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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:
BelieveInPeople · 31/01/2020 09:20

Could it be that the children will be there only part time? I think you need more information but ultimately it’s your house and so your choice.

HazelBite · 31/01/2020 09:20

Be very careful!
My SIL experienced a similar scenario, she had difficulty getting the tenants out and had to move in with her parents while she took it to Court, and her property was absolutely trashed. All carpets had to be thrown, walls reskimmed, kitchen replaced!
It was supposed to be a "professional" couple, and turned out to be couple plus 3 kids and two dogs!
As she hasn't mentioned the DCs I would wonder what else she is hiding!

zasknbg · 31/01/2020 09:23

I’d definitely pull the plug. The person has been really dishonest, doesn’t really matter about what, it just implies that there could be more dishonesty down the line.

You can simply say the property is not suitable for 4 people.

ddraigygoch · 31/01/2020 09:24

Absolutely not. This is not something I would take a risk on. Don't make this your problem.

MatildaTheCat · 31/01/2020 09:24

No. Too much wear and tear, dishonesty upfront, potentially very difficult to get them to leave if they can’t get another property after a year.

Dustarr73 · 31/01/2020 09:25

Who forgets they have 3 kids.

I would go with your gut,if you have doubts dont let her move in.

Quartz2208 · 31/01/2020 09:26

It’s not a family though it’s 1 adult 3 children and if 1/2 are very young then it’s not overcrowding

So it comes to the forms and dishonesty. Where children asked about on the first form or did it just ask for applicant name and whether pets were included?

ladyvimes · 31/01/2020 09:27

We are landlords and consider most people as tenants and one adult and three children in a 2 bed wouldn’t be an issue, HOWEVER, the fact that they initially deceived you would be a massive no no from me. Don’t do it.

GiveHerHellFromUs · 31/01/2020 09:28

It’s not a family though it’s 1 adult 3 children and if 1/2 are very young then it’s not overcrowding

That's a family. Are you saying it's only a family if there's 2 parents? Welcome to the 21st century.

Jaxhog · 31/01/2020 09:28

I think deliberate dishonesty is a red flag.

They told you about the cats, but not 3 kids? That would worry me too. What else aren't they telling you? You have other, better, prospects. Move on.

unlikelytobe · 31/01/2020 09:29

I had a tenant once who moved into my 2 bed house saying it was just for him. It was being handled by an agency who vetted him but I asked to meet him and he seemed OK. Turned out he moved his girlfriend in and then his brother - at which point he admitted this to the agent and asked for these people to be added to the tenancy agreement. I agreed as the tenancy was not for much longer (I needed my house back) and they had been keeping the house in good order but I wasn't pleased about the deception. At least there were no secret kids or cats!

I think when it's your only home it is more personal and possibly emotional than if it's just part of a property portfolio. Put your business head on and decide does this make sense for you, is it an acceptable risk? Frankly, your agent has not been on the ball with this and they will be taking a big enough cut so get them to find out what's going on.

Cherrysoup · 31/01/2020 09:29

Check your insurance/tenancy agreement-does it allow for that many people living in 2 beds? I'd say no. I'm dreading my fabulous tenants having more kids in case they'd want to move out. Currently the 2 small boys share happily.

ddraigygoch · 31/01/2020 09:29

If the children are young I assume they don't plan to stay at that age and size for be long.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 31/01/2020 09:30

Have they really been dishonest thought? Very few places allow you to rent with pets - so they've mentioned their pets. No landlords would specify no children - so they didn't mention their children. It's not a lie, it just wasn't relevant.

Anyway, I agree this sounds like a divorce situation or a school catchment thing - move into area as cheaply as possible while saving for a deposit. My concern would actually be that they won't last the year, which could potentially be an issue for you if, say, they move out after 9 months which would mean your property was empty for the final 3. So look carefully at the contract for this, up the deposit for wear and tear, and let them rent it.

MoonlightMistletoe · 31/01/2020 09:30

YABU- it's incredibly hard for single parent families to find a home and she may not be able to afford a three bed property.

From my own experiences I can say people do discriminate against families with children so I would say she didn't disclose this information with the fear of being rejected because she has children. I can only imagine that all she wants is a nice little home for her children.

loobyloo1234 · 31/01/2020 09:32

Hmm when I first read this I thought YANBU. I still think YANBU but I would find it difficult to say no now just in case it is a lone parent with the 3 kids. She may be leaving a difficult situation and can only afford a 2 bed for now? Could you ask to meet them first just to figure this out properly? Sure you could gauge from one meeting what kind of person they will be

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 31/01/2020 09:34

If you had multiple offers to rent, I'd go back and pick someone else. You know the interest is there..

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 31/01/2020 09:35

I would be a bit Hmm at the letting agent, who must have surely known about this before the full forms came in for signing. Why didn't they give you a heads up before now?

ddraigygoch · 31/01/2020 09:37

Some landlords do specify no children @LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett

The tenants struggles are not the OPs problems @MoonlightMistletoe

Drum2018 · 31/01/2020 09:37

I'd pull the plug. You arranged to rent to a single person and they add three kids. The wear and tear on your property is not what you'd have signed up to.

Sewrainbow · 31/01/2020 09:37

The lack of full disclosure about the circumstances would be the red flag for me

Allington · 31/01/2020 09:37

If the first form asked about children, and she didn't put them on, that's dishonesty.

If it asked about the person/people responsible for the tenancy (i.e. adults), and pets, and she didn't put down the children, then it isn't.

I am renting out my flat while I am overseas, and don't think it is my business how the tenants fit into the two bedrooms, as long as they pay the rent and treat the place with respect.

WinterSunshine101 · 31/01/2020 09:40

I agree the dishonesty thing is worrying. She obviously didn't forget about the children - they were deliberately left off the application.
However, as someone who is currently trying to find somewhere to rent with my three children so we can get away from my abusive partner (whole other thread), I can confirm that it's virtually impossible to find somewhere that is suitable, and will take us. Half of landlords don't want children, and the other half keep telling me there isn't enough space. I can make that decision for myself, and actually I want a smaller place - to feel safe, to feel close again. It's crossed my mind not to mention them, but the lettings agents locally are all pretty familiar with me now!
It's entirely up to you, but there could be a really good explanation, so I'd just ask.

Sh05 · 31/01/2020 09:41

Your first concern is the dishonesty but also if you say it's relatively small then you must also think about overcrowding that may cause damp in the bedrooms and the overall impact of too many people on your small property.
I would not sign yet, maybe ask for clarification as to why the children were not mentioned, without the full picture it would definitely be risky.

Rhea1981 · 31/01/2020 09:41

I wouldn't necessarily worry about the overcrowding, thats up to her. I would definitely worry about the dishonesty and it would set alarms ringing if she's lied already. You don't want to be stuck with a dodgy tenant, maybe meet with her or ask why she didn't mention the children before.