Tenant sent the builder home!

[Ilovemychocolate]

I am a landlord, and rent a house out to a young couple.
There is some urgent work that needs doing to it, so I arranged for a builder to attend the property yesterday and today to carry out the work, at my expense obviously.
At lunchtime the tenant sent the builder home, as her cat had escaped and she said the cat wouldn’t return if the builder was in the house, he was plastering so hardly creating a huge amount of noise.
Not withstanding that her original tenancy agreement stipulated no pets, (which I overlooked as she is very pet orientated) am I being unreasonable to ask her to pay for the builder when he has to return next week to finish the work?
She didn’t phone me first to check if it was ok to send him home, I called her when I found out she had, and she swore at me, saying she didn’t give a fuck about the building work, she was more concerned about finding her cat.
I am bloody livid right now, the work should be finished by now, and now I’ve got to stump up another £250 for an extra day!
And before anyone piles on, yes I have a cat, yes I get she was upset, and yes I know the rules about pets have changed since May 1st.

Don’t be so ridiculous, of course I don’t blame the builder, I know him personally and he is the nicest man ever!
He left because she booted him out, this is on her, not him!

Of course I’m not stuck, I can sell it!

No builder can remain inside the property of someone who tells them to leave, whether that's owner or tenant.

Do you actually want to sell? If this is giving you an income, and allowing you to keep the property while it increases in value then don’t be forced into selling because of one dodgey tenant.

Any family members who want to “move in?”

Don't be daft.

Mistakes happen.

It is normal for her to worry about her house cat being outside and potentially getting hurt/running away and to want to prioritise that.

The plastering can wait compared to a pet's life.

I agree but that won’t be popular here, mumsnet is very anti tenant

I’ve had it for 35 years (my first house) and I’m thinking of selling yes.
I work full time and also rent out another property I own, tbh being a landlord is starting to get on my bloody nerves, I have tolerated the animals as I’ve always got on with the tenants (they have been tenants six years) but sending the builder home then bloody swearing at me has made me so bloody cross today!

And who should cover the extra cost then, the pet owner? Or OP?

I would actually sell. I was an accidental landlord and this is the kind of thing that put me off the whole thing. Especially if you’re a nice, considerate person. It’s a bit like with some relationships - the horrible landlords seem to be paired with lovely tenants and the CF tenants seem to be paired with the lovely landlords.

I think you’ll find this tenant very stressful and you have to balance that against any income you might make. By the time you factor in all the costs associated with being a landlord I decided the income wasn’t worth it.

Well that mistake may well end up costing her £250, why should I pay it??

You owe her nothing. I'd sell!

That’s rubbish. They are generally anti landlord. It’s unusual to find some sympathy for the landlord but in this case it was definitely the tenant’s responsibility to keep the cat inside. The landlord shouldn’t have to pay the extra for the cat escaping.

If you really wish to make her pay you can take her to small claims court for proven loss. It depends whether you think that would be worth the headache or not.

i personally would just trump it up to experience and suck up the 250 and look for a way to get rid of her if that is what you want.

im generally very anti landlord and don’t agree with multiple property ownership but trying to give you options

If you can handle the loss of rent you don't have to sell it, you can evict on the grounds of selling, wait 12 months from vacant possession and re-let it or go down the short term air bob / holiday let route.

That’s not been my experience but okay

She’s not a dodgy tenant if she’s paying the rent.
Pets are immaterial, there is the deposit and legal means if they have damaged anything, bearing in mind everything, carpets, decorating, sanitary ware etc, has a lifespan.
If you do evict (which you can only do if you sell) it will no doubt cost thousands in lost rent if the sale falters, and let’s face it, it’s not looking good out there.
Better just to mediate with her, when calm has returned, and come to an understanding about the extra cost.
As a landlord, sucking up an extra £250 but keeping a good tenant seems fair compromise, or try 50/50.
Shit happens.

What urgent work involves replastering anyway?

Don't give an inch to cheeky tenants, no good deed goes unpunished.

Really it's on you and the builder.

You weren't there to supervise, then the builder took instruction from someone other than his client.

You sound very unprofessional as a landlord. You don't seem to know the tenant's rights and responsibilities, or your own.

If the tenant asked the builder to leave he cannot just stay. He would be trespassing.

Because you own the house. You could dispute it with the builder who walked off the job without contacting you.

I didn't say that - he should have phoned the landlord to intervene.

No fucking way would I tolerate being spoken to like this by anyone. I would evict her.

I’d give her notice, she doesn’t sound like a responsible tenant.

That’s a huge assumption to make about me.
I have been a landlord for 30 years, I know every single rule/regulation there is, and follow them all to the letter.
I also pride myself on renting out my houses in excellent condition, and carry out repairs asap.
I wasn’t there to supervise as I also work full time.
But thanks so much for your comment, never miss a chance to put the boot in eh?

It sounds as though you are best off selling up. I would give her notice.