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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:
TARSCOUT · 31/01/2020 08:24

I am a LL too. Getting property back end Feb and although use agent I view with shortlist of candidates. My property my decision and got instinct is my ruler.

Idontkowmyname · 31/01/2020 08:24

Dishonesty is the problem

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 31/01/2020 08:29

Afriggingoat
you realise you could be leaving her homeless

OP bears zero responsibility to house this adult! While her circumstances could be difficult, that doesn't make it OP's job, as a private landlord, to take on an unacceptable level of risk.

dognamedspot · 31/01/2020 08:32

The last dishonest tenant that I gave the benefit of the doubt to left me losing about £3.5k and it turned out that they were more dishonest than I discovered. So I'm biased.
But - without making any "shitty" assumptions - she applied as a sole tenant then added 3 bodies at the last minute. You agreed to a sole tenant. I don't care what the lie was, it's a big one and it would make me mistrust her.

Spied · 31/01/2020 08:36

I agree it's the dishonesty.
Who would mention cats but not children?
If they'd been honest then I wouldn't have a problem as really if the property is too small for them it's their issue not yours. (So long as it's still maintained and cared for).
I wouldn't go ahead now though.

leckford · 31/01/2020 08:36

Did you go through an agency? They would have done more investigation
Do you have a mortgage on the property? If they don’t pay can you afford to keep up the mortgage?
Do you have sufficient money to pay for a lawyer if it all goes wrong?

margoletta · 31/01/2020 08:40

My tenancy agreement had a clause about overcrowding- we had to state names and ages of children to verify the property wouldn't be overcrowded (and thus poor environment for children) by us living there. It is a housing association not private LL though.

Taddda · 31/01/2020 08:40

Do you think she intentionally left her children off the application initially? I take it you haven't finalised or handed the keys yet but she has now stated she has her 3 DC's beforehand? I'd find this out first before labelling her as dishonest.

Perhaps she's leaving a relationship with her children and a 2 bed is all she can afford right now, which is why the year tenancy? Do you also know the ages, as bunk beds and co-sleeping with an infant is hardly overcrowding in a two bed, tight squeeze maybe, but manageable, especially for a year.

I'd ask to meet with her before making a decision.

Panicmode1 · 31/01/2020 08:42

What are her references like?

I used to manage property for a very wealthy man - he got references for the cat for one of the tenancies. They had had a terrible experience with a cat who wrecked a flat, so despite usually allowing animals, he always checked with previous landlords, and had stringent terms for any damage in the lease.

Have you met her? Again, we would always insist on meeting tenants first. Perhaps if you meet her and find out why she wasn't 100% honest, you can make a judgement.

I wouldn't be happy with 3 children in a small house, but as others have said, it does rather depend on their ages.....

Lifecanonlygetbetter · 31/01/2020 08:46

As a landlord I wouldn’t, largely because she has been dishonest but also because of the potential wear and tear if it’s a small space.

whateverhappenstheremore · 31/01/2020 08:46

Get another tenant

myself2020 · 31/01/2020 08:47

The dishonesty is the problem : they apply with 1 adult 2 cats, then its 2 adult 2 cats 3 kids, once they move innit might be 3 adults, 2 cats, 3 kids and a dog. this exact scenario happened to a house across the road from us (2 bedrooms and a boxroom, in the end 6 adults, 3 kids plus cats and dogs lived there). place was trashed

CwtchesCuddles · 31/01/2020 08:47

It would be the dishonesty that would be the deciding factor for me!

HorseFlyOfExtraordinaryLength · 31/01/2020 08:51

I live in a two bed with my three children and when I moved in I had three cats.
It was all I could afford. I was so relieved and grateful to the letting agency for allowing me to do it.
Mine's a house though and we use a second reception room as a bedroom.

HorseFlyOfExtraordinaryLength · 31/01/2020 08:52

Oh and we haven't trashed it

SunOnAll · 31/01/2020 08:52

No, definitely not. Even if they're young/small kids now, they grow up.

Needmoresleep · 31/01/2020 08:54

Renting is a risk. You have had a major red flag.

Don't.

Nothing to do with cats or kids or being a single mum. If she, or the agent, had been upfront from the start you could have considered it properly. They have tried to bounce you.

Taddda · 31/01/2020 08:58

@HorseFlyOfExtraordinaryLength exactly. This could very well be her situation. Meet with her then make a decision.

Sharkyfan · 31/01/2020 08:59

Tricky isn’t it - obviously your property your choice, more people in the house means more wear, and they were not open from the outset.
But I can see why maybe they wouldn’t be if they keep getting turned down. And what are they supposed to do if their budget only stretches to a 2 bed. But I know that’s a bigger issue and not your problem.

LividLaughLovely · 31/01/2020 09:10

This thread is bonkers.

OP isn't a housing charity; this is her HOME.

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 31/01/2020 09:13

Ignoring all the stuff about who lied and who didn't, would you have accepted this tenant if you had known she had three children? If you would have, then meet her and see how you feel afterwards. If not, then withdraw the offer.

aSofaNearYou · 31/01/2020 09:14

Is there any chance they are a NRP?

Also, I'd be inclined to hold back before assuming she was deliberately lying to you - I found my last estate agent forms really confusing and there were definitely differences between what I'd said in my first round of forms vs the second, because I had misunderstood and filled it out wrong.

GiveHerHellFromUs · 31/01/2020 09:14

I disagree with @DontDribbleOnTheCarpet. Don't meet her. You have no reason to meet her. The whole point of using an agency is that you can remain anonymous.

DeadButDelicious · 31/01/2020 09:18

I've recently moved house, we have 1DD, 3 cats and a dog. To say it was a struggle would be an understatement. We really fell on our feet with this place. I plan on being a Model Tenant™️ as we would love to stay here long term. I am insanely grateful to find somewhere willing to take us all on.

In your case, with the prospective tenant going from a 5 bed to a 2 I would assume that a relationship has broken down and she needs somewhere short term while everything gets sorted. I suspect that 2 beds is not ideal for her but if the kids will be with their dad for some of the time it's doable and that you are the only place that's said yes to the cats so that clinched it for her.

Have you actually met the prospective tenant and asked about her situation? I wouldn't write her off as 'dishonest' without getting her side of the story as it could all have been an innocent mistake or a small breakdown in communication between the letting agent, her and yourself. She hasn't, to my mind anyway, 'lied' about or attempted to conceal the children as she told you about them on the paperwork you recently received. I'd wait until the tenant referencing comes back before making any major decisions.

You of course have the right to decide to not go ahead but surely you would want the full picture before pulling the plug?

Bluntness100 · 31/01/2020 09:18

Surprised at the people saying rent to them, like you're performing some social charity program. It's your home, you rent to who you like.

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