If you're a landlord, would you mind this?

[Imaaa]

We've been in our flat for over 2 years.

It's a part furnished flat and the sofas are pretty old/ uncomfortable.

We'd like to replace them. Obviously we're not asking LL to pay, as the current sofas are theoretically fine/ fit for purpose. But I hate them!!

Do you think they'd be okay with this? I would obviously have to leave the new sofas in the flat once I move out. But I'm not planning on doing so for another few years so I'm not overly concerned about that.

Would you be ok with a tenant doing this?

It depends on the sofas. If they're hideous then no

I’d just pay fir storage for existing sofas and buy new ones.

This.

Buy a nice sofa that you can take with you when you go.

I'd hope they'd feel comfortable enough talking to me about it. There's a good chance I could use the sofas that were there elsewhere –I'd be far more likely to feel annoyed if a tenant moved my furniture outside the property into storage, or got rid of them entirely, without discussing it with me first.

What if your landlord wants you to move out in a couple of months from now?

That's a good point, Penguin, he does have other properties, so maybe they can be used elsewhere.

I'll definitely be asking before I do anything!

I would be - in fact I replaced the sofa when my tenant requested as she said the existing one was broken (I had left it there from when I live in the house). it would be more than reasonable to replace - you'd probably be best offering to dispose of existing ones.

They can only say no. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

I don't mind people asking stuff like this. I want people to be happy and comfortable.

I wouldn’t care but I’ve only let our place unfurnished. Is it part furnished/furnished or just sofas there? If it’s just sofas maybe a previous tenant left them and he couldn’t be arsed to do anything with them.

As a starting point why not ask if he’d consider letting you dispose of them, rather than going into negotiations with having to relinquish your lovely new sofas! Is there anywhere on the property you could store them, like a dry garage?

Yes, ask the landlord. I would be happy for tenants to do this if they wanted.

Ask landlord (in writing) if you can dispose of the sofa. If they say yes, you can buy a new sofa and take it with you when you leave. (Keep the documentation of them saying yes).

Yes, as a landlord I would be happy for you to do this but would expect you to get rid of it at your own cost.
I would be happy for you to take you new one with when you leave.

To be honest it is easier to rent flats unfurnished as it is a pain when something goes wrong and you have the hassle to replace beds, sofas etc.

I'm a landlord and I wouldn't mind at all

Just ask him to remove the sofas, say that they are past best and uncomfortable. Ask him to replace, when he refuses graciously offerer furnish with your own if he disposes/removes.

As an ex professional property manager who managed hundreds of properties, it’s madness to buy sofas and then give them to the landlord.

I’ve arranged with my tenant that she can sell the 10 year old sofas, keep the money, buy one she keeps, and replace with equivalent second hand when she moves out as long as we agree the colour first. I gave her several options and this is what she picked.

I'd be delighted, so long as it wasn't bright pink.

Do ask first if the landlord will replace it at their expense. Morally speaking, if the old one is knackered they ought to foot the bill, but I know some landlords are cheapskates. If they say no, then offer to buy it yourself - but first try to negotiate on them removing the old sofa (perhaps to use elsewhere?) - so you can keep the new one and take it with you when you go.

Just tell the truth. Say you fancy getting new furniture an when is it convenient for him to take the old stuff away. Perfectly reasonable. And a sign you're planning to stay in the property a bit longer. I absolutely wouldn't offer to donate them to the landlord when you leave!- and I'm sure they wouldn't expect that!

As him to replace if the property is rented fully furnished. You should be allowed decent sofas, especially if the old ones are falling apart.