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Landlords- If a tenant made MAJOR improvements to your property

8 replies

littlelamb · 04/10/2008 21:27

Would you reduce their rent in exchange? It sounds v odd, but i have lived in my flat for nearly 4 years and ever since I moved in the landlord has been promising to fit a new kitchen. My kitchen is dire, has no extractor fan so has damp problems and the cupboards have no backs so in the last few days I have discovered mice, for the second time this year . I am in two minds about what to do. On the one hand, if I ask for the kitchen to be done he could well ask for more rent, as it has been at the same level for 4 years. OTOH, I have recieved a lovely lovely offer from dd's grandad. He is a carpenter joiner, and he and dd's nan have helped us out so much over the years. WHen I told them about the mice he said that he would be willing to buy and install the kitchen for free, if I could negotiate with my landlord that my rent would be abit cheaper for a set period of time, say £50 less for 2 years or something. It is a lovely offer BUT: it is not my property- I stand to gain nothing really from the free kitchen, whereas my landlord stands to gain a lot. There is nothing stopping him evicting me, (though I don't think he would, is a lovely chap, just not very pro active when something needs fixing). The fact is, the kitchen does need doing, and I now have someone that will do it for free. SO, if you were me, or my landlord, what kind of deal do you think is appropriate? He has always been happy for me to organise repairs and things and just deduct the cost from my rent, but I am aware in the current financial climate he will not be looking to recieve less rent iyswim. Anyone???

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 04/10/2008 21:31

i wouldn't do it.

because to lower your rent you'd need a new tenancy agreement.

and he could turf you out.

it's not your property.

i private rent.

this house is getting some MAJOR problems with damp and possibly subsidence.

i've made landlord aware of them.

but that's it.

it's not my problem and we'll be moving out and moving on.

littlelamb · 04/10/2008 21:33

Expat, I had thought about the new agreement being made, which is not somehting I want to do tbh, but it might actually give me more security- having been here for 4 years I am only on a months notice. A new tenancy agreement would give me 6 months secured tenancy, and I have no plans to leave. I just can't live wiht the damp and the mice anymore, and its so frustrating since one of the reasons I did live with the kitchen in the first place was that I was assured it would be replaced.

OP posts:
edam · 04/10/2008 21:36

I'd accept the very kind offer (as long as the landlord gave his permission) but I wouldn't expect anything in return. You would get a nice kitchen to enjoy.

AramintaAlice · 04/10/2008 21:38

It seems like a good idea to get it done but I can't help feeling that it's a shame to waste this lovely new kitchen in a rented place.

Is there no way you could buy a property and get the benefit of this kitchen for yourself?

littlelamb · 04/10/2008 21:42

Araminta Alice- I could not afford to buy in this city. It does seem a shame to waste it in a rented place. I think I might just ask the landlord if its OK that the kitchen is fitted and the money for the units is taken out of my rent (£600 a month, and the kitchen is very small) so he wouldn't actually be out of pocket too much but the kitchen still gets done- everyones a winner. It does seem like too good an offer to pass up but I am also aware that its not my property iyswim, and although my landlord has told me to treat it as my own it is NOT my own.

OP posts:
Janni · 04/10/2008 21:45

Make sure you draw up a written, signed agreement with the landlord in case he tries to go back on it. I think yours is a very good idea and if the landlord is decent but a bit lazy, he may well be delighted for you to organise it all.

expatinscotland · 04/10/2008 21:46

6 months for a new kitchen?

yeah, i'd take you up on that.

see what i mean.

any lowering of your rent has to be in writing or he could come back and sue you for it.

and keep the kitchen as well.

and turf you out: with a month's notice if you don't sign a new agreement, in 6 if you do.

nope.

i'd find someplace else to live.

i know private renting sucks, we'll have to do it all our lives, too.

AramintaAlice · 14/01/2009 08:47

If you're still watching this, I'd love to know what you did in the end?

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