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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:
Brazi103 · 31/01/2020 04:30

Might get flamed but think of the wear and tear on your home after that size of family in a small space.
I would be pretty pissed off with leaving that big piece of information out. She was deliberately dishonest.
I would wonder what else she would do to your home in the year that you are away and not tell you about.

Original poster
Beetle76 · 31/01/2020 04:33

This is all very new to me. I have been upfront about the length of the tenancy so that’s clear.
I don’t think this is agent error, I know the agent quite well as she dealt with me while I was renting through them a few years ago. She’s Always been decent and fair.
I don’t have much info on the tenant other than a name and current address (which Zoopla tells me is a 5 bed house 😳 and now the names of the kids 2xDS 1 xDD) The credit reports haven’t come back yet - I think the agency also wanted me to check that I was generally happy with the T’s and C’s of the lease but not necessarily sign it immediately.
As part of their “sales pitch” by the agent, I was also told they were looking to buy as they have recently sold elsewhere so that explains why they are also happy with a short lease.
What has kind of thrown me is that there is a much bigger house, 3 beds, 3 living rooms down the road on at the same price. Why not go live there if only for a year?
@pilot12 may have the answer and I’m a bit embarrassed that it didn’t occur to me on my own. It might not be their first choice house in terms of size, but it might be their only choice in terms of their cats.
I’m also concerned that there may be an undisclosed partner in tow @lalala205 as 5, even on the odd occasion, would be just ridiculous! I would be kind of concerned about 2 x adults and 2 kids in the space if I’m honest. It’s really just not a family home - all pointy metal edges and granite etc. My friends with kids dislike coming over 😂
I feel very conflicted about it. I have friends that are lone parents so I know it’s not easy
what to do? I’m going to sleep on it so please keep the comments coming - they are really helping me think this through rationally.

OP posts:
Brazi103 · 31/01/2020 04:38

Its not up to you to feel bad about whatever situation they might be in, that's theirs to solve.
You need to do what's best for you.
you will be away for a year and trusting your home to people. As it is This lady was dishonest so why would you still trust her to be the best candidate for your home?

Quiterightly · 31/01/2020 04:38

Don’t do it op. That’s a lot of wear and tear in a small area!

PatricksRum · 31/01/2020 04:49

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

Well aren't you lucky Hmm

MissSueDenim · 31/01/2020 04:54

Hmm... from reading the posts above, I’d be worried about them leaving at the end of the year to be honest. According to the speculation by PP, I’d now be concerned that she’ll find it hard to find somewhere to move to at the end of the tenancy so will stay put & force you to go to court / bailiffs. From what I understand, councils don’t help if someone “voluntarily” makes themselves homeless (so they willingly leave a property at the end of a tenancy) and instead the council will often advise people to stay put in the home until the landlord goes to court & bailiffs remove them - I believe it’s only at this point that the council steps in.

Of course, you may have to go to court with ANY tenant but reading the reasons above about why this lady may find it difficult to rent has made me wonder. It’s definitely something to think about OP.

Also to PP, can we remember that OP isn’t a charity, the government or indeed a “career” landlord, this is her own home that she’ll be returning to & she should absolutely feel comfortable with whoever she rents to without being made to feel bad or guilty about it.

mathanxiety · 31/01/2020 05:21

What has kind of thrown me is that there is a much bigger house, 3 beds, 3 living rooms down the road on at the same price. Why not go live there if only for a year?

Because they won't take the cats.
Because they won't take children.

Because yours has a nicer garden?
Yours has a parking spot?
The other house has a mad barking dog?
Fences falling down in the garden?
White power or other flag or offensive object flying next door?
Sex offender next door?
Other house on busier stretch of road?
Other house has grossly unsafe kitchen or bathroom or stairs?
Other house has gate to the front that is in a poor state of repair?

There are very few houses nowadays without granite and pointy edges.

hibiscuswater · 31/01/2020 05:21

@dontgobaconmyheart why does only having one adult make damage more likely ?

GemmeFatale · 31/01/2020 05:22

Given the update I’d assume it’s a divorce situation and she’s waiting for her ex to sell the family home that he’s staying in. She can’t afford the mortgage/bills without him or to rent somewhere bigger until the divorce goes through and the courts make him behave financially.

