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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send a "good luck in your new home" card to my new tenants?

35 replies

Spidey66 · 30/04/2022 13:27

OK I know that landlords get slagged off all the time here, but I'm a decent person, who hopefully will be seen as a decent landlord!

I inherited some money 10 years ago, and used it to buy a small flat in a popular UK holiday destination. For several years I used it as a holiday let and we have had several very happy holidays there ourselves.

For a number of reasons, one of which being there is a shortage of decent homes to rent for locals (which always played on my very strong social conscience) it has now been put up for a residential letting. An estate agency will be strongly involved in the every day running as we are some distance away.

A few people went for viewings and we have made a decision on the tenants, a couple in late 20s/early 30s working locally in hospitality.

I genuinely want them to be happy there and while I won't have much day to day contact, I want them to know I want to be a responsible and approachable landlord.

I was thinking of sending them a Welcome to Your New Home card to introduce myself. Is that a good idea or would they think it's a bit in-your-face?

OP posts:
EvilPea · 30/04/2022 13:28

its a lovely idea. I’ve had it twice as well as a bottle of wine on one occasion.

it is a weird relationship all round, so it’s a nice way to start it.

Iamclearlyamug · 30/04/2022 13:28

I think it's a lovely idea and I'd be very grateful if I was your tenant 😊

Magnoliayellowbird · 30/04/2022 13:29

I think it would be a lovely gesture.

SausagePourHomme · 30/04/2022 13:30

It's not in your face. I don't think it's a terrible move. I'd be careful of the tone of your message - it's a business relationship, not too friendly. After that, the kindest thing you can do as a landlord is to melt away into the background unless there are issues. Contactable but not intrusive.

SpringLobelia · 30/04/2022 13:32

I'm a landlord. Most of my tenants come from abroad as they are contracted to a nearby University. I always leave them a hamper containing coffee, tea, milk and bread in the fridge and a bottle of wine.

I have never had a tenant leave before their university contract is up.

I appreciate my tenants renting my flat. I show that by a gesture of welcome and by fixing things bloody FAST as required.

hellcatspanglelalala · 30/04/2022 13:33

I think it's a lovely idea.

Original poster
Spidey66 · 30/04/2022 13:33

SausagePourHomme · 30/04/2022 13:30

It's not in your face. I don't think it's a terrible move. I'd be careful of the tone of your message - it's a business relationship, not too friendly. After that, the kindest thing you can do as a landlord is to melt away into the background unless there are issues. Contactable but not intrusive.

That's the kind of relationship I want with them. I dont have the stomach to be a Peter Rachman character, but I'm not going to be popping round for tea every day either (I live to far away for a start!)

OP posts:
FindMeInTheSunshine · 30/04/2022 13:34

I've done that before. I want them to realise that while it is my house it is their home and I'm wanting them to enjoy it. I also think if you seem like a decent human being they are more likely to treat the house with respect.

loveisanopensore · 30/04/2022 13:37

We had a landlord do that. It was a lovely gesture.
He also gave us a massive box of chocolates from Hotel chocolat when we moved on.

Watto1 · 30/04/2022 13:37

I’m a landlord and I always leave a card and a bottle of wine. I also pop in a bit of useful info such as when bin day is.

Xpologog · 30/04/2022 13:53

I’ve always left a card and a small plant for new tenants.

If you’ve never used a letting agent before keep an eye on them. I’ve found they’re either very efficient or absolutely useless. Hope your’s is the former.

LoveSpringDaffs · 30/04/2022 13:58

It's a lovely idea, but a 'welcome to your new home' I'd find 'good luck' a bit weird from a LL. (a bit why do I need luck???...)

something along the lines of xyz agent being the first port of call, but these are your contact details should the need ever arise, type thing.

as you've done it as a holiday rental, hopefully good stable tenants will be a lot easier.

best of luck!

