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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this rental property shouldn’t be advertised

50 replies

Curlyevie · 21/09/2023 12:14

I am looking to rent a house and this has come up for private rent. Aibu to think it shouldn’t be rented out like this? The garden photos show it to be very overgrown too. That’s the fireplace in the living room

To think this rental property shouldn’t be advertised
To think this rental property shouldn’t be advertised
To think this rental property shouldn’t be advertised
To think this rental property shouldn’t be advertised
OP posts:
WashingBasketFull · 21/09/2023 12:22

What’s the rent? If it’s very cheap and that means someone can afford a house vs not, and that’s better than being homeless. There are people who have a mortgage and whose homes aren’t better than this. It still has to be compliant re electrical and gas checks etc by law.

Although I suspect you wouldn’t have posted if it was super cheap? In which case no, someone is taking advantage of people’s desperation.

Original poster
Curlyevie · 21/09/2023 12:24

It’s £875 per month so for the area is expensive. It states that the fire place isn’t usable

OP posts:
PrrrplePineapple · 21/09/2023 12:32

Unfortunately a lot of landlords take the piss and rent places out in a condition they wouldn't be happy to endure themselves. I'm with you, OP.

MsFannySqueers · 21/09/2023 12:38

I agree OP it’s disgraceful preying on people who are desperate for somewhere to live. It’s obviously a house that has been inherited from or obtained on the cheap from someone who has passed away or gone into a care home. Then this so called ‘landlord’ just wants to rent it out without any improvements, just awful. The fireplace isn’t usable bloody cheek!

Murpe · 21/09/2023 12:39

As a long term renter, one thing that I've noticed has changed is that generally people used to buy or inherit a property, strip it out, fit very basic and cheap new bathroom, kitchen, carpets, and paint thing thing.

In the last few years, I've noticed when browsing RightMove that more properties are being acquired and appear to be let out 'as is'. Because they someone will take it, such is the desperation of the lettings market.

Laiste · 21/09/2023 12:43

It should meet safety regs. I wonder if it has it's certs?

If so then i guess it's not been tarted up but doesn't look actually dangerous. No damp i can see.

That isn't a particularly high price for our area. Is it one bedroom?

Spirallingdownwards · 21/09/2023 12:46

It should have an EPC provided though. Often fireplaces aren't use able but are more expensive to remove than to leave as decorative.

dontbenastyhaveapasty · 21/09/2023 12:47

All rented houses must have an effective means of space heating, sufficient to keep the property at (if I remember right) 21 degrees indoors when it’s -1 outdoors.

I can’t actually see any working heating system on those photos. You may want to forward the listing to your local authority’s private sector housing team, so they can investigate and get the landlord to meet the minimum legal requirements before letting.

MoltenLasagne · 21/09/2023 12:47

I would be surprised if the electricity is up to code seeing as absolutely nothing else has been done to it. As PPs said, it's taking advantage of people with no other choice. Although, at least if it's expensive for the area, you can hope they'll get no takers.

Oliotya · 21/09/2023 12:48

It's absolutely greed to expect someone to pay to live in that. Unfortunately knowing the state of the rental market someone will be desperate enough

MsFannySqueers · 21/09/2023 12:50

Good suggestion @dontbenastyhaveapasty .

Giard · 21/09/2023 12:50

What's your objection to the fire place? My parents have one the same, serviced and certificated every year. An efficient was of getting one room toasty quickly.

dontbenastyhaveapasty · 21/09/2023 12:51

As an aside, I was so cross to hear Rishi Sunak announce yesterday he was scrapping all the rules mandating minimum energy efficiency / insulation standards for rented property.

Condemning more families to live in cold, damp, inadequate housing.

Littleslippers · 21/09/2023 12:52

Shame there isn't a "report a dodgy letting agent / landlord" thing. I'd love to

Littleslippers · 21/09/2023 12:53

Giard · 21/09/2023 12:50

What's your objection to the fire place? My parents have one the same, serviced and certificated every year. An efficient was of getting one room toasty quickly.

The objection is that the fireplace in this specific property isn't usable.

TodayInahurry · 21/09/2023 12:53

I don’t think a reputable letting agency would take it on. There are many dodgy landlords out there, so it may well not have had any checks. They may also want the rent in cash!

Giard · 21/09/2023 12:54

Littleslippers · 21/09/2023 12:53

The objection is that the fireplace in this specific property isn't usable.

Show quote history

The gas fire?

OneTC · 21/09/2023 12:55

dontbenastyhaveapasty · 21/09/2023 12:47

All rented houses must have an effective means of space heating, sufficient to keep the property at (if I remember right) 21 degrees indoors when it’s -1 outdoors.

I can’t actually see any working heating system on those photos. You may want to forward the listing to your local authority’s private sector housing team, so they can investigate and get the landlord to meet the minimum legal requirements before letting.

There's a radiator in the 4th pic

CaptainMyCaptain · 21/09/2023 12:57

I've seen and lived in far worse. As long as the gas appliances have been certified as safe.

Laiste · 21/09/2023 12:58

The blue carpet room has a radiator. You can just see it in the top of the pic. So there's central heating ....

I don't know - the flooring's ugly and damaged in one of the rooms where there's been furniture moved by the looks of it. It looks clean though. It looks like my nan's old house if you took her stuff out of it!

Laiste · 21/09/2023 13:00

If it was painted grey, with ceiling lights from the Range and a load of cheap laminate put down i bet the price would go up to 1k a mnth.

purpleleotard2 · 21/09/2023 13:01

For those that don't approve of the property, please state the HHSRS reasons.

NotDavidTennant · 21/09/2023 13:02

I would guess this belongs to someone who has gone into a home and the family are trying renting it out to cover some of the costs of care.

evilharpy · 21/09/2023 13:11

purpleleotard2 · 21/09/2023 13:01

For those that don't approve of the property, please state the HHSRS reasons.

I'm not familiar with the HHSRS but the carpet in the last photo is a serious tripping hazard.

Ap24 · 21/09/2023 13:11

Its dated but as long as it meets the regs then I don't see a problem. I hate all the houses that have been "modernised" with the tacky, cheap silver/grey carpets and paint. They then add a load extra on the rent.

I rent out a house. Its no where near as dated as that property. But I didn't replace the floors/carpets, some of the laminate had scratches and marks. I rent to a lady with dogs, she's happy and when/if she leaves I can rip everything out.