But I’m just wildly speculating here.

mathanxiety · 31/01/2020 05:22

^.. mad barking dog next door*

mathanxiety · 31/01/2020 05:23

GemmeFatale that would be my thought too.

mathanxiety · 31/01/2020 05:23

Maybe the house down the road is in a different school catchment area?

ukgift2016 · 31/01/2020 05:28

No way. I agree with another poster, the wear and tear on the house would be huge. You also got the cats as well!

user1497997754 · 31/01/2020 05:34

Please bear in mind that because you have said you will accept the cats the other property down the road may not. I think it's really kind if you to offer your home as pet friendly I am just about to rent out my home and I am saying it is pet friendly also. We have 2 dogs and we have made our house dog friendly anyway. I feel bad that lots of people have to give up thier pets simply because they can't find somewhere that will accept them. It could be that the lady in question is getting divorced or splitting up with her partner and that's why she needs somewhere so she can bring her children with her. As it's a short let I would go with it there are lots of configurations as to how she will manage the sleeping arrangements if your concerned why not ask the agent if you can meet her and her children

missmouse101 · 31/01/2020 05:38

Absolute no. They have been dishonest.

nakedavengeragain · 31/01/2020 05:42

Definitely not. I'd never rent to people with kids. They'll wreck the place.

Misknit · 31/01/2020 05:45

How close are you to a good or outstanding secondary school? Could they be after a catchment address for when applications are made in the Autumn?

Cyberve · 31/01/2020 05:59

No she's lied already. She doesn't care about your opinion only hers. So how do you know she will treat your house the way you do? Chances are, she won't.

You could meet her and ask why she lied. But I wouldn't bother to be honest. It's not like you are doing this as extra income, it's to keep your own personal house occupied while you are away. If you have to come back to find she has destroyed the place in the meantime, can you afford to foot the bill because you can bet she won't?

There are other tenants out there who don't lie. Pick one of them, it's easier.

Tinyhumansurvivalist · 31/01/2020 06:03

Going from 5 bed to 2 would suggest relationship break up to be honest. This would also make me concerned about them leaving at the end of tenancy nad lengthy and expensive court costs.

However, depending on the ages of the children the council would probably class them as overcrowded so you could be on a sticky wicket down the line.

I think you should be raising questions with the agent, let them do the work. But in your shoes I wouldn't be renting to her.

othervoicesotherrooms · 31/01/2020 06:05

Not a chance.
Why didn't she state she had 3 DC on her original application? I doubt she forgot about them.
Just pull out and start the process again.
Maybe she'll remember to include them next time she applies for a house.

Fivetillmidnight · 31/01/2020 06:09

I wish people would stop saying 'she lied' , was 'dishonest' blah blah blah .. we none of us have any proof of that at all ! and certainly not the 'reason' to deny someone the chance of a home with their animal.. which are like hens teeth. !

I have moved recently, and like this applicant have chosen a much smaller house than my previous one due to the exact same reason... it is a lovely LITTLE place where my cats are welcome.. when I applied I was asked on the application form 'how many over 18 yr old would be on the lease. That was it. No mention of children.

I moved with one adult child and one 17 yr old. I met with my lovely cat living landlords and THEY asked me about kids and I told them...

rwalker · 31/01/2020 06:09

no you can't trust her

meandmylot · 31/01/2020 06:11

Dishonesty is a big red flag and I think you could pull out on that basis. Also if they're looking to buy chain free they could move out within 6 months. All the wear and tear from the cats and children for such a short period of time would not be worth it in my opinion. I think pp has it spot on that you are the only one that will accept pets hence the smaller property despite a bigger one available at the same price.

cochineal7 · 31/01/2020 06:12

Question is: has she lied? What does the form ask? Was she asked about kids? Most ask about pets not necessarily kids. She may have just put her name down as the adult financially responsible for the lease. And I also presume from your update the larger house she is moving from still has an exH in it...

Scrumptiousbears · 31/01/2020 06:15

I would worry about the dishonesty. My tenants never told me she was pregnant when they applied. The house was empty and I never met the tenants as the estate agent did it all but my neighbour told me. It's was her salary that passed the financials so I was worried what would happen when she was on maternity leave. Anyway I decided to accept them and they did pay on time but trashed the house before they left.

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