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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask my landlord for a discount on rent?

59 replies

CobyKnobe · 07/04/2020 18:06

He owns the property outright (inherited a long time ago) and my income has gone down 80% in recent weeks.

I've never missed a rent payment and don't want to move, but to save money I probably should do. This would probably cost him rent as I wouldn't want any viewings in the house while i'm still here (with covid-19 and because I have health issues) and there's a glut of properties coming on down with some good reductions.

So wouldn't it be in both our favours to ask for a short term rent reduction?

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 07/04/2020 18:08

Whats the harm in trying. My daughters rent comes up for review in May and she asked for a £50 a month discount and got it.

Ellisandra · 07/04/2020 18:09

Of course it’s not unreasonable to ask.

If I were your landlord, you’d put my back up if you mentioned that I’d inherited it. You have no idea if it’s been remortgaged, or if not how essential a part of their income it is. They may have lost 80% of their income and this is most of what’s left. If you started on about that to me, I’d think you were over stepping the mark and I’d feel less friendly toward you.

Just ask! I hope it works out!

Thehop · 07/04/2020 18:10

You’d be better explaining that your income has dropped and would they consider a temporary rent reduction than framing it as for their equal good.

I’m sure they’ll work with you where they can.

oncemorewithfeeling99 · 07/04/2020 18:13

No harm in asking. If you would be planning to move anyway then there’s no risk to asking really.

It will depends on his personality, morals but also what he uses the money for. If it is his pension and pays for his food shopping, he might be less receptive.

Original poster
CobyKnobe · 07/04/2020 19:05

Oh golly yes I wouldn't mention that they inherited it. More just that I'll need to leave because of my drop of income and the situation. Drafting my email now, thanks!

OP posts:
malmi · 07/04/2020 19:08

Offer what you can afford per month with the promise to pay back the arrears through a payment plan once your income returns to normal.

MarieQueenofScots · 07/04/2020 19:09

YANBU to ask.

Outline what you can pay per month with a plan of how you will settle the arrears.

OscarWildesCat · 07/04/2020 19:11

I'm a landlord (lady?) but with a mortgage on the rental property, I've taken a mortgage holiday and told my tenants I dont expect anything till August. I imagine any landlord would be sympathetic under the current circumstances but may wish to increase afterwards to recoup money. I'd ask but like PP said, dont mention the inheritance, you simply dont know the details and it isn't relevant.

underneaththeash · 07/04/2020 19:17

I would ask, 2 of ours have and we said yes to one (they've been sacked basically and can't get home to China). The other asked and turns out they'd been furloughed for 100% pay and we said no.

We also have another family who are okay for the moment, but I think they'll need a bit of reduction next month (but I think they are too proud to ask for it and we'll have to offer).

It honestly depends too on the situation of your landlord, we're still solvent.

2020canfuckrightoff · 07/04/2020 19:18

We have had a huge drop in income as I’m self employed and will not get any help. We asked for (gulp) a £500 a month discount for a month - landlord came straight back and said three. We have suggested that we will pay it back though.

madmother1 · 07/04/2020 19:31

My DP owns his house outright and we rent it out. We both work part time and need the money to top up our income. Our rentee hasn't paid on time for months. Our letting agents constantly chase him each month. It's very stressful for us. So, if you were a regular payer, then yes I'd let you reduce your rent, but I'd expect it repaid at a later time.

1Morewineplease · 07/04/2020 19:33

There’s no harm in asking but if the rental income is their main source of income then you may well be disappointed.
Good luck.

boringrobot · 07/04/2020 19:34

madmother1, why don't you and your partner get full time jobs if the rent doesn't cover you income (once things go back to normal)?

boringrobot · 07/04/2020 19:35

I would just stop paying. Landlords are hardly going to find someone to fill your slot seeing as no viewings are happening and people will have less money to pay rent.

GrumpiestOldWoman · 07/04/2020 19:37

I would just stop paying

Aren't you a delight Hmm

BakedCam · 07/04/2020 19:42

Stopping paying is poor advice. It would put the OP in breach of her tenancy agreement.

