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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:
BettyAll1 · 31/01/2020 07:29

Is the agent handling all this for you? If so then I’d be pretty pissed off with them that you’ve been mislead. If you’ve been managing the viewings and application then it’d be a red flag that this person has been dishonest from the outset. Either way YANBU. Possibly you should have stipulated maximum numbers when you advertised but it’s your house and you need to feel comfortable with whoever is renting it. I’ve rented to a small family with one child who trashed the house and drew all over the walls. I’ve also rented to a larger family who left the house immaculate. It would be the dishonesty element rather than the family size that would worry me.

Lionsleepstonight · 31/01/2020 07:29

I can see why you're uncomfortable as a single tenant with 2 cats is a different proposition to 2 cats and 3 kids. Id worry the house would be trashed!
Can you find out more, like why she mentioned the cats and not the kids (weird).
And remember, a good deed rarely goes unpunished!

AugieMarch · 31/01/2020 07:29

Has she actually lied/been dishonest? Did the original form ask about children or just over 18s and pets? I rented for a looong time and it varied from one agency/landlord to the next. If the form didn't ask about children then she hasn't actually been dishonest. Perhaps clarify with the agent?

Deathraystare · 31/01/2020 07:32

They lied full stop. If they had been up front that would of course been different. Normally people don't tell you they have cats but do come clean about the kids!

Go with your gut feeling. My friend let a DHSS woman and child rent but the woman of course said nothing about her drug taking mad as fuck boyfriend. He kicked in the glass oven door and they pulled down the ceiling so they would get a council house. Lovely.

Oh and left dirty nappies in the garden.....

Not quite the same thing but if she lied about something there may be background.

YADNBU

MarthasGinYard · 31/01/2020 07:33

No chance

AnnaMariaDreams · 31/01/2020 07:35

I will probably get flamed but as landlords we have had a very bad experience with a single mum with 2 kids and rent being paid on time. It was every month for over a year and in the end after a lot of chances we gave her notice.
I wouldn’t want 3 children in a small house either. It would put me off if you have had other offers.
We do allow cats (but not dogs) though!

Marylou2 · 31/01/2020 07:35

Hi OP, wouldn't touch this one at all. Presume it's private rental rather than HB but still the chances of you having to either evict them or end up with significant costs to rectify damage are statistically higher than with a single or couple renting. Also the fact that you weren't given the information about the children upfront is a huge red flag. Good luck.

GU24Mum · 31/01/2020 07:37

Somewhere between the agent and the applicant, you haven't been given the full picture. If you only wanted to have X number of people in the house then it's not at all unreasonable to say that as this is now something very different then it's not for you.

It's completely fair that you are able to make a decision on how many people you think the house is suitable for in terms of wear and tear. You've already said that it's a small house (assume only one bathroom etc) so it's quite likely that there is going to be more wear and tear than if you only have a single person or person and 1 child in there.

Lovemusic33 · 31/01/2020 07:38

They could have a triple bunk? Or one of them may still be a baby and sleeping in parents room?

Either way it is up to you at the end of the day. They should have told you they have 3 kids.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 31/01/2020 07:38

If you feel the house isn't big enough, do not let it to them. Too many people in a small space is not healthy, will mean all your appliances (inc your boiler) will likely be running to higher capacity than they were designed for and causes a higher degree of wear and tear. You have no obligation to house people who are deliberately placing themselves in a situation of overcrowding.

You have mentioned that it is a good area. Does the rent reflect that, eg could she spend the same in a less desirable area to get a bigger property that would be more suitable? If so she cannot afford to live in your area.

Antihop · 31/01/2020 07:39

I would pull out purely because of the dishonesty.

Circe32 · 31/01/2020 07:42

As others have mentioned, it would depend on the ages of the children, but you need to consider wear and tear on your home, so I would get more information before making your decision.
But YANBU if you were to decide to end the agreement.

daisypond · 31/01/2020 07:44

We’ve successfully brought up three children to adulthood in a 2-bed place. It’s normal where I live - expensive area.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 31/01/2020 07:45

The deliberate dishonesty would worry me. As a LL myself I would pull out.

MarthasGinYard · 31/01/2020 07:45

You were under the impression this was one person and 2 cats

Come on why on Earth would you even entertain the idea of 3 extra people in your little house.

There has been dishonesty, a very bad way to start a tenancy.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 31/01/2020 07:45

Who would how to pay for bunkbeds if OP agreed to the rental?

If it's OP, why should she pay for furniture which she wouldn't use herself, and what would she do with the bed already in that room? I assume she wouldn't want to dump it if it's a good bed, and has no room for storage.

If it's the tenant, and the bunks would go with her, the other bed problem still applies.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 31/01/2020 07:45

*have to pay, not how to pay

Brazi103 · 31/01/2020 07:45

Her situation (single mum, divorce going on, etc) is none of your problem and you shouldnt feel guilty about that.
You are trusting your home to someone to take care of. How would you feel if you came back and it was completely trashed or damaged?
You dont know she would do that but you do know she is capable of being dishonest. She mentioned the cats but forgot the 3 children?
Anyone would think how would 3 kids and an adult fit into a 2 bed so I would be concerned that it's a desperate situation for her, and possibly end to be one you would regret.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 31/01/2020 07:46

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?

Bet you there's a desirable school in play here and you are in catchment. If you think that is the case, please don't rent to them, I'm willing to bet a million quid they are only renting for a school place & are doing a longer term local out of a place.

Brazi103 · 31/01/2020 07:47

And read the replies of people who are actually LL on this thread. Being one myself, I would decline this one immediately.

Mistystar99 · 31/01/2020 07:49

Your house, your rules! I would not want three kids and two cats trashing my little house.

Northernsoullover · 31/01/2020 07:49

It would be interesting to see what the HHSRS overcrowding score would come up as on this. You may be able to refuse on that basis alone.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 31/01/2020 07:50

I wondered that LoveIsland, but then why mention the cats if they aren't actually going to live there?

Cremebrule · 31/01/2020 07:50

Given it’s your home and you’re only doing it for a year, I think your priority has to be getting someone who’ll leave it in a. Food state and is suited to a short rental. You’re not going to be a professional landlord that can manage the disruption. At the end of your day it’s your home. Even if they are the most perfectly behaved children in the world, they’ll add a level of wear and tear that a single adult won’t. If you’ve got your pick of tenants, I’d pull out.

Baluga · 31/01/2020 07:51

Would she be getting help towards her rent?
The reason I ask is because my friend had to rent a place with being on benefits after fleeing domestic abuse. She had 3 children but the council would only give her the amount for a 2 bedroom because her oldest 2 were the same sex and could share a room, and the youngest was a baby and wouldn’t have counted towards room allowance until she was 1. If this is the case then it explains why your tenant would only want a year tenancy too.

I’d be worried about the dishonesty if I’m honest, but also I’m a soft touch. I know if I’d go to meet the woman I’d end up giving in.
Moving from a 5 bed does sound like it’s a possible relationship breakdown.

You’ll have to go with your gut here, you’ve said many times you don’t think it’s suitable for children so I think you have your answer, but I understand why you’re conflicted.

Renting is never easy, and a professional couple could leave it in a bigger state than a large family, you never know and that’s the risk you take.

Good luck with your decision.

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