to think tenant shouldn't have to hang curtains out of window

[NeighbourLeaving]

A house very near to us recently sold and we think rented, has most of its curtains hung over the top of the windows, with the top foot hanging flapping in the wind and rain all day. Not sure if they are actual curtains or just blankets.
We need to sell our house and I think this would deter buyers from an otherwise nice street. Rarely see anyone coming or going from the house but have seen a woman and child once or twice. WIBU to knock and ask if they need curtains/ rails and either offer to write to their landlord/letting agent on their behalf, or to say we have some spare in our loft, let us know sizes and I'll dig them out if they fit (ie go buy them). I'm no good with a drill though so can't offer to put rails up. WWYD?

It would bother me if I went to view your house.

I'd wonder if there were, say, students living there who would be having parties all the time.

@DropYourSword

We need to sell our house and I think this would deter buyers from an otherwise nice street.

If that is enough to put prospective buyers off your house, it can't be much of a catch!!

Actually, I think the nice the house the more likely it is to put people off.

In a generally rough street (priced as such) it won't make as much difference as in an otherwise smart street.

Just go over and say what you mean.

Hiya we're trying to sell our house and your flappy curtain is really lowering the tone. Kindly fix the problem and please start looking for somewhere else to rent because this area is for naice people not poor people

Slightly off topic but can somebody explain to me why curtains hanging out of the window means they haven't got a pole? I'm so confused trying to understand it, if there's no pole wouldn't the curtains fly out of the window?

No I think I get it now, is it like a sash window and they close the window back up?

That's definitely the sort of thing that I would notice and would find off-putting I'm afraid.

@Grayday

I made a curtain cut to size based on my own front window for next door and provided a tension pole before listing my house. They never put it up, kept their horrific hippie blanket in the window and I ended up asking for my pole back. Buyers didn't comment or appear to be put off, as is the market.

I’d be quite offended if someone turned up at my house with curtains, because they didn’t like what I had up in the window. Also, your tastes probably aren’t the same as mine (as evidenced by you not liking my blanket in the window) so why would I want to hang up your choice of curtains?

I would be a little put off but I wouldn't expect that giving them poles and curtains would actually lead to them putting them up.

I do think it's a bit strange that the landlord didn't provide window coverings but the tenants seem comfortable with what they're doing now and it's very difficult to approach them about it without seeming judgemental.

I'm house hunting at the moment and if it was a few doors down it wouldn't worry me

I was put off, however, by one semi detached house that had a next door neighbour with a totally overgrown garden, sofa outside and a garage that looked like it was about to collapse.

Me too MyBottleOfRibena! I'd be fuming if a neighbour I'd never met came knocking on my door to comment on my house setup, assuming it wasn't an issue that impacted them directly e.g. noise. I appreciate that it's annoying if you think it might be offputting to buyers but it's really not their problem!

OP, you could just be neighbourly and pop over with biscuits or a small potted plant to say welcome to the neighbourhood. Once you get an idea of how things are, you could THEN make your offer of curtains or help putting a pole or command things up.

Just like a poorly maintained house/garden/junk in the front. Yes, it could put people off especially if they’re moving away from a problem and really having a look around to ensure they’re not living in to an area with a problem neighbour. Sorry for those who don’t agree, but an outwardly problem (what could be going on inside then?) like this would put me on alert that there’s something not quite right there and I may not want to be living in close proximity.

Yes, you would totally be unreasonable to knock and ask them if they need curtains and volunteer to write to their landlord/give them some! I would find this really rude and intrusive.

@girlmom21

I think a prospective buyer wouldn't notice and you're being a bit precious.

I'd notice