I rent out my property to total twats - is this my fault? Probably, but I want to grumble anyway LANDLORDS SUPPORT THREAD

[RattysPicnic]

Right, I realise that being a landlord resides somewhere around Tory Politician/Lazy Female Journalists/Fruit Shoot Marketers on MN but... I wanna whinge about the horrid people in my lovely house. Please let me.

I have utter wankers for tenants. Bad payers with attitude. I've been really, really nice to them. Four months in a row they've paid late and I've just said OK. After four months I asked that they set up a Standing Order for the rent and now they insist they're entitled to a 'payment window' of 15 days. Grrrrrr. They even had the cheek to send me back a copy of a friendly email I had sent saying 'fine' when they paid late last time - on the grounds that it proved it must be OK to pay late every time!

They have a contract btw, they just use the phrase 'notwithstanding the contract' as though that magically melts the lease away. The guy is a Prize A prick.

Anyone else need to let off steam?

ilovemyhens - I hate being a LL, tbh - because even though I have managing agents they are a bit on the crap side and I am the other side of the world from my property, which frustrates the hell out of me when something goes as wrong as it did last year.

I am getting new tenants very soon; old ones are vacating this week and I hope the new ones will have a bit more nouse about them regarding looking after someone else's property, not just letting things fall off and then whinging about it. Mind you, they have a 9yo DD so I'm hoping they have a touch more gumption!

We've had similar tenants. I remember one telephone conversation that went somewhere along the lines of "I'm afraid we won't be able to pay for about another 6 weeks ok?" NO!! NOT BLOODY OK!!

I think she had me confused for a charity. They vanished 2 weeks later.

Are they entitled to 15days grace with the rent?

I have an issue as a tennant that would he good to get some opinions on what to expect, so thought I would ask all you landlords!

In our flat, there are two faux leather small couches. Not the most comfortable of things, but they do their job. Over the past few weeks we've notched that the 'leather' on one of them is cracking and peeling in the sitting on bit. We texted the landlord (private rent) to tell him but havnt heard back. Is this our fault and could he charge us for replacement or is this something he has a duty to replace? I'm not sure how old it was but was definately not new when we moved in in September.

What can I expect to be done? So far he seems like a decent landlord, has fixed the boiler and toilet when they broke the same day we told him about the issues so hopefully he will carry on being decent.

Sounds like fair wear tear, butternut, and not something he can charge you for.

You could always issue them with a section 21 notice..... 15 day window my arse.

I say that as a tenant by the way.

All rent should be paid by direct debit/standing order, you should automatically incorporate it within your leases.

Rent is a priority bill and comes before anything else.

I'm looking to move in a few months where do you landlords have properties?

Remember leases generally only last six months, at the end of that time you can change the lease to reflect you want paying on the day by dd/so.

Sort it you only have yourselves to blame.

It sounds like they've now got used to 'managing' their money this way, and it'll carry on :(

If I had money problems so bad that I couldn't pay my rent, I'd move out and stay with friends or family! That's what they should do if they're struggling that badly.

Why don't you get a solicitor's letter off to them, or give them notice? Sounds like they're not taking it very seriously, or at the very least handling their money problems very badly.
There are millions of tenants out there, because no first time buyers can afford to buy at the moment. They'll really struggle to find somewhere else in a rising market, with a bad reference from you.

They sound like they're struggling, but their first priority should be rent.

Just give them notice. Simple as. They are taking advantage.

I have a couple of questions as a tenant.

As long as the rent was on time:-

1. Would you mind if the front room was used as an extra bedroom.

1. Would you be horrified/consider thinking of giving notice, if you came round/ and it was very untidy/cluttered, pots piled up in the sink, but not damaged at all?

As long as you are not damaging the property and paying rent on time and leave it clean and tidy when you leave then a landlord has not much to complain about.

However, a landlord can give notice at any time as long as it is within the law to do so and complies with the terms of the lease.

Haven't read whole thread, but can you get an estate agent to manage it? My brother rents his house out as he is living at place of employment and he has an estate agent do everything.

I think that the rent is around £830pcm and the fee is around £80. For that £80, the agent does absolutely everything, including collecting rent on time!!, getting people in to fix stuff etc etc. He has had no bother with it at all, the money just arrives in his account every month (from the agent) ON TIME! plus the agent guarantees the rent, having vetted the tenant etc.

I would not like to deal with the person described in the OP - far easier to get the agent to do it and financially, I do think it is reasonable.

Thank You Beenbeta. Yes I would leave it clean and tidy if I left. (did so with the last place). Hoping to stay, but understand landlord has a right to give notice within the law etc.

Can I just say coming from a tenant point of view shop around before choosing an agency to manage your property. I was looking for a property this past week and called on Monday morning to ask about a property they said they would call me back that day. I called them ton Tuesday and was told they would call me Wednesday or Thursday, needless to say I have not heard from them and have found a property with another agency. I have since heard the first agency don't come out for weeks if repairs are needed and tend to avoid passing information onto landlords. Perhaps get recommendations from other landlords before choosing an agent.

Just wondered how landlords renew the tenancy agreemment every 6 months. Do you go round, say Hi, have a tea and they sign it, or do you send it to them, they sign it and send it back to you ?

Also, how important is it to sign it just before it runs out ? If your tenants are great in every way and you trust them, is it ok to get them to sign it 'when you get around to it' or should it be stricktly before it runs out ?

TIA

SugarMousePink, Thank you. I don't really want to live in a mess, and some times it is very sparkling, but others gets messy, not dirty though. I am working on it/getting rid of junk! What you and Been said is reassuring, thanks.

re pinksmarties point, should I ask the landlord to sign the tenancy agreement every six months? It started as a sixth month tenancy, but no agreements signed again since.

Thank you SugarMouse,

very helpful.

Thank You Sugarmouse. Your posts very helpful.