AIBU to not rent a house to our relative?

[NewNameForThisWWYD]

We have some properties that we rent out. A couple of relatives have always had a problem with this and have taken every opportunity to tell us that we are terrible for adding to the issues with housing.

Now one of these relatives has split from her partner and is looking for a house to rent. She has asked us if she can rent from us and asked if she can do so at a cheaper rate or free to help her out. We have a property empty currently as we are having some work done on it. It will be ready in a couple of months so this relative could in theory move in then. Other relatives are putting pressure on us to help her, one even said we should let her stay in the house for free and completely ignoring the fact that this woman has been horrible to us over the years.

I want to say no. It’s a relative on my husband’s side and he is happy to say no but doesn’t care either way. Neither of us like this relative very much, she is very opinionated and has picked the fight about landlords with us many times at family events making a scene. Every time we see her she makes digs and negative comments. She has also made it known that she disapproves of other choices we’ve made and is generally just very judgemental. We see her at family events to keep the peace in the wider family but really wouldn’t care if she wasn’t in our lives.

She works in a career that pays well above average wage and has 2 children. The house she wants to rent from us has 4 bedrooms.

What would you do? Say no? Rent to her at market rate? Rent to her at a lower rate? Obviously my preference is to say no but I think this will cause issues with some other family members.

She will not pay rent nor will she get out when you want it back.
Say no - you have nothing available.
The one that is unoccupied is having work done and when the work is done it is already spoken for,
I am assuming it is your SIL.

Does the property have a buy to let mortgage on it? If so, the terms are likely to say you can’t let to family members.

Hard No! Do not rent to her.

The issue with the other family members is that they see you have a ‘free’ house so it’s ‘easy’ to let her rent for free. They don’t see it as income.

Would they give her money every month from their income? I very much doubt it so you need to be clear this is your income just like being paid every month and you need the highest rental price given that everything costs more. So no discounts and certainly not for free and therefore will be advertised to someone to rent for the MAX you can get (which isn’t her).

Stand firm say no with no explanation to her. If family members try and guilt you tell them they can give her money to rent another house in the area because you can’t afford to give away your income.

I wouldn’t do it , she tries to belittle you whilst out in public about you renting houses.
She is just jealous of you , doesn’t matter what you do she’d try to have a go at you
Plus she woukd be a night as a tenant can you imagine 😡🤦‍♀️

No no no, fuck what the rest of the family think
if asked just say
“ I don’t want to discuss it thank you “. Or
” we decided years back we weren’t ever renting to family as we don’t wish to fall out with anyone “

I’m a bit late to the party but, FWIW, I think you’re making the right decision.

Unless it’s my parent or child I would feel no obligation to house anyone who’s been an arsehole to me in the past.

What is the DC's father (ex partner) doing re. paying and providing for his children's accommodation and all their needs? Is he looking on the open market for a rental for them?
So what is her separation agreement? She needs to get enough to pay rent on the open market.
My experience is that family/relations do not usually expect to pay for something at full value if they can get it from their NOK. That may be why she wants your house - there must be other properties available at the going rate but she thinks she can get a house from you for less.
Also how long would it be for - till the children are 18? How much would you lose?
You will feel pressured to let her have it cheaply - not fair to you and your family.
Tell her you are operating a business with your properties for your pension and old age etc.

The trouble in the family if you say no will be as nothing compared to the trouble this woman will cause you in a tenant/landlord relationship. She’ll make your lives a misery and your hands will be tied because the law is mostly on the side of the tenant. Don’t do it in any capacity and certainly not at a knockdown price or for free.

Rent to her and she will be there forever and will make your life hell.

Rent it out and chuck her a few hundred a month so your family cannot get snotty about it. If you rent it to her for nothing or cheap, you will be losing more than a few hundred a month.

Why on earth should OP give her money ?

We are also small landlords (less than 5 houses at max).
Like others say best to only let on commercial terms to strangers. If she defaulted it would be a huge part of your income lost.
There might be grumbling from family but if you had trouble with her later it would be awful and the guilt. "Turning little children out into the snow".
Nah no Way. Keep it business only.

No!

Because she is worried about repercussion for refusing to rent it to the relative. I think the relative should refuse to accept the dirty landlord money, but that won't happen. It will show that the OP is not deserting her family as she is giving them some of the rent that the relative would (not) have been paying and then the other relatives cannot make a fuss as I assume they are not helping financially at all. Hope that makes sense.

I’d just say No. She can’t have it both ways. Who cares what other relatives say.

No way Hose. I have a headache just reading about this woman.

Never mix business with family.

This is exactly what I’d say.

She's your husband's relative - he can say "no" to her.

I agree with pretty much everyone else that she would be a nightmare tenant.

I would 100% say no based on the new renters reform act, especially not at a reduced rent. You’ll never get her out and she’ll be able to challenge rent increases at the land tribunal.

It’s time for you to use all her arguments back at her. She clearly has a sense of entitlement that she would dare as you and she’s getting other relatives to suggest you rent it to her for free!?. She’s clearly jealous of you being in a position to be landlords and I just couldn’t trust that. Too many red flags

It would be a NO from me.

I know exactly how you feel, OP, I really do. We have one just like that and there have been times when I've wanted to say, ODFOD.

I'd say no. She is only going to cause problems because she feels entitled to your house for free.

Say no. I can't even be bothered to type out all the reasons. They are obvious.

Having been in a similar situation don’t even think about it. When she stops paying the rent you won’t get rid of her without hassle. If necessary just tell her you have a mortgage on it and need market rent to pay it.