I never understand the hatred towards landlords here, and I'm fully aware there are rogue ones.

OP, lots of great advice, explain your situation. I hope your LL is able to work with you. Good luck.

MarieQueenofScots · 07/04/2020 19:42

I would just stop paying

Very foolish course of action.

underneaththeash · 07/04/2020 19:43

@boringrobot the issue is that (a) it's very easy to go after people in small claims court for unpaid rent. (b) you would need a reference for your next rental, we stopped taking tennants without a reference fairly early on after a bad experience.

TheEndIsBillNighy · 07/04/2020 19:45

One of our tenants asked for a slight rent reduction, and I actually offered to lower it even further as I didn’t want them to worry financially. We have no mortgage on the property, like your landlord, and that made the decision easy as I feel it’s the least I can do at this difficult time. They are great tenants and I definitely don’t want to lose them.

bakingdemon · 07/04/2020 19:46

How he owns the property is irrelevant. Be up front that your income has dropped and ask if he is prepared to discuss a reduction. When the crisis started DH and I discussed whether to offer our tenants a reduction as we know one is freelance. We decided we should wait to hear from them rather than make any assumptions and they got in touch a few days later asking if we could come to an arrangement. We have halved the rent for the next two months and will review then. You should ask.

Bitofeverything · 07/04/2020 19:47

I think as long as you’re planning to pay back, fine. Also if you say you’re going to stay for eg a year, then fine too, as that also benefits the landlord.

Drogonssmile · 07/04/2020 20:00

DH and his dad share management and ownership of a mortgaged buy to let and their tenant asked for a reprieve this week as he's been furloughed. Luckily the mortgage is tiny so they had built up enough in the bank account to cover it for around 6 months. The tenant and his family have been brilliant for the 4 years they've been there so DH and FIL have just given him a three month rent holiday with no need to pay back and to be reviewed in another 3 months.

Worth asking, people can be supportive in these circumstances.

mecuryishot · 07/04/2020 20:00

I'm a landlord. You should not stop paying. If you can afford to pay I would. If you genuinely can't then yes discuss with your landlord.
I would ask for proof of a drop in income so make sure you have that at the ready.

It's irrelevant if the landlord has paid off the mortgage They may use the rent paid on their own circumstances which may also no doubt have changed now.
I personally would also expect you to put everything else off first before shifting my rent paid as most business's would.

If you're planning to pay it back I wouldn't see a problem though.

I am not too concerned with evicting anyone that doesn't pay at all though so be careful, and not all landlords would rather have some money than none not to mention considering if you need a reference.
It is a heavy obligation to have tenants and if they don't pay there is nothing left to cover these obligations. I know on mn a lot of people think a landlord should be a charity but we simply are not (well my circumstances do not allow for people to live in my property for free anyway)

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 07/04/2020 20:07

Why it’s inherited or owned out right is relevant I don’t know. You rent a property at x cost, it matters not a jot that the landlord inherited it off poor dead grandad. But yes talk to your landlord, they can only say no. YANBU to ask

Don’t take the foolish advice to stop paying!

I am a landlord ( also inherited) and for 1 off my tenants she is going to pay less for the next 3 months and then I will look again at the situation. I’ve only done it for her as she’s been in my property 8 years, and is a good tenant...And my student house they’ve all gone home for lockdown so none of them are paying anything until they go back to uni, they are young not much money so felt it was the best action to take

pigsDOfly · 07/04/2020 20:11

Your LLs circumstances are irrelevant to whether you get a reduction in your rent. Most LLs should be sympathetic - speaking as a LL - however, when you approach your LL about it you should also put forward your plan for how it's going to be paid back when things are back to normal.

To the pp who said 'I would just stop paying' why do you think people have a right to live somewhere without paying for it?

Okay I suppose if you're happy to be taken to court, lose your deposit, lose your home and have bailiffs chasing you for the rent arrears, then fine, otherwise very unsound advice.

Same for people with mortgages, if they just decided to stop paying their mortgages their home will be reposed.

It's usual in our society to pay for the roof over your head.