21:10

This is why the fuckers in GOV need to build social housing.

bamboo12 · 01/02/2020 21:20

When my dad moved in with my step mum, there were 5 of us in a 2 bedroom House. My dad and step mum slept downstairs. Two of us shared a room and another child had their own. We were 15, 13 and 10.
We had plenty of space. We also had two cats and a small dog!
This was in the 90s when maybe people didn’t expect so much space. My dad had grown up having to sleep in the same double bed as his brothers until he was 22! So least we had our own beds.
It is deceitful however not to tell you, but it can be managed.

msflibble · 01/02/2020 21:43

They are probably hard up and can only afford the rent for a small 2 bed place. 3 kids can def fit - one in with mum, 2 sharing.

We were desperately looking for a sublet as a family recently and I was tempted to lie about having kids because so many places won't give families a chance. I don't think they did it to be devious but probably because they are in a difficult situation. I'd try to consider their viewpoint and not be too upset about the lying, the mum probably can't afford a 3 bed place in a nice area and you'll be helping her a lot by being more understanding.

Smith888 · 01/02/2020 22:04

How ridiculous! If the lady had a husband and two kids sharing the second room you probably wouldn’t be so bothered! It’s perfectly acceptable for four people to live in a two bedroom house.

DecemberSnow · 01/02/2020 22:06

She was dishonest.

Red flag

Pull plug

Lovely13 · 01/02/2020 22:08

Why weren’t they straight with you at the start? I wouldn’t do it.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 01/02/2020 22:36

I voted YANBU - but, I know a family of 2adults and 3 kids in a 1bed and also 1adult and 2 kids in a 2bed. Both are really lively families who just can’t afford to rent bigger and so they cope. Maybe just have a conversation first and find out what’s going on? Maybe they want to rent near good schools and will then move out of the area?
Id have a chat before pulling the plug but you certainly are not BU to do so.

Asdf12345 · 01/02/2020 22:43

Don’t touch with a barge pole.

How will they hope to find somewhere else in 12 months that will take three kids plus cat on a two bed budget? You will end up having to evict them.

saraclara · 01/02/2020 23:31

Apparently it's easier to find a landlord who'll accept a cat than it is to find one who'll accept children.

(and don't give me that he lied a) we don't know that and b) most of the posters telling the OP not to let to him are going on about how the kids will trash the place)