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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think landlord is a cf

50 replies

Heyheey · 18/07/2023 22:49

Ok so I’ve already made a post about something similar but just wanted to rant and also get some opinions

I had a property inspection the other day and my landlord has emailed me with a list of things

  1. to paint over old leak stain in second bedroom which was caused by leaky roof
  2. Change wallpaper or paint over wallpaper in main bedroom as some of it is peeling (it was like this when I moved in)
  3. paint kitchen ceiling (when I moved in it had been replastered and landlord said he would have it painted but hasn’t and now he wants me to do it
  4. paint bathroom ceiling as some of it is peeling (was already like that)
  5. paint or varnish garden fence. Which wasn’t done when at the time I moved in. He said also I could put up trellis to give me privacy
  6. put a new gate on back garden as it’s not in very good condition (again, was like this when I moved in)
  7. has told me I must not store anything in the loft and to have it removed if there’s anything up there (this isn’t in my contract)

aibu to think he is being a cf? He has put my rent up but has made no improvements to the house and is asking me to do them, with no offer of any input in costs involved. There is nothing in my contract to say I need to make improvements to the property, unless it’s something I have damaged myself

OP posts:
YetMoreNewBeginnings · 18/07/2023 22:50

Tell him you agree that all those things need done, and should have been done for you moving in, and ask when he’s coming to do them.

I’d remind him that he’s not entitled to expect betterment.

MNRando · 18/07/2023 22:51

Sounds like he wants it doing up to sell!

Original poster
Heyheey · 18/07/2023 22:52

Just to clarify, he wants me to do all the things in the list, he has said this is what needs doing and has asked I sort it, but no offer of costs for materials or anything like that

OP posts:
Original poster
Heyheey · 18/07/2023 22:53

@MNRando that was my thoughts as well. It was the first property inspection he’s done in over a year and he kept mentioning about his mortgage going up and that lots of landlords are selling

OP posts:
cranberriess · 18/07/2023 22:53

could he be deliberately making things difficult for you - so that you leave - and he can raise the rent again??

Wishitsnows · 18/07/2023 22:53

the landlord is totally trying it on and is insane if he thinks this is something you should be doing

PawsAndReflection · 18/07/2023 22:58

Batshit. He's really trying his luck there

Have a read of ACAS and Shelters advice on repairs, you'll feel a lot more confident when going back to him

ElliesNellie · 18/07/2023 23:12

I am a landlady. You aren’t required to do any of that and I agree your landlord is being really cheeky and looking to sell in the near future. Don’t do any of it.

Respond politely but firmly. If you have photos of when you moved in even better.

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 18/07/2023 23:15

Landlord here.
Your landlord is not being reasonable, I hope you have an inventory from when you moved in?

fyn · 18/07/2023 23:25

Remove stuff from loft fine, the rest CF and definitely LL responsibility.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 18/07/2023 23:26

Those things are not a tenant’s responsibility (I’m a LL), they are being a cf. You don’t have to put the property into a better condition than you got it. Do you have a formal inventory or at minimum photos of the original state.
LL have to expect a degree of wear and tear and you are certainly not responsible for rectifying the LL’s failings.

Tinkerbyebye · 18/07/2023 23:28

I would just go bac’ and say ooh thanks so glad you have agreed these all need sorting, but as they were all like this when I moved in ( and do you remember the conversation about the roof) then I will leave it with you, if you can let me know when you would like to come and sort b

Dacadactyl · 18/07/2023 23:28

I'd just ignore him.

And if he kept on pushing the point, I'd just reply that if he wants those things doing, he'll have to do it himself.

joyfulten · 18/07/2023 23:47

Probably trying to sell soon, be very wary

mondaytosunday · 18/07/2023 23:58

Do you have a proper lease? Has he provided you with all the required tenant info? Annual gas certificate? If he thinks this is your responsibility it sounds like he may not be up with all the rules.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/07/2023 00:03

I’m a landlord. All these jobs are my responsibility. What a cf.

Twelveisthebestnumber · 19/07/2023 00:09

LL here. Firstly I wouldn't dream of my property being rented out in anything less than perfect condition. Secondly these are absolutely not your responsibility. Start looking. He sounds horrendous and I doubt it will get better. I've just reduced our rent to keep our good tenants in due to the COL.

ChocChipHandbag · 19/07/2023 00:13

He’s lost the plot! What does your tenancy agreement say about maintenance?

CherryFlan · 19/07/2023 00:22

It's all very well sticking to the technicalities of who is required to do what (him). But he can stick to the technicalities of his entitlement to serve s.21 notice (no-fault eviction)!

In most parts of the UK any landlords still left in the market can call the shots because so many have given up and sold. Just be aware that you may need to look for somewhere else, and (as you probably know) that may well be more expensive, arduous and frustrating than your current landlord's list of demands.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 19/07/2023 00:52

LL is being a cheeky fucker, these are maintenance and repair issues that are his responsibility unless otherwise stated in your AST.

Point 7 is the only one I agree with, however, if it's not specified in your AST, then tough luck to him.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 19/07/2023 00:54

Did you get an inventory when you moved in with current pictures? If not, did you take any pictures of these issues when you moved in? If you have evidence, I'd go back to him and say that all of these issues were present when you moved in. You're happy for him to carry out this maintenance at a mutually convenient time.

Somanycats · 19/07/2023 01:05

He definitely wants you out!

HamBone · 19/07/2023 02:08

Like PP’s, I’ve got a bad feeling about this, OP, I think he’s planning to sell. And no, nothing on the list is your responsibility except moving your items from the loft.

SowingTheSeedsOfLove · 19/07/2023 02:11

Citizens advice 😉

Murdoch1949 · 19/07/2023 06:43

These are tasks the landlord should be doing not you. It's his responsibility not yours. Do not do any of them, ask him to do them. The only thing I agree with is not putting things in the loft, I'm in a new build house and the builder told me not to store things in the loft because of the way the houses were constructed.