Original poster
Spidey66 · 30/04/2022 14:33

LoveSpringDaffs · 30/04/2022 13:58

It's a lovely idea, but a 'welcome to your new home' I'd find 'good luck' a bit weird from a LL. (a bit why do I need luck???...)

something along the lines of xyz agent being the first port of call, but these are your contact details should the need ever arise, type thing.

as you've done it as a holiday rental, hopefully good stable tenants will be a lot easier.

best of luck!

Yeah, welcome really, and yes adding phone and email details if they need it and/or the EA can’t deal with an issue

OP posts:
PeaceLurking9to5 · 30/04/2022 14:39

I wouldnt. Its the kind of thing id be inclined to do too, but if there's any kind of dispute later you may feel "locked" in to an AMICABLE dynamic even if the circumstances don't warrant it.

I rented for years and hated it btw! Now i own, one house! So im not anti landlord. Automatically. Im more like.... dynamics are complicated here, potentially. Don't lock yourself in to a mates type dynamic

PeaceLurking9to5 · 30/04/2022 14:42

They might also feel they dont want to have to be "grateful" to a landlord who's making money while they pay dead money. Id go for teabags, cheap biscuits and a post it note rather that a card. Like, they haven't won the lottery here. They found a place to live.

murasaki · 30/04/2022 14:46

Things like the date of bin day would be useful. I think it's a nice idea.

fortheloveofcheesecake · 30/04/2022 14:48

Welcome card would be lovely along with a bottle of wine, or biscuits etc. No email or phone details though....that's what the estate agents are for.

TooManyPJs · 30/04/2022 15:03

I think it's a lovely idea and I would have really liked that when I was renting. Agree though that you need to ensure though that you are able to maintain a professional distance otherwise it will be really hard to sort out any issues if they arise.

gabsdot45 · 30/04/2022 15:07

I think that's a lovely idea. I have a small rental property (attached to my house) and when new people move in I put some fresh flowers in the room and Shloer in the fridge.

Tromtrom · 30/04/2022 15:13

I think it is a nice idea and we tend to do similar. We have had lovely tenants over the years and we sometimes send them something at Christmas too. I think if a tenant is going to be a difficult tenant it is unlikely to change that though. It didn’t stop didn’t one of our tenants completely trashing the place, defaulting on rent and leaving loads of broken furniture in the property as well as using it to breed dogs when it was meant to be no pets.

ManateeFair · 30/04/2022 15:20

It’s a really nice gesture. The last time I rented, I let myself in to find that my landlords had put a jug of nice cheerful tulips, a bottle of wine and a card in the kitchen for me and I was so pleased. I’d moved to a new city on my own and was pretty apprehensive about it, plus moving’s always stressful anyway, so it was just a nice thing that made it all feel a bit easier somehow.

RaininSummer · 30/04/2022 15:20

The card is a nice touch with any special info too. Don't give them your phone number tho as could be asking for trouble

ManateeFair · 30/04/2022 15:22

PeaceLurking9to5 · 30/04/2022 14:39

I wouldnt. Its the kind of thing id be inclined to do too, but if there's any kind of dispute later you may feel "locked" in to an AMICABLE dynamic even if the circumstances don't warrant it.

I rented for years and hated it btw! Now i own, one house! So im not anti landlord. Automatically. Im more like.... dynamics are complicated here, potentially. Don't lock yourself in to a mates type dynamic

I never even met my landlords in the two years I lived there. I certainly didn’t feel like they were my mates because they left me a welcome card! It’s a card and a bottle, not their first-born child.

Useyourfork · 30/04/2022 15:24

SpringLobelia · 30/04/2022 13:32

I'm a landlord. Most of my tenants come from abroad as they are contracted to a nearby University. I always leave them a hamper containing coffee, tea, milk and bread in the fridge and a bottle of wine.

I have never had a tenant leave before their university contract is up.

I appreciate my tenants renting my flat. I show that by a gesture of welcome and by fixing things bloody FAST as required.

I think fixing things really fast and keeping on top of maintenance is literally the best thing a landlord can do.

GreenClock · 30/04/2022 15:24

Don’t give them your contact details. That’s what the third party is for. You don’t want them ringing you at all hours.

I’d leave a card and wine/choc/biscuits